Timeline

7:10 – Leave home for the oral surgeon’s office. A mile from home, I realize I forgot my phone on the ottoman, but I did remember a book.  Turn around or keep going? I didn’t turn around.

7:20 – No traffic causing issues, now I’m early. Guess I will read a couple of pages.

7:25 – Someone entered the office, so I decide to go in too. Left my book in the car.

7:30 – I’m surprised to find there are three other people waiting. Hmmm, guess I won’t be going in right away. This waiting room is set up like a coffee shop: couches, small tables with chairs,  even an electric wood stove with a fake fire burning in it. A table lamp and two wall sconces give off soft light, however that is ruined by the bright overhead fluorescent lights. Of course there is a coffee machine and a water cooler. I select a hard back chair so I can stand up quickly when they call my name. Those couches are way too low to the ground. They will be calling my name soon, right?

7:45 – Waiting and wondering if I should go out to get my book. I decide to stay. Since I don’t have my phone, I take out my notepad to jot down my observations and thoughts. Why in the world do they schedule so many people for the same time? Another person arrives. She announces she has an 8:00 appointment. I think, Good luck with that, you aren’t going any time close to eight. She must have come straight from her bed, she’s wearing fleece pajama bottoms (but she didn’t forget her phone).

7:50 – Two of the four waiting are called to the back. I continue to watch. There are magazines in a rack on the wall and a bookcase filled with coffee table types of books. I muse to myself that waiting rooms no longer need to supply reading material. I am the only one here not staring at a screen and using a thumb to scroll. I think, should I go get my book? I want to get my book, I don’t get my book. I consider the offerings on the bookcase. I see an Ansel Adam’s book I’d like to look at, but thinking about flu germs keeps the book out of my hands.

7:55 – Another person is called to the back. When is it my turn?

8:00 – Someone who went back is now coming out, but she continues on to her car. She returns with a jacket. Should I have brought a blanket, is it that cold back there?

8:05 – A teenager is wheeled out, he is wearing the jacket. He must have had wisdom teeth taken out. He is slurring his words and looks pretty loopy.

8:15 – It’s me and pajama girl, waiting. I should have gotten my book from the car.

8:25 – My name is called (finally!). I get the room farthest away. I settle into the chair and now we go through the questions. She takes my blood pressure, it’s a little higher than normal. Not surprised.

8:35 – The oral surgeon comes in, more questions, brief exam of the broken tooth. He leaves and gives his assistant instructions of what to set up. He tells me it will take about five minutes to get the tooth out. Really!?

8:40 – More consent forms to sign and she places the dental bib. Finally we will be starting!

8:50 – Topical numbing of my gums followed by novocaine injection. That’s some strong stuff! The roof of my mouth is numb immediately.

9:00 – Surgeon is back and ready. He warns me of cracking sounds, pressure, more cracking, bite down, we’re done.

Biting down on gauze to stop the bleeding.

9:06 – I’m walking out the door with my instructions.

9:18 – I’m home to find my husband has made a comfy bed on the couch with all necessary items an arms length away. Boy am I lucky!