Well, that was fun. My teeth are fine. My jawbone is apparently not. I had a molar pulled, yesterday.
First, it is very important to be clear: Thank G*d for anesthesia.
While I didn’t feel “nothing”, the entire process – about four hours – was fine on the jaw/tooth front.
I also felt as if I were being waterboarded (yes, I have been waterboarded) the entire time. The anesthesia also numbed my sinuses. I couldn’t feel myself breathing. I sat up, used my hand to block one nostril then the other. Air flowed nominally – but I couldn’t feel it.
I spent four hours gasping for breath – and it was all in my imagination. I did not like that, at all. It is a cost I’m willing to pay for not screaming my head off while tied town. I still did not like that, at all.
I took today off work because I figured I would be in pain. There is something weird with how tooth pain works and I don’t know what it is. Speculating, all the nerves are in the teeth. Once the tooth is gone, there is nothing left to report “ow!” My tongue is a bit tender and my mouth feels shaped wrong, but it doesn’t hurt. Don’t tell my boss. Sleeping in was nice and I’m still taking the rest of the day off.
As for the tooth fairy, they did offer me the pieces parts. I declined because then I would need to throw them in the trash. They chopped that tooth into bits to get it out.
I’m supposed to get one out on the other side in a month. I don’t think that will be happening. This adventure started because the now-gone tooth hurt. The other one does not and never has. The now-gone one was not loose. Nor is the other. They didn’t wiggle or wobble. The doctor was surprised at how difficult it was to get it out.
I’m going to need convincing that the other one needs to go. I’m happy to get it removed when it is wiggling and hurts. While “it seems fine”, I don’t think so.
