so my dentist feels that i should probably have come back to have the pain in my teeth investigated some time relatively soon after i had the fillings done. but i felt that going to the dentist only leads to pain, and some pain that could be avoided by simply never eating cold things on the left side of my mouth was better than guaranteed pain (dentist). except i kept forgetting not to eat cold things on the left side of my mouth, and it was getting really really bad, and finally i had no choice but to admit defeat and, after about 18 months, return to the dentist that i’d been so assiduously avoiding. (he’s not a bad dentist; in fact, he’s a pretty good one, and not particularly fearsome. it’s just, tooth maintenance = pain is one of the great inalienable truths of modern life, and i like to weigh in on the side of avoiding pain wherever possible, even if it inevitably leads to being lectured while lying back in a funny chair while a bright lamp shines right in your face.)

words you never like to hear when you’ve gone to the dentist complaining of “extraordinary” sensitivity to cold in one particular tooth: “nurse, get the cold kit out of the freezer!” — not that it was all bad, though. indeed no, the first four or so places he tried were merely slightly cold sensitive. the fifth one had me reflexively curling up in the chair and whimpering, but i didn’t actually knee or kick anyone in the curling, so i figure they got out okay.

in the end, they decided that the fillings i had put in last time were sticking out too far, or something, which led to the teeth being put under pressure, or something, which led to the nerve in one tooth being HEY WAIT A MINUTE QUIT IT ALREADY, or something, so they got the friendly local drill and did a little sanding down, and gave me some sensitive-tooth toothpaste with instructions to let it really sink in… and then they made me my next appointment so i can’t get away again. tricksy dentistses, hurts precious, yesss. :( (but at least they didn’t mention having any more fillings put in — hah!)