As I lay reclined in the dental chair hypnotized by my mouth’s throbbing pulse, I closed my eyes and despite the pain competing for my full attention, I felt a sense of ease wash over me. I realised what this was about, this was a pause for me from the overwhelming responsibility and worry that I had now left behind at home.  No one could get to me for an hour or so.  I really didn’t care what the dentist had to do, as long as I could remain in the chair. It was as if I was on a remote island, reclining in a deck chair on a warm sunny day but yet so far from the truth of reclining in a dental chair with the heat and brightness coming from the overhead dental lamp. The fact that it didn’t matter at all, that the dental chair was just fine, impressed such a feeling of relief over me.

Peering at the x-rays the dentist shook his head in disbelieve and with a compassionate look on his face confirmed to me ‘another root canal’   The ‘USUAL’ ; a prescription for antibiotics and pain killers, an appointment made for my root canal(my 9th) lastly followed by an appointment for my crown fitting. Of course, that was if I had a horse to sell. This scenario provided some laughs in the dental office who by now were beginning to feel like extended family. All of my crowns had names; each one named after the horse I had to sell.

It was a sure thing that I would have a root canal when Jason had surgery, radiation or any trauma happening. My dentist had never seen such a case as mine. There was no logical explanation for so many root canals as my dental hygiene checkups were unremarkable.  He knew of the enormous stress I was under and said “this is just the way your body deals with it and your teeth are the receivers.”  . My teeth for sure were the radar of my internal stress. My teeth paid the price for years of extreme turmoil and they still do to this day. I told my dentist that I definitely deserved a plaque (now there’s a pun) on the dentist’s wall and a gold name plate on my chair that I figured I now owned. My dentist was so good to me. When I was at the Montreal Neurological Hospital with Jason I had a terrible flare up. All of my teeth were hurting and on edge, it felt like an electrical current was running through them along with throbbing and inflamed gums. Of course it was a weekend but thank goodness the dentist had kindly given me his home number before I had left for Montreal, just in case I had an emergency. He called in a prescription to Montreal right away to get me through until I could get back to Ottawa to see him and Yes! Another root canal!!!!!!! It was such a comfort knowing that he would help me and make life easier for me. Of course after a recent episode of 3 root canals in a row he knew what the routine was with me. My teeth were so connected to my state of well-being.

My mouth now is an assortment of crowns, gaps, and bridges with a few original teeth remaining! My dentist has since retired!!!!!