I had root canal surgery on one of my upper right molars and now the right side of my face is swollen. It is entirely unpleasant and quite unattractive. I look like I have a permanent piece of cotton in my mouth. It hurts to make any sideway motions with my jaw and the immediate area of the surgery still feels quite raw. I fear an infection. Every now and then, the wound throbs. I also does not help that the discomfort/pain makes me unconsciously clench my jaw every few minutes, which in turn makes throbbing more intense.

I've never been afraid of going to the doctors 'cause I'm not scared of blood, needles or any of that stuff. But going to the dentist puts scares me shitless. And it doesn't help that my dentist does not believe in putting people under. Cavities, surgeries, extractions, all done with local anesthesia. Imagine being fully awake and lucid, knowing full well that your dentist has just sliced open your gum with a sharp object and is now prying open that bleeding wound so as to poke at your roots with other sharp objects. Doesn't that sound like fun? I blame China for all the tooth-related pain I've suffered.