<img id="rg_hi" class="alignright" src="https://encrypted-tbn2.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTWlu7fDWk5PNrd9xX35ev7-6apIvmwWUE3YiLTpFO3DHXfkM7M" alt="" width="215" height="150" data-height="188" data-width="269" />It's a long time since I've had any major dental work. About 3 years ago I had a tooth break and rather than have it extracted I just asked the dentist to fill it. Eventually the filling fell out and there was some infection which led to toothache, the kind that just won't go away unless one takes a cocktail of paracetamol and ibuprofen. So I had to decide - extract or try to repair.

There's something psychological about losing teeth, a sign of weakness and of course aging so I opted for repair but before a post could be inserted in the broken tooth, the root canal had to be removed, and so to today's experience. I knew it was going to be a long process, over an hour and there would be two sessions but I wasn't prepared for my mouth to be wrapped in latex and it to be stretched open for the whole process. No it wasn't painful thanks to plenty of anaesthetic but it was uncomfortable and six hours later my jaw still feels as though it has been dislocated and the numbness hasn't receded completely however there's no pain or discomfort for which I'm really grateful. Am I looking forward to the next session in August? Certainly not but it isn't as bad as my imagination