Dodged a Bullet

but not completely.

Let me explain. Last week I began having a strange headache/neck/jaw ache. I finally realized it was emanating from the jaw which meant a tooth. I have a filling in a molar and having already lived through a cracked tooth that had to have a crown, so thought I had this one all diagnosed and figured out.

On Monday, I trot into my dentist's office. They shoot an x-ray all the while shaking their heads and saying, "it's root, I'll bet."

They ship me back out the door with recommendations for Endodontists (didn't even know these type of people existed!) and the news that they think I need a root canal.

Everyone has their THING. Anything to do with my mouth is mine. I freak out over dental work. I think it's because I never had braces and my first cavity wasn't until I was in my mid-20's. And, having my all four impacted wisdom teeth out scarred me for life. That experience lasted for over a month (my jaws froze shut), I lost 8 lbs., and ended up with a dry socket and 6 canker sores on the inside of my mouth. Good times. I'd rather pop a baby out then have my wisdom teeth removed!

What do I do on Monday? Called everyone who would listen, invited them to my pity party and cried, no, bawled about having a root canal. You see it had also struck me that my birthday was the following day. The unfair timing of my aching roots was cruel!

Seriously, I think when I called my poor dad he thought one of my kids had died. He seemed almost relieved when he finally understood through my blubbering that I was saying "root canal".

So, I went to the endodontist yesterday. He said he was going to put something cold on the two surrounding teeth and then the afflicted one. I warned him that my fear was he would touch something and I would come flying out of the chair. He said he had big hands and would hold me down (he was pretty cute - I might let him lay his hands upon me!) and I then felt compelled to further warn him that when and if I did come out of that chair it would be with the aide of adrenalin and I would become super-human at that point. Goodness, while I am flying out of dental chairs I may even lift a car or two in the parking lot. He laughed thinking I was joking....you know I wasn't.

I passed the cold test and he said "not a root problem." So, I do not have to have a root canal but I will still have to have a crown for my cracked tooth.

Now I just have to stock up on ibuprofen for my aching jaw and wait.