root canal

Yesterday I experienced a root canal. Basically, I have a bad tooth that needed a lot of work. It originally had a filling, but since I grind my teeth so much, I broke my tooth and the filling, and I've basically been without about one-third of that tooth for about six months. The root canal was necessary to seal up the nerves and make sure I don't infected, which is a bit scary to me. So, the doctor drilled out a decent-sized hole in my tooth, down to where he could get to the nerve. Then he filled the nerves with something like cement to basically kill the nerves and stop them from ever getting infection. Hopefully.

I guess I should say that I went to Dr. Newberry at Endodontics of the Ozarks. He was recommended to me by 417 Smiles.

Here's the real deal: I was really scared. I was nervous about this procedure. Honestly, I thought I might die. I thought that I needed to tell Kristin, "I love you" before I died. The situation forced me into thinking about what I wanted the last thing to be that I communicated to Kristin. It was rather surreal, in my mind, at least. I love Kristin so much, and I'm so scared of losing her, or even of her losing me.

I tried to stay calm through the whole check-in/preparation time, but my heart was racing and I couldn't stop it. When things finally started, when the doctor came, I think he could tell I was nervous. But when he really got going, I just closed my eyes, focused on steady, deep breaths, and said Psalm 23 to myself over and over.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

I remember having to write Psalm 23 over and over and over in elementary school, and I still remember it in that old translation, the King James, to this day. I said that psalm over and over in my head, and it calmed me so much. When everything was over, the doctor even said I did some "pretty serious mind-over-matter calming stuff." That made me feel good, but it also reinforced how good God is to me, and how thankful I need to be to him for his protection and comfort. 

I wanted to thank the doctor for his work, but he seriously already had another patient ready to roll. He was working so fast. I will totally recommend Dr. Newberry to anybody who asks, but I also have to recommend Jesus as well. They're both really good at what they do.