Phoenix Talons & Ginseng

Warren chatted cheerfully about my sister (his colleague) and his family's migration from South Africa, as I sat numbly in the spearmint green dental chair, open mouthed, open to the possibility of a painful or good extraction. You wouldn't have guessed by his light manner, but he's the best in the biz. But still, one cheek twitch from me, one instrument slip and I'd be a goner.

My top wisdom teeth had come through straight and were even being useful. Good wizzies can stay.

However, my two lower wisdom decided to grow diagonally, steadfastly head-butting the dignified molars in front, who stayed straight. A dormant dental danger. They crowded the joynt. They posed an infection risk. They had to go.

Warren started on the left one to loosen it up, his wrist tendons in perfect tension. But they put up a fight. Teeth can't dig in their heels, so they grow little hooks at the end the root to protest against extraction. His lovely assistant sent for a special instrument from CSSD. As he waited, he went to work, gripping the right tooth driving it in a circular motion with just a little tilt...

*Crack!*

That was on purpose.

The right one had to came out in pieces because of the 3 roots, a long, thick, curved root, and two shorter roots, one with a wiley hook. I dub thee: Phoenix Talon.

I meant to say "WoW! Thanks!!" to express appreciation, but it came out sounding like "OoO! Anfh!!" because of the utensils and anesthetics in my mouth.

Warren: 1
Wizzies: 0


The left tooth lost its nerve and conceded defeat. It came one in one piece minutes after the right. Lefty also had a thick root, and two others, but the little hook on it was less gripping. It shall be known as Ginseng (pictured).

South Africa had trained Warren well, with its high HIV infection rate and its frantic working schedule. Even formidable Phoenix Talon and great Ginseng took less than an hour.

The dental nurse gushed with genuine admiration. "He makes it look so easy!! He got it out without cutting bone, even though yours were really bad!" she beamed.

And because of that, my cheeks didn't puff up any more than usual. Also, I didn't lose any sleep. Within days I came off pain-killers and was onto exam study.

Thank you, Warren!