After a day at work stoned out of my mind on Motrin and fighting the aftereffects of a power failure, I left the office and headed for home for the appointment at the endodontist's.

As the title of this post implies, I'm due for a root canal in about two weeks' time. The botched crown my last dentist installed somehow allowed something nasty to swim down into the tooth (which wasn't hollowed out, incidentally, just capped) and eventually take up residence.

I've started antibiotics and I've got analgesics out the yin-yang.

This morning, as I mentioned previously, I had made an appointment with a local dentist (Dr. Calvin Nguyen; 8622 Lee Highway, Suite A; Fairfax, VA 22031; telephone number 703-876-4600) to have two capped molars checked out because one of them has been giving me no end of trouble. I showed up about an hour early to fill out the requisite paperwork and get things worked out, and then went in for the main show.

Dr. Nguyen took a pair of x-rays and examined the area. Percussive sensitivity: Minimal. Temperature sensitivity: Ohholyshitstopstopstop...

No inflammation, no discharge, no bleeding.. just pain that …