30 b

Extraction-o-rama

Buzzterm: "Manly ambition"

They (my doc and an assistant) made an attempt to pull molar 14 today, which has long been giving me trouble. This tooth was the initial reason I headed to NYU College of Destiny. Today they gave me three large shots of Novocaine, then lifted the gum around the tooth to remove it. What I didn't expect (neither did they) was the light-headedness. Novocaine contains ephedrine, which on an empty stomach, mimics the effects of anxiety. My pulse jumped and they were forced to stop the procedure, citing the underlying infection as the real reason they weren't able to extract.

So much for manly ambition in my teeth.

30

Gutta percha removed in Root Canal numero uno to make way for post. It is determined that a cast post will fit.

31

12.3.07, 5:00 pm

Root canal numero uno finished. Gutta percha is now lodged in my gum, to the root. GP is a polymer, and is used in latex. It's also used in my mouth.

Gutta percha's strength, melting point and bonding ability make it a good candidate for dental endodontics.

A painless experience, though invasive: scraping around in my head with what amounts --size wise-- to a trowel.

Cost: $450 (paid in 3 installments)