Just After

Just After
Originally uploaded by Tokyorosa

Going through the photos on my cell phone led me back to this little gem, taken just after the dentist pulled my back molar and I was sitting in the chair biting down on some bloody gauze. Why not try to take a picture, I thought.

The dentist had a very deft touch with the novocaine needle and consequently, I felt nothing when he pulled the tooth out. However, when he broke the tooth to pull it out, the sound was awful and scared me. But as for the actual out-by-the-roots pulling? I didn't feel a thing. In fact, only a very specific section of my gums were numbed. I didn't have the half-my-face-is-numb feeling that is so common--thankfully--in modern dentistry.

After, the doctor gave me a prescription for fifteen vicodin. I took one and slept, dreamt those strange, drugged, sweaty dreams. I took another, slept, dreamt, woke nauseated, vomited twice, and was off the vicodin after that.

We'll see how I survive the implant process. Hopefully I'll get a few good photos out of the deal.

I did want to point out one more thing though: Despite a steady childhood diet of sugar and years of smoking and coffee drinking, I think it's safe to say that it's damned amazing how beautiful all my other teeth are!