The Dreaded Word

Root canal. Maybe it's just me, but that is an extremely dreaded word, especially to someone that has barely had a cavity in her life. Apparently all the pain was manifesting itself in my jaw. The doctor could poke and prod on that tooth (the one I had filled last July with the dentist that was older than dirt), and I wouldn't feel any pain. But still, there was no arguing with the x-rays. I did almost cry at the thought of my almost perfect teeth no longer being perfect. Once numbed, it pretty much felt like a filling for a cavity, except for the length of time it took. It was my top, very farthest back molar, so it was extremely hard to get to. The most pain I had after the fact was in my cheek from where the dentist had to yank it as far as it would go in order to access the tooth. I loved how this new dentist had a screen to watch movies, so I enjoyed a little Hairspray while my tooth was worked on. Thankfully I took the entire day off, because I was numb until after 4:00 from my 9:30 appointment! Mike had to work from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM the next afternoon, (more than 25 hours) so he wasn't much help to me. Now I have a very flat place where my tooth used to be and only one side of my mouth to use to chew, but the jaw pain is gone, and for that I am very grateful. Now onto next Tuesday where I get a crown put on. Joy.