Day 9: The Extraction

WARNING: Do not read this if you need to have a wisdom tooth extracted.

Last Friday afternoon I went to the dentist for a scheduled root canal. A visit to the dentists evokes a range of strong emotions, most of which involve an element of panic. 

My dentist, the simply wonderful Dr Arne, noticed that I was shaking and to help calm me said, “Laura, this root canal will be nothing like your extractions, the worst is over. Now that it is over, I can tell you: your lower right wisdom tooth extraction was the worst I have ever seen. I did not want to tell you during or after the procedure, but I can tell you now – I have never seen anything like it.” 

So, here is the story of that extraction:

I discovered in September last year that I needed to have all four wisdom teeth removed. Over the years I had just gotten used to their annoyance but decided to take Dr Arne’s advice and go through with the procedure. 

I was warned that the bottom right tooth was deep and would take slightly more time than a normal extraction. Little did I or Dr Arne know, it would take much longer than a usual extraction.

So at 10.30 am on October 5 I was settled in the dental chair expecting to have all four teeth extracted in less than two hours. I had downloaded the Caliphate podcast by Rukmini Callmachi and was mentally prepared for what lay ahead. 

Dr Arne administered the first injection for my top right wisdom tooth and I zoned into Episode 1 of Caliphate and started listened to the horrifying stories of former ISIS terrorists and the atrocities they inflicted upon their victims. Although I could feel the pressure and the initial injection was painful, I was surprised when after 15 minutes my top right tooth had been extracted and stitched up. 

Dr Arne then proceeded with the lower right extraction and I moved onto Episode 2 of Caliphate. I checked the time on the computer with my x-rays displayed and the procedure commenced at 11.05 am. The pressure was much more intense than the first extraction, but I figured this was just how it was so I closed my eyes and zoned into the story of just how the amazing Rukmini tracks down ISIS terrorists in order to bring them to justice. 

By 11.35 am I was really feeling the pressure and I opened my eyes, popped a headphone out and saw two dentists above me and heard them conversing in German. Dr Adrian had come to help. 

Oh boy, am I glad that I do not understand a word of German. 

Dr Arne rubbed my shoulder and said to me, “I have called my colleague in as this tooth is taking a little longer than normal, we just need you to have another x-ray.” So the lovely dental assistant led me to the x-ray room and I had to painfully bite down on the x-ray machine while an x-ray was taken of my jaw. 

After the x-ray, I figured that I would need something a little more calming to listen to. Stories of beheadings and torture were not quite complementing the “Oh Lord Jesus, please give me the grace to get through this procedure” mantra running through my mind. 

From here on out the remaining 2 hours of the extraction are slightly blurred. Here is what I remember:

• My jaw being gripped and pulled as Dr Arne and Dr Adrian used all their strength to dislodge the stubborn tooth.

• Drilling sounds and intense pressure in my jaw.

• The lovely dental assistant holding my hands and giving me a hand massage and saying “it’s OK, it’s OK.”

• More drilling sounds and intense pressure in my jaw.

• The lovely dental assistant stroking my hair and saying “it’s OK, it’s OK.”

• Opening my eyes and seeing instruments that looked like a hammer and chisel being used to crack my tooth in pieces.

• The local anesthesia wearing off and my only being able to lift my arm and make an injection gesture in order to get more anesthesia. I remember doing this about 3 times, maybe more.

• Being led by the lovely dental assistant who took me to the x-ray room for a second x-ray. While I waited for Dr Arne and Dr Adrian to return, this angel dental assistant stroked my hair and kept saying “it’s OK, it’s OK.”

• More drilling sounds and intense pressure in my jaw.

• The left side of my lip slightly cracking open. Ouch.

• Dr Arne multiple times saying “we are nearly there, you are doing really well.”

• More drilling sounds and intense pressure in my jaw.

• My jaw being gripped and pushed in the opposite direction.

• The lovely dental assistant holding both sides of my head and saying “it’s OK, it’s OK.”

• Grunting noises as Dr Arne and Dr Adrian struggled to loosen the tooth.

At 1.35 pm I heard Dr Arne say, “I think we have it all, we just need you to have one more x-ray to make sure there is nothing left inside.” So I walked in a daze to the x-ray room and once again, painfully bit down on the x-ray machine guide and “flash” the x-ray was taken. 

When Dr Arne walked back into the room and said, “it’s all removed, that was one stubborn tooth that was connected to your jaw bone.” 

Oh, my word, the relief I felt. I then simply had to lie down again and Dr Arne stitched me up.

When I walked out to the waiting room with an icepack on my jaw, it was packed. I remember about seven pairs of eyes looking at me with annoyance as I had obviously caused their appointment to be delayed. I tried to smile apologetically, but smiling was physically impossible and the pain just not worth it.

Dr Arne and Dr Adrian came out and I remember one of them saying, “You have a very high pain threshold, I am so surprised that you did not faint.” It turns out the lovely dental assistant was holding both sides of my head as they were expecting me to faint and pass out from the pressure and pain. 

As I turned to leave, the seven sets of eyes were no longer looking at me with hostility, but rather they looked at me sympathetically and with a tinge of horror.

I was so glad to hop in a taxi and make my way home, where I promptly took some codeine and passed out for 12 hours. I am so glad that ordeal is over.