The Root Canal That Didn't Happen
About 2 months ago, I had filling fall out, and it was replaced by a cap. After two weeks it was still hurting significantly. Back to the dentist.
His advice: “Still hurting? Well, that was a big hole. You probably need a root canal. Here is my guy who does that. He’s great. Give him a call.”
All nice and fine, but he didn’t have an appointment for me for six weeks! Nu, shoin. (Ok, whatever). I don’t have time for this anyway, and I can eat on the other side.
Time flies when you are having fun, and while I was still not happy with how things felt, eventually, I forgot that my tooth was hurting.
Wait? What?
When did I remember? Well, when the secretary called to remind me that I have an appointment the next day and I said, “Yes, yes, I remember! It is on my calendar for tomorrow afternoon.”
So, here is the place where, years ago, I would have just gone through the root canal.
So, here is the place where, years ago, I would have just gone through the root canal.
I went to sleep thinking, “I am going to have a root canal tomorrow.” I woke up thinking, “Why am I going to have a root canal?”
I could not focus on my work. I was in a very strange weird place. And I was ignoring myself and this internal conversation that I was having.
I got to the doc’s office a bit early so I had time to sit with a hot cup of coffee. Nope, no sensitivity to heat. No pain when I bit down. Why was I going to have a root canal?
Oh, I know why. Because I didn’t cancel in a timely manner, and that is not fair to the doctor.
Wait? What?
Well, then, maybe because I don’t want to make a scene or just not show up.
Well, then, maybe because I don’t want to make a scene or just not show up.
Wait? What?
And then all of my training kicked in.
Think! Yes, I made an appointment for a root canal and no, the tooth doesn’t hurt.
Yell! Use my words. What do I want to say to the doctor. “Hey, guess what? For six week, I've actually forgotten that I was in pain. I mean the pain is no longer there and while I am really sorry, I don’t think I need a root canal.”
His response. “Okay, let me just take a look.” He took a picture. Poked around. And then said, “looks fine now, call me if it starts hurting again."
And though I offered, he refused to let me pay for his time.
WIN!
