Minus 32
As of one hour ago, I no longer have my lower right wisdom tooth, which (1) would have needed filling and (2) is utterly superfluous, inasmuch as the upper right corner was emptied out years ago. It is, I understand, routine to yank all four of the little so-and-sos at an early age, but I never was much for routine; in fact, I still have the one at the lower left.
Besides, now I have a gilt-edged excuse not to answer the damned phone.
GradualDazzle »
11 December 2008 · 8:21 pm
You’re such a curmudgeon! I can’t believe you actually ever NEED an excuse NOT to answer the damn phone. :)
I had my wisdom teeth (bottom only, the top ones never arrived) removed while I was in college, and apparently he didn’t get all of one of them because a large shard worked its way out of my gums near the spot where the roots of that wisdom tooth would’ve been. I can’t think of any other possible explanation.
CGHill »
11 December 2008 · 8:25 pm
At home, no. At work, well, sometimes a person who should know better will dial my extension.
I have a couple of tips left from a broken molar, circa 1998; until such time as they give me grief, I’m leaving them in place.
Tatyana »
11 December 2008 · 8:29 pm
We can trade horror wisdom tooth stores (like when one of mine was removed, I had to go to the real surgery, because the roots were twisted around each other and I had to be anesthesized – which didn’t end up well;etc) – but I imagine you’re not in the condition to listen, what with the frozen gums coming to life right about now.
Get well, Chaz.
CGHill »
11 December 2008 · 8:37 pm
I will note here that I departed the Land of Dentistry, a trifle sorer and less of a trifle poorer, and returned to the workplace, where Trini gave me the sort of look she’d give to someone on Game Night who showed up wearing Iron Man-ish armor. Anybody else, she implied, would have gone home.
I demurred. Then I read this, and maybe she was right:
I’m having a tooth pulled this morning. If you need anything, ask me tomorrow.
UPDATE: I’m home again, in two pieces and under doctor’s orders to take it easy for the rest of the day, a commitment I was more than happy to make.
My dentist being about eighteen years my junior, I suspect he was not motivated to give me “orders.” (Actually, he bought out the practice of a fellow who subsequently retired; I think he’s happy that so many of the clients stayed.)
fillyjonk »
12 December 2008 · 7:32 am
The last crown-prep I had (and I face another in January, ugh. What a drag it is getting old), I told everyone in my department, “Don’t expect to see me for the rest of the day, I will probably have to go home and lie in a dark room with a cool cloth on my forehead.” I guess I am more resilient than I believe because I was back there later that day (once the Novocaine wore off and I was reasonably secure that I wasn’t drooling).
Actually, having the temporary crown fail was much more painful than the procedure or its aftermath. That’s actually what I’m dreading with this next procedure.
ms7168 »
12 December 2008 · 9:15 am
My wisdom teeth were impacted and actually trying to come in sideways which was wreaking havoc on the neighboring molars. Plus almost no one has room for them in your mouth anyway. So they were duly removed two at a time and one side and then the other a month later. The first side took a weekend to recover and the second just a day and a half :)