Looking back at my life, there are many defining moments.  It’s the impressions from my youth that stand out the most.  The first time your parents betray your trust by telling an embarrassing story they promised to never tell.  Or the first time you overcome your fear of heights by jumping off a cliff or high dive.  For me, my first experience with drugs changed how I would view certain medical professionals for the rest of my life.  I would always look back with a sense of skepticism and annoyance that would never go away.   What am I babbling on about you ask?  My first experience under the knife of a dentist!

I was twelve years old when I first began to notice a pain in my mouth.  I am a avid tooth brusher and have never had a cavity in my entire life and up to this point my teeth had grown in perfectly strait.  So when my jaw started to ache consistently I was truly annoyed and befuddled.  After nagging my parents enough, they finally took me to the dentist.  Oh yes it was a week of complaining about constant agony before I was able to convince them this was serious.

To my detriment the first dentist took X-rays and saw my wisdom teeth coming in a bit to close to my other teeth.  This dentists schedule was booked for three weeks and he referred me over to another.  The other dentist required more x-rays and was booked for two weeks.   Alas, I waited for two weeks with a constant pain in order to get my wisdom teeth removed. 

When the day arrived for my surgery I was excited and annoyed all at once.  Two weeks I had to wait and we were the ones paying him.   At a young age I was much aware of the worth of money and I was not pleased with the service.  I walked into the office and finally felt a sense of relief at the thought of it finally being over.  I was taken into a room and sat on a chair.  They were about to knock me out for the surgery and gave me a small pain reliever before the anesthetic.  For the first time in weeks I felt the pain go away.  I relaxed in the chair and did a nice cozy snuggle and awaited the big show.  This was when it happened.  The Dentist looked at me with and said with a disdainful tone, “ We haven’t even given you the anesthetic yet, don’t pretend to act drugged” .  Even after being put under the anesthetic I remember my grand annoyance at his comment and also my quick reply.  In aftermath. I am not sure insulting a man who is about to perform surgery on me was a good idea.  My little whitty 12 year old mind replied to the dentists quip with, “ I bloody know I am not drugged ass, I haven’t been waiting two weeks in pain only to pay you to insult me.  So shall we get on with it”.  Dead silence took over the room. My last memories was of a nurse chuckling and asking me to count back from 10, and I remember 7 being the last number.

Thankfully, I woke up physically in great condition for 4 wisdom teeth being extracted.  I woke up groggy and stumbled out like a drunk, but I have to admit my first experience with hard drugs left me with an everlasting annoyance with dentists.