"Oh, the pain, the pain", one of many quotes originating from Lost in Space in the 1960s, was the only thing crossing my mind 2 days ago when yet another of my molars started dishing out excruciating pain. I detailed the first instance when I wrote about escaping my dental pain.

11 months ago, a mentioned my plan to have all my teeth removed when I said I have serious dental work pending. The plan was to get it done in 2 to 3 months. Well, plans often get ruined or postponed by other, more pressing matters. Obviously, it didn't happen as planned or I wouldn't be telling you about my latest dental emergency now.

Anyway… 2 days ago, pain started emanating from the upper left area of my teeth. The last 3 teeth on that side had lost fillings, so I had no idea which one was causing the pain. Since it was too late to go to the dentist, I numbed the pain by gargling with brandy. It's a local brand that ran me less than a dollar for a pint and it did the job. It didn't completely remove the pain, but it made it bearable enough for me to sleep.

Yesterday morning, while I was in the shower, Joshua (one of my wife's brothers) went to the former dental office at the bottom of the hill to set up an appointment. Since the dentist herself no longer had an office there, her father sent a text message to her office in downtown Olongapo City, to set up an appointment. The office was originally in a room of that house.

I arrived at the dentist's office at just after 1 pm and was done by 2 pm. In that single hour, I had all 3 of those teeth extracted. The cost? 1200 Philippine pesos, or about $29 USD. She prescribed 4 items, but I only bought the pain medicine at the nearest drugstore. The cost? 75 Philippine pesos, or about $1.81 USD.

I'm recuperating now. I can't eat certain things until the sockets close up, but I don't have pain anymore. I haven't taken any pain medication today and I doubt I'll need it.