ODONTOPHOBIA:

fear of dental surgery.


My odontophobia established itself the moment my dentist told me my wisdom teeth had to come out right away.

He smiled reassuringly. I cried unabashedly.

And then I put it off. For nine years.

One day I woke up and decided I could handle it, provided I was unconscious. Then the surgeon told me general anesthesia was no longer an option.

He smiled reassuringly. I cried unabashedly. And then I did it anyway, like a real grown-up.

It was not that bad. The only unpleasantness was the sound of the novocaine injections. I remember thinking it sounded like someone sticking a fork into a well-cooked hot dog...over and over again.

The percocet did not hurt either.