smonster, that's really admirable of you. Good luck with it. Thanks for being a good human who cares about the suffering of other creatures.

And in the interest of equal time - though I haven't seen a great deal of her lately, I do believe that today is also tiggy's birthday. So, tiggy, Happy Birthday to You! I hope you get to be exactly as much of a Birthday Princess as you want to be!

Good news - one of my co-workers remembered my birthday and gave me an enormous bar of dark chocolate. Which is funny because I'm usually not that big of a fan of dark, but she is, and I sent her a link to that article last week about the health benefits of dark chocolate. So I got to say that she wished me a happy birthday, plus wants the best for my health. Also also, I recently figured out I'm lactose intolerant - Dark Chocolate FTW!

Whatever, Steph. I can see your diabetes from here. Why are you arguing? You don't have a dentical degree.

Happy Birthday, Epic!

Put me in the "Steph needs a new dentist" camp. Getting a second opinion is only a reasonable reaction . But the diabetes crack would be my dealbreaker. (But if there are non-diabetes conditions that may cause slow healing, it might become appropriate to rule them out. Depending on how the second opinion goes.)

Have an Epic birthday, Epic!

"dentical degree" makes me laugh. Definitely get a second opinion but switch dentists no matter what, Tep.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, EPIC!!!!

Smonster, I'll happily pay for the fixin' of any of this kittens. Just let me know. And thanks for helping them.

I am, however, wearing a spangly "Princess" shirt, and crown hairclips from Disney, and every piece of jewelry with a crown I could find this morning (which is kind of a lot).

Happy birthday, princess Epic!

Totally ditch the dentist, Tep. That shit is just not on.

I'm sorry for the whole situation, smonster.

I had the root canal, but still had soreness above the gum (between my nose and cheekbone)

That's kind of mine -- the soreness is at the way top of my gum. And it's only tender to the touch, like a bruise, and the tooth doesn't hurt. I'm baffled by the extremeness of the pull-it-now suggestion. Like having a bruised arm and getting it amputated.

I didn't respond to the first antibiotic so after a couple of days the endodontist put me on another antibiotic.

Dang, what is WITH all these dentists who are reasonable and actually realize that sometimes an antibiotic isn't going to work against every known pathogen?

Whatever, Steph. I can see your diabetes from here.

Naw, man; that's my asstastic ass.

Why are you arguing? You don't have a dentical degree.

I am TOTALLY a denticalologist!

(But if there are non-diabetes conditions that may cause slow healing, it might become appropriate to rule them out. Depending on how the second opinion goes.)

Well, I'm a slow healer in general. And yet not diabetic. It would be more worrisome if the slow healing was new, but I've been like this for at least 20 years that I can remember.

"dentical degree" makes me laugh.

Me too! I keep going back to re-read 'cause it tickles me so.

Happy birthday Epic!

And good for you, Steph, for sticking to your guns. I'd get another opinion too.

"I think you're misunderstanding our relationship."

I want this on a t-shirt, which I will wear everywhere and save time by simply pointing at it.