the savoy truffle and tic douloureax

Even though the appointment isn't until 5:00pm today, I am already dreading my afternoon dental appointment.

I am always reminded of the Beatles' song Savoy Truffle, which John Lennon wrote about Eric Clapton's candy addiction and subsequent dental woes. And when you consider I'm only going in for a cleaning, it becomes even more apparent how much of a wuss I am.

My near-phobia of dentists seems to run in the family. My older brother has to literally be sedated for cleaning, even though the dentist never finds cavities - just a lot of nicotine. And I was terrified of dentists from pre-school.

I finally got a grip in my 30s, but then a cleaning in 2008 may or may not have triggered what was eventually diagnosed as tic douloureux. Which is every bit as painful as it's described.

If I hadn't gone to my wonderful endodontist Hedley (that's really his name), I probably would have insisted that my regular dentist remove every upper molar on the left side of my face. Fortunately, he refused to remove more than one, and I was eventually diagnosed and cured with the help of my doctor friend Elizabeth and a Botox-wielding neurologist.

The only problem with Botox is that it usually isn't a permanent cure. I don't know if I would want to opt for the surgery or more Botox (no, the injection does not improve my looks).