Fun is in the eye (or mouth) of the beholder

AGMA went to the dentist this morning.

You can tell because I have this obvious droop on the right side of my upper lip.  I look like I’m sneering at people.

More than usual.

I’m at the age when the dental work I had back in my teens and twenties is starting to disintegrate.  Not really too bad since that was 45 years ago!  In a weird way, AGMA is glad that I’ve lived long enough to be able to have problems with old dental work.

Does that make sense?

And my teeth are exponentially better than my brother (12 years older) or my sister (6 years older) who’ve had innumerable root canals and other seriously ouchy sounding work done on their teeth and gums.

So, overall, AGMA’s making lemonade out of “you need to have crowns put on 2 teeth” lemons.

Right now, I’m back in my very favorite coffee shop, sitting in my very favorite seat (and it’s really crowded so…SCORE!), starving.  Obviously, not literally.  My arse (big enough to have its own zip code) will tell you loud and clear that I am really quite the opposite.  Well fed.

VERY well fed.

Because my lips are still numb, the coffee I’m drinking is dribbling now and then ever so slightly out of my mouth.  I really can’t feel if my lips are closed or not.

It’s kinda cute.

Dr. S said I had to wait an hour before I ate anything.  Which really screws with my writing routine.

I always order a large mocha (no whip) and a scone.  It’s with this delicious sustenance that AGMA is able to be witty and humorous.  Sometimes.

15 more minutes and I can snag my scone.

Have I mentioned that I love my dentist?  When I first went to Dr. S over 7 years ago, I was coming off of a long stretch of not going to the dentist.  This, along with using a toothpaste without fluoride, and not flossing on a regular basis, was not good for AGMA. Really not good.

I am here to say that one can do stupid things even into their late 50’s.  But then you already know that based on the stupid nonsense coming from the GOP these days…

Dr. S is a great guy and very non-judgmental.  Or preachy.  He’s very gentle and does a great job of explaining without alarming.  If you know what I mean.  And he doesn’t recommend having work done unless it is really absolutely necessary.   And the work he does is very well done.

Anyway, without giving graphic details, I had periodontal disease and had to be “scraped”.

YUCK!

But hallelujah!  AGMA saw the light (translation – I don’t EVER want to go through that again if I can help it.) and now walks the dental straight and narrow.  I got an electric toothbrush, switched back to toothpaste with fluoride, and have invested heavily in floss and different mouth rinses.  I’ve also become a crusader for good dental hygiene.

My top piece of advice for millennials…floss every day.  Multiple times if possible.

So today was the 2nd visit of getting the crown on the first tooth.

As is the case with any outstanding dentist, his solo practice is always hopping.  But his staff does a great job of scheduling and there’s rarely a wait to get whatever work that you are there for, done.  Today he was busier than usual and I had to wait for him a bit for step 1 (the shot of Novocaine.) Did I mention that I barely feel it when he gives me a shot?

When he stepped into my “area” (because you don’t get your own room like you did in the old days – you get a cubby.), I mentioned to him that he seemed crazy busy today.  He said it was indeed a busy morning, but because he loves what he does, it’s all good.

“I’m like a kid jumping from playground to playground, and I love it!”, he said with a look of sheer delight.

Seriously.

AGMA really never thought of my teeth/mouth as a dentist’s playground, but why the frack not?

Now THAT’S the kind of dentist everybody should have!

Jealous?

So I have my scone now, the mouth droop is almost gone (and I’m not dribbling anymore!) and I got a 2nd mocha.

Life is good.

Now if only the Senate would call witnesses, read all the testimony, have a fair trial, and convict the mad squatter in the WH, life would be awesome.

Thank you John Bolton and whoever leaked that book transcript for making this a, if only very faint, possibility!

It’s going to get really interesting.

Popcorn anyone?