dentistry and music

Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes - (I’ve Had) The Time Of My Life

I was at the dentist’s yesterday getting drilled into (that’s what she said).  I was put under Nitrous Oxide, which is the best part of any dentist trip I’ve ever been on (pun intended).  It’s really strange because you feel how a toddler must feel — you’re trapped in a booster seat watching food on a spoon zoom around your face to a mother’s airplane sounds.

I also sweat a lot under the gas.

It’s also a little bit difficult with the gas because I’m a mouth breather; I always have to concentrate really hard on only breathing with my nose.  There is usually at least one moment when I’m under the gas where I get a sudden urge to freak out and rip off the whole apparatus.  I don’t think this will ever change.

I’m not sure what song was playing on the radio; I don’t remember because I was under the gas.  If I had to guess (which is exactly what I am doing), I would say it was this one from the Dirty Dancing soundtrack.  But this might be the compounded nature of my consciousness; I saw the VHS of Dirty Dancing in my living room downstairs because my Mom had taken it out to watch it a few days ago.  In any case, the gas from the dentist made everything a little bit wonky, and so the music from the song came through my ears like a weird remix by sixteen year olds done haphazardly in GarageBand.  I began thinking about how the song was maybe better this way (as a to-myself indictment, mostly, of easy-listening radio).  This made me sort of laugh.  It was a kind of stoner-giggle that must’ve been embarrassing.  But I suppose this is why they call it “laughing gas.”

I think I chose this song because it’s a bit ironic when paired with a trip to the dentist.  So when you listen to the song, think about the last time you were at the dentist.  Think about Nitrous Oxide, or needles.  It’s kind of funny.

I got three small cavities fixed; I laughed at easy-listening radio; I soaked my shirt with sweat; it cost a lot of money.  I had the time of my life.