I was in at 10:45 and out by 11:30. I should spare you the needle pokes, numbing rituals, and then 20 minutes of noise, chiseling, and pulling that occurred to clean out #32, a lower right wisdom tooth. Dr. Sood was great as was his assistant and I did my best to be a Marine, a stoic fighter, and a non-thinking brick while it all went down. I didn't want to get in my imagination, because it was a bit more uncomfortable than I anticipated. I didn't expect to feel the removal, and can only imagine what it would be like if I wasn't numb. So thankful for the numbness and the minute-check-ins of "How are you doing," and "Next, I will be doing xxx and it might feel like xxxx."
My guess is that the tooth cracked into parts because there were several layers to the procedure, going in and yanking it out with, "I'll be finished real soon."
I was glad it ended, and the nurse was like, "You did so well. He didn't even need to take out his razor blades for this one." She reported he didn't even have to use stitches....the gauze will help clot the wound. I was sent on my way with what I hoped to be good drugs and then left the building in search of Pam who was shopping at Marshall's and 5 Below.
To be honest, I used the excuse to be productive (I know, I know, I know. You know you are an academic when...). I sat in one place, bit down on the gauze, and graded while the skies dumped the Atlantic Ocean over Connecticut and New York. Of course, I was reading essays on Luma Mufleh's book, Learning America, and reflections on several events we've hosted helping students to understand the plight of refugees more. I actually thought about that while in the oral surgeon's chair. How are such issues treated in refugee camps? I'm sure most cultures and rituals have traditions that help ease the pain, but I highly doubt they have the Star Wars apparatus x-ray machines that began my morning. So advanced.
"Stay ahead of the pain," I was advised. "Take medicine in a timely matter so it doesn't catch up." It caught up a few times, however, and it made my right eye twitch and my right ear throb. I had to think of all those who get put under and have all four wisdom teeth taking out at once. I imagine that is quite the recovery and you must be down for at least a week.
And the oddest directions for the post-pull-procedural. "Use an old pillow case at night to catch the bleeding drool while you sleep."
Um, I'll skip the bleeding drool thank you.
Finally, oral surgeons make approximately $320,000 a year. I had to look it up because I admire the expertise and wondered how any one could do that work for a living. It's sort of like an oil change for them....20-30 minute pops, and I imagine it gets rather conveyer-belt-esque. Ah, but Dr. Sood told me after I confessed I'd likely be drenched while he finished that he's a sweater, too....during every procedure...always nervous before they begin.
After, he simply said, "You called it, Crandall. You do bring the perspiration."
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