Allow me, if you will, a moment to do my best Jerry Seinfeld. "What is the deal with root canals?"

But, seriously: why all the fuss about root canals? With three ankle surgeries, two shoulder dislocations and subsequent relocations, one tonsilectomy, and one tooth extraction to my name, I shakily walked into Dr. Jung's office early Friday for my semi-emergency root canal. It would be stupid to pretend I wasn't a little nervous--I mean, I've got a pretty high tolerance for pain, but....it was a Root Canal for God's sakes.

Slightly less than an hour later, listening to disc eight of the Neil Young Archives in my car as I drove myself home, a numbness in my lip and gums, I asked myself how root canals got their bad rep? Easily the easiest medical procedure I've ever gone through. It was way worse getting my tooth pulled, cuz I bled for like four hours, and then got a sore throat from all the blood, & etc. The antibiotics they prescribed my insurance-less ass after the r.c. only cost $25 too.

Now, I still have to get my gold crown fitted (for my tooth, not head), have two cavities filled, and get my gums cut open and reattached after they've been cleaned out. Maybe one of those procedures can put a knock on the feeling of a shoulder coming out of its rightful home: we shall see.

For now, I am seriously considering canceling the Mammoth vacation next week and just getting recreational root canals each day. I don't even need 'em. They're just so easy peasy I can't resist.

Labels: dentistry, Generalness