Stories Of My Life #002

Breathe through your nose 

It was Tuesday afternoon as I headed to the dentist. Checked in with the receptionist, I sat in this leather armchair with a swollen jaw and a severe toothache. I was nervous, as always! Clinics and hospitals have always scared me. My heart races, throat dries and I am suddenly cold, each time I am seated in one of these 'not-so-comfortable' chairs. The 'White Coat' phobia kicked in as I sat there trying not to imagine every possible thing that could go wrong when the dentist works on my tooth. 

Ten minutes later, the dentist arrived. He looked at my tooth, asked the routine questions and directed me to this dimly lit room where he began setting up a fairly complex machine. Take a seat - he said. Let's take a quick X-ray to check the damage done to your tooth. 

Grabbing my purse with one hand and coat with the other, I briefly sat down as he emerged with a rectangular frame carrying a thin X-ray film. Bite this between your teeth in a way that one of it's lengthy side rests on your damaged tooth - he ordered with a stern voice. Hold it in place till I take the X-ray and do not move until I say so - he added handing that little rectangle to me.

(Really?) Do I have to put this in my mouth? I have a swollen jaw that is hard to open for water, let alone this frame. I exclaimed. To which he replied - Yes. It should not be that hard.  

Having no choice, I decided to get over with this. With all my attention I put the frame between my teeth and held it firm, waiting for him to click the picture. The foreign object in my mouth made me restless. It was really a matter of seconds but it felt like forever and before he could finish the X-ray, I felt an intense gag rising up my throat. Oh No! I am going to throw up!! - I thought. Suppressing the gag for another second, I held the frame in but he still kept fiddling with the machine and before I knew my flight had taken over the fight and I pulled that object out of my mouth. My purse and coat had slid away and my heart was racing even faster!

Disappointed, we both exchanged stern looks as he handed me a new frame. Attempt number 2.
Don't think about it. It really will need less than a minute - he was trying to help.
The sick feeling had passed by now and we agreed to try again.
Don't swallow and don't move - he added. 

Gearing up all my will I pushed the frame in my mouth but as soon as it went in, the gag came up rushing - this round 10 fold stronger. ...and the frame was out, again.

After several failed attempts, I lost hope. What if I never manage to get the X-ray? Do all dentists use such edgy frames? How will they ever operate on my tooth? Will I ever feel better? Questions of all sorts crowded my mind.

The dentist was frustrated. My toothache had gone worse and I was exhausted. We were almost giving up as he suddenly blurted - Breathe through your nose and keep breathing when the frame is in your mouth. Remember, we breathe through our nose, not mouth! 

O Yes! I felt like an idiot! That is why I have been gagging - I said shyly. All this time I went on complaining about everything to do with this X-ray business without even once thinking that it was me who was at fault and not the system!

Having found the solution to our misery, we gathered our strength to do this one last time. Taking a deep breathe, I held the frame between my teeth and continued to breathe whilst he eventually managed to take that picture!  

It was all done. I was given a prescription. The X-ray results would be ready in two days time.
Stepping out of the clinic, I thought of those moments of failure; moments when how easily I blamed all things possible for the problem not realizing that the solution in fact, laid with me.

Sitting in that cold dark room, with a swollen jaw, this nerdy dentist had just given me a lesson for life!  

- Tejas Kulkarni

   26 January 2017