I have appointments all set up with my dentist to have all of my remaining top teeth and the bottom four front teeth extracted in January and for the dentures starting in March. By mid-may I will have a lovely smile but until then I will be pretty much toothless as I will only have five teeth remaining on the bottom.
I’m experiencing a high level of anxiety in anticipation of the extractions and then going so long without teeth. The dental assistant was reassuring as she explained that the dentist is the best, there won’t be any pain and I’ll have a prescription for something to help relax me beforehand, and a prescription for Tylenol 3’s for any discomfort that follows. It helped a bit but I’m still kind of freaking out inside.
It’s faster and less anxiety provoking than having the extractions done at the hospital. To have them extracted at the hospital means pre-op bloodwork, paperwork, and a long wait. Having my teeth extracted by the dentist will be quick and simple, no hospital paperwork, no bloodwork and not too much waiting.
I don’t feel good about having to have my teeth extracted, I’m actually kind of bummed out. I’m not sure if I will cry with each tooth pulled or wait until I get home. I may end up doing both or not crying at all. I guess we’ll find out on the big day.
Memories are triggered of when I went through the double mastectomy and reconstruction. I went sixteen weeks with no breasts while I healed and waited for the reconstruction process to begin. I don’t think I really cried until the first time I saw staples where my breasts used to be. It looked like there were two zippers across my chest.
The day will come up fast, it is less than a month away but it sometimes feels like the waiting is gonna kill me. If I could have it done today, I would.
My Phoenix Rising 