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| Do I look like a man who just had a wisdom tooth extracted? Peggy, me, and Dr. Kushion |
24 degrees/heavy snow/strong winds
Pentoga Road
I thought I'd better write this evening as Wednesday morning will be coming early for me. I'm to be at the hospital in Iron Mountain at 7 AM for some tests. With tonight's snow and wind, I'll be leaving early, very early.
Today was another dentist's day, a good one. I mentioned earlier that I was nervous about having my wisdom tooth removed. I shouldn't have worried. It was flawless, painless, and as with the last time, I walked away from the office feeling better than when I entered.
It's interesting how one mentally prepares to have an extraction. My tongue kept going over the old tooth and wondering what it would feel like when there was nothing in its place but empty space.
Dr. Kushion gave me an injection of Novocain, Peggy snapped another Xray of the tooth, showed me why it needed to be removed, and I was soon ready.
I began calling the doctor, "Velvet Fingers," due to his pain-free shots of Novocain. I'm not sure how he did it, but I didn't feel the needle enter for either shot.
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| It's the tooth to the far left. It looked perfect to me on film, but no amount of talking at the last minute could change anyone's mind. |
I made a joke. The good doctor politely chuckled. I figured since he was performing major surgery (well almost) in my head, I'd try to humor him.
"OK, Tom, I think we're ready. Go ahead and open if you would."
It's been many years since I wanted my mommy.
"Two six three ten extractor tool," said Eric the Doctor.
"Two six three ten extractor tool!" replied Peggy as she slammed it in the doctor's hand.
I felt a bit of pressure, no pain, but the creaking sound of the tooth losing ground was weird.
"Hammer, roto rooter, and level," whispered the doctor.
"Ten-four! Hammer, roto rooter, and level!" said Peggy.
"Battery clamps."
"Battery clamps!"
"Plunger."
"Plunger!"
"Scissors."
"Scissors..." pause, "Pinking shears or regular?"
"I think we can make do with regular, Peggy."
I could feel the climax coming. The creaking in my head grew louder; the breathing above me more intense.
Gripping the arms of the chair, I closed my eyes, and waited...
... and BOOM! The tooth was no longer a part of my head.
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| What an ugly mess. I well understand why the tooth had to come out. That hole was beneath the gum line. Hopefully, the sinus infections and headaches will cease. |
My sincere thanks to Dr. Eric Kushion, Peggy, and Brenda at Today's Smile Dentistry in Crystal Falls for having a great sense of humor yet being so professional.
I was soon bidding Becky, Peggy, and Eric goodbye. Neighbor Mike had driven me to town earlier and gone to the hardware store while I was in the dentist's chair.
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| Mike and I stopped at the lake to check on the ice conditions. Though there was water on the ice, with the temperatures dropping, it will be frozen solid in another day or two. |
I've spent this afternoon grading final research papers. Sargie worked until 6 and then had an appointment with her beautician after. She just called saying she's on her way home.
As mentioned earlier, I have to be in Iron Mountain bright and early Tuesday morning. Hopefully, the roads won't be too bad. If so, I'll take the Blazer and keep it in four-wheel drive. I ain't skairt.
And so ends the day. I feel somewhat light-headed, but then why wouldn't I? I'm minus a wisdom tooth and goodness knows how much knowledge was stored in that hunk of ivory.
Time for a cup of tea while I'm waiting for Sargie to get home.
After all, a man's work is never done.
So are the tales from Pentoga Road...
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| Brenda wishing me a Happy Thanksgiving |
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