Force Feeding Vegetables
Force feeding vegetables
as my appointment nears
My stomach in knots
my brain won’t shut off
It has been 2 weeks
Since the initial sharp pain
With hot and cold
I’ve tried to adapt
The dentist was wrong
The endodontist was kind
I didn’t need antibiotics
Root canal may not be needed
So I’m having my filling replaced
Like I initially asked
I should never question my gut
Even when doctors do
I’m ready for the nightmares to stop
This is worse than usual
Because it’s my front tooth
A part of my smile
In one I forgot earbuds
Another my tooth cracked off
In one I took my pill too late
and had a visit from an old derby friend
I don’t understand
Why an office that advertises
Sedation dentistry
Tries to talk you out of pills
Treating me like I’m drug-seeking
Or overreacting
When I’ve done this for 20 years
I miss my Minnesota dentist
“You’re so sensitive”
He says at every appointment
Like I don’t already know
Like it’s a surprise
But this office is better
Than the other two I tried
The first was sloppy
The other gaslit me
Almost worse than the pain
Is not being heard
I know my body
Better than you
Next time I find a new dentist
I will ask about medication
So there are no surprises
Before I go in
I’ve lost too much sleep
Over this one tooth
Fixation isn’t helpful
But I can’t turn my brain off