Tooth Out

I am feeling a bit sore this morning.  Had a tooth out.  I have never had a tooth out before.  I am thinking I should make this a two part thing.  This writing is therapeutic for me.  Helps me work through my sense of loss.  Ok it was only a tooth, but it has left a hole.  We were close.
It is all in the past now, but this is helping me move on.    I went there fearlessly.  In hindsight like a lamb to the slaughter.  Still I had on my best brave face.  D day had arrived and by golly I was ready.
My appointment was at 8am.  I arrived at the location and saw someone walk in.  But I knew.  I had been here before.  I needed to ring to advise I was there.  So I rang. “The office is currently unattended.”  It was too early.  So I walked in.  
The dentist called me in.  Before he started work, he outlined my options.  There was no going back from having a tooth removed.  But I was prepared for this.  At least I thought I was until he outlined options.  But I knew I had a date with dentistry…I mean destiny.  Although time goes quickly it seels like it was only yesterday.  Actually, it was only yesterday. 
I had decided to bravely go where only millions had gone before.  I said take the tooth.  Not before being assured that the location was one where someone would need to be looking to notice the missing tooth.  They gave me a mirror to check it out.  It was me.  I’d recognize myself anywhere.  I said take the tooth.  I am sure I sounded more sure than I was. 
The thing is, it was a tough tooth.  It was determined not to come out without a fight.  I guess it beats tying a string to the door and to my tooth and slamming the door in the hope the tooth dislodges.
I was all numbed up.  They seem to do things different these days but they still seem to have no respect for human dignity.  I had to bite down on something to numb the area.  It is so hard to look cool with something dangling out of your mouth.  Then I had a few injections.  Needles are better too.  They are thinner and less painful – maybe they seem less painful because I was numb already.
I still really have trouble picturing why people choose to be dentists.  I cannot imagine thinking “I want to be a dentist.  That way I can spend my days peering into people’s mouths, and for pretty well everything I do, cause them pain.”
But I am really glad that is what people want to do.  Even being a dental-technician, I have trouble understanding.  I’m pleased they know what the dentist is saying when he describes d14 and they will need a DTM.  I would have trouble getting off on handing a person a bib and glasses and encouraging them to spit.
I do not know of any situation where I feel more vulnerable.  Lying on a chair and having it motor back and forth and up and down.  I am just glad it did not spin like a propeller out of control and crash through the ceiling and head down the road.  All the while vultures…I mean the dentist and technician are waiting to do things to my mouth.
This writing is helping, and I know I can use all the help I can get.