Agonotheta

A Marathon

December 18, 2003

I have been competing, as of late, in a marathon of sorts. In my case, it hasn't been the usual running type. But, the kind where you sit, or lie, rather, in some foreign place holding your mouth in some odd, yawning position enduring the uneasy comfort of novocaine. Yesterday, I managed to withstand about 3 hours of this self-imposed cell, or hell, as it were. Its an interesting conundrum, because its self-imposed in more ways than one. First, it was my dental hygiene that put me in that chair. Nobody else's. Second, I am not now, nor have been in any pain in years. So, I'm willingly putting myself in a chair to PREVENT future pain, inevitable as it is.

Amidst all of this, I can't help but be happy with the outcome and feel that it was worth every dollar/minute of dry-lipped, eye-twitching fun. When I go back in 3 weeks and get my temporary crowns taken out and replaced with porcelain(?) permanent ones, my entire bottom half of my mouth will be in perfect shape. It looks very good already, but when complete, it will look as if I have a perfect set of teeth on the bottom half. All the fillings are white to match my teeth. I have no cavities, no gaping holes in teeth that scrape my tongue and trap food. It makes me wonder what kind of pain people used to be in back in the day. I also feel grateful that I was born when I was.

** Written a couple of months ago but never posted. **