The one week reflection period is over! But I really had no choice if I wanted to live a normal life. I realised that I was in the best place to suffer these painful interventions.

First round - semi-final, but on both levels!

If I must, let them torment me where they can watch me. If I'm hot, they'll turn on the air conditioning, if I'm anxious, they'll comfort me. I even took both my problems for the second appointment, so the doctor wouldn't have an easier job. Let's test his humanity too! I tried to show myself as strong as he came towards me, but he's probably experienced enough to see that I'm completely crapping myself.

He greets me kindly and shows me in. He offers me a seat. I get settled... just as I'm about to sink into the shape of the chair, the assistant walks past behind me. It's not the same one as last time, but she reaches for the air conditioner remote just the same, and the defrosting begins. I'm almost starting to feel comfortable when the doctor addresses me.

„Zsolt. So we'll start your treatment today. It is very important that we do the curettage as a first step. This is necessary because it will completely eliminate bleeding from the gums, and besides, a clean periodontium is a prerequisite for healthy teeth.

I will clean the left side today, and the right side will follow tomorrow.”

That didn't make me feel any calmer. Especially when he told me that there would be a few jabs, which would not be very pleasant.

Let's start...

There's no sugarcoating it, I was terrified. The first one came. It wasn't too bad. The second... bearable... The third, okay... it stung a bit...

„This will be a bit more uncomfortable, but it's definitely necessary... and then comes a good, deep press, for a good long while into my gum... I hiss... ”Sorry,„ says the dentist.

I'm spitting out the feeling of fear... sorry? I'm trying to apologise, but my mouth is full, so I'm just letting you know with a little head shake and hand wave that you don't have to apologise. Anyway, this journey was much more bearable, which is, according to you, the only bad thing that will happen to me today. That sentence of yours had a surprisingly calming effect on me.

The plan turned out to be true! Because from then on, an hour and a half of surprisingly imperceptible torture followed. I felt the exertions, I felt that if I felt anything now, I would scream. But I felt nothing, only some stretching, strong pressing. Sometimes I opened my eyes, I saw that serious work was being done... I'm not disturbing you!

„We're ready!” - comes the sentence I've been waiting a week for. You rarely feel true gratitude, but at that moment, a great many years' worth of (dental) stone fell from my heart. I could hardly believe that the curettage, which made everyone's stomach clench a little last week, was all there was to it.

 

So this is what everyone fears? This is a painful dental procedure?

After a grateful goodbye, I step out onto the street as if I have been given a new life. It's almost dark. I call my family.

I was almost as proud of my heroic deed as Rambo was at the end of the second film. I think I even strode about similarly. Standing tall, feeling I'd accomplished something great today. Although I knew the credit wasn't mine, I still wanted to bask in it before admitting it to myself.

 

I survived a virtually painless procedure!

Right, but there was danger every moment! So I'm a hero to myself!

 

Are you interested in the background too?

Read Zsolt's first report of his experience, second and third part of it, too. And for the next part. Click here. If you've had similar experiences and would like to share them with others, please write to us at enisfeltem@naturadent.hu to.