The Dentist

Others Stories | Jan 9, 2012 | 4 min read
44 Votes, average: 4 out of 5
Ned Reed didn't like the dentist, but he had to go; the pain was too much now. For almost  a week he had endured the abscess and agonising toothache that accompanied it. He had gone through sleepless nights, popping Co-codamol like it was candy and one more than one occasion he had tried to pop the abscess himself. That had been the last of his stupid ideas, and he had paid for that, too.

He had rang the emergency dentist only yesterday, and told the nurse on the line the whole story. She told him that on the information he had provided, it was likely the tooth had to be extracted. That, Ned thought, wasn't going to happen. He was frightened of the dentist, and thus never attended check-ups. He brushed, daily, but that had not been enough to stop bacteria in the fissures of his teeth from decaying the tooth-at the root. Pain followed that, and Ned was obliged to call the dentist. The appointment was made for the following day.

He didn't sleep the night before the appointment. The thoughts swept through his terrified mind. Would it hurt? Yes, it always hurts, his inner voice said. It will hurt more than anything in this world. Even the Novocaine wouldn't work, Ned thought, morbidly. He slept then, for three hours and they were dreamless.

The waiting room was brightly lit. Ned walked up to the recetionist and gave his name. He was shaking and sweating. There were a few people sat on the chairs,  as scared as Ned was, it seemed. There was a young girl, no more than seven years old, who was clinging to a teddy so tightly it's head seemed to swell, and an old man in the corner was visibly sweating. The ambience of the place was morbid. The room was decorated with various posters about oral health, one procliamed: BRUSH TWICE A DAY! It shown a picture of a young girl brushing her teeth as her mother stood and watched.

The clock on the opposite wall ticked away, the time of Ned's appointment looming closer.

The young girl was next. When she came out, she had a sticker saying 'I WAS BRAVE!' Her mother ushered her out of the door. The girl had been crying; her eyes were puffy.

'Mr Reed,' a females voice said from the speaker. 'Room six, with Doctor Cozier, please.' He got up slowly, terrified that what would happen today was going to hurt like a bastard. He went through the door and into a small corridor that led to the dentist's room.

He was met by the nurse in room six, where the doctor was preparing his tools. They looked huge and foreboding, like the guy was ready to dig up a road, not remove a tooth.

'Hello, Mr Reed,' Crozier said. He looked huge, at least six-six. He motioned at Ned to sit in the chair. The room was pure white. The leather chair looked like a sadists dream.  Crozier sat on a small stool next to the chair, his tools neatly placed on a trolley. His nurse, Sharon, prepared the dose of Novocaine.

He lay back and stared at the dentist with worried eyes.

'Hi,' Reed said back, a little shaken. 'I'm not too keen on dentists,' he added. He gave Crozier a wry grin and stared at him. Crozier chuckled in response.

'The amount of times I hear that, Mr Reed. If I had a quarter for every time I did, I wouldn't be here. Why, I'd be lounging on Miami beach!' Crozier said with enthusiasm. He held the needle in his hand; held it like his life depended on it and said 'Ok, Mr Reed, sharp scratch.'

The needle disappeared into Neds mouth and pinched his gum. The pain was tremendous to Ned, and he winced. His Eyes watered.

'There,' Crozier said, 'that wasn't so bad was it?'

'I guess not,' Ned replied, clearly lying. The needle hurt, but then he felt it. First he felt his right arm going dead, then his right leg. His tongue felt too big for his mouth. He tried to talk to the dentist, but all that came out was spittle and a slur. The realisation was kicking in: The rest of his body was going numb, but he could still feel the pain in his jaw. He tried to tell Crozier this, but he failed. Crozier continued to fill Neds gum with Novocaine.

Crozier looked at his nurse and said something that Ned could barely hear, he was slipping away, like falling asleep. Only he wasn't falling asleep, he was becoming numb. But his jaw wasn't. He heard the Dentist mutter something, but it was inaudible.

Crozier held an implement in his hand. It looked like a small drill. It was a dull grey colour, and it looked horribly evil to Ned, who still couldn't move.

This isn't right, he thought, still trying to let Crozier know that the anaesthetic was working a little too well. He was glued to the chair, his whole body a prison.

I want to scream, Ned thought. I want to run away from this...BUT I CAN'T MOVE! His mind tried to move his arms, but the connection was not made, and nothing happened. His mind wasn't connected to his body. The Novocaine had paralysed him, head to toe.

'Tut, tut, Mr Reed,' Crozier said. He could see Ned was sweating. 'I know you are paralysed, and now I must  work. Nurse, help me out...'  Crozier motioned for her to put the radio on. When she did, the Ohio Players sang about a 'Love Rollercoaster,' and Crozier smiled. 'This won't take long, Mr Reed, I promise it will hurt... a lot.

Crozier went in.

'Mr Reed?...' A voice swimming from the unknown. 'Mr Reed?' The voice seemed robotic.

Ned woke up. The bright light of the dentists waiting room straining his eyes. Horror dawned on him then.

'Mr Reed,' the nurse said, 'the dentist will see you now....'

The End.

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