Cleaned

Periodontal visits can’t be avoided and I’m running
late, on my way. Call and ask to speak with the receptionist. Confusion
ensues, my mouth’s wide open for the first time today,
and it won’t be the last. Clamped wide, "need to take the edge off?"
sir, sir, yes please. "What do you have available?"
endless gas, son.
 
because I haven’t done my homework I’m
reprimaned by an effeminate Spaniard.
uncle! I cry.
supply me more nitrous!
he releases more gas into the hose.
 
a picture on the ceiling entertains me,
nasau, in the Bahama’s. I drift away
dead.
 
floating away now, drifting in and out of
levity
out of touch with the world, and my
son observes the connections and
stainless implements.
 
rinse water, then a powerful, cutting spray. It sounds like fingernails on an
easel, slicing through my
gums and teeth.
uncle! I cry. "More gas," The Spaniard shakes his head: "you’ve reached your
limit, senor."
a spot on the ceiling, I take the edge off, focusing and drifting in nasau.
rinse again, there is the metallic taste of blood in my mouth.
little am I aware, I am a drooling idiot.
yet I am semi - coherent.
 
flouride wash, the screeching is replaced and my
open mouth is
rinsed again with a cooling solution. "Make this a regular habit, you’ll avoid
 
dentures." Assures the Spanish hygenist."
easy for him to say, it’s my mouth he’s violating. Last five minutes of
nitrous, then rouse me from my groggy sleep.
the picture on the ceiling has completely blurred out at this point
and my son is a balloon
lazily floating away.
 
he shakes my arm, "daddy can I play with this…
electric drill…" I mumble something, panicked but he’s no more serious than I
am aware. I am given ten
long minutes of pure oxygen
to make me crisp again. And then I
head home.