Remembering Fudgesicles

Fudgesicles, how long has it been since I’ve had a fudgesicle? I’m not sure, but they came to mind when I was at the dentist the other day.
I’ve been to the dentist rather often this year. Just before we went on our winter vacation I went because of an aching tooth. I really didn’t want to have a problem while away from home.

The diagnosis: a root canal. I’ve had one before, and it wasn’t that bad. My dentist is very gentle and numbs me well. He was able to get the tooth on its way to the root canal so I wouldn’t be in pain over the next couple of weeks. When we returned I started on the rest of the appointments.

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I have a mouth with enough silver to make a spoon. Many of the fillings are from my childhood and periodically need to be replaced. I, now, in addition to fillings, have a porcelain crown, gold crown from another root canal, and only two wisdom teeth left.

Another tooth began to hurt, so on one of the appointments, instead of the root canal work, that tooth had to have the filling replaced. Lucky me.
I went last week to have the final crown placed. It was warped, so a new one has to be made. So far I’ve been to the dentist six times this year. Hopefully, only one more, but I’m not holding my breath.

So what does all this have to do with fudgesicles? Memories. As a child going to the dentist wasn’t much fun for me. Like I said, enough silver to make a spoon.
In the waiting room near the door sat a small chest freezer. At the end of the visit each child got to pick out a frozen treat. Popsicles, Push-ups, Eskimo Pies, along with others I can’t remember. I usually chose a Fudgesicle.

 Why would a dentist have sugary ice cream treats for his patients? He knew the mouths would be numb and maybe hurt. Anesthetics weren’t quite as good as they are now. The cold of the frozen treat would feel good on the child’s mouth.
I have never liked going to the dentist, but the fudgesicle at the end of the appointment made the pain go away a little faster.

It sure beats the stickers they give out to kids today. I wish my dentist had a small chest freezer by the door.