Episode 190 : Dial D for Dentist - Part 1

A few weeks after getting discharged from the hospital, I visited my dentist, actually a maxillofacial surgeon, for post-hospitalisation treatment- check progress on the healing, remove the wiring, and the root canal treatments.

Once he was satisfied with the progress, he announced he would remove the wiring between the jaws and replace them with rubber bands. After spraying anasthesia around my gums, he cut the wires and pulled them out.

For a moment I thought my lower jaw would just come apart!

'Spit' he commanded and thrust a bowl at me. Not understanding why, I obeyed.

I saw blood in the bowl. The metal wasn't wired through my teeth but my gums...

Once the upper and lower jaws were de-wired, he gave me a packet of rubber bands. Not very elastic, but strong enough to withstand the stretching movements of a human mouth.

'Hook the two braces using these rubber bands so that the bands criss-cross. You can now try having semi-solid food. Just don't wear them when you are having food. Practise opening and closing your mouth with these bands on. They will make sure you don't break your jaw again while stretching your cheek muscles!'

Some consolation!

'And don't give it to your girl friends!' he warned, 'Unless they want to lose their hair in a jiffy. These are not your regular rubber bands; they will cut through hair.'

I rolled my eyes. Like I have girl friends!

I fixed my next appointment with him. Apparently I required root canal treatment on all broken teeth. That meant three in a row, same day.

He assured me it would be painless. Yeah right, I thought to myself.

The big day arrived. I entered the clinic filled with apprehension.

The dentist was waiting for me, while my surgeon explained the process to me. As I sat nervously in the chair, he suggested I relax.

'If you feel pain, just raise your left hand.'

A few minutes later, the dentist began. Once the drilling started, I raised my left hand.

My surgeon was sitting a few feet from me, looking on. Without batting an eyelid he said 'Just because you raised your left hand doesn't mean we will stop.'

I knew right then, that there is more to come.