Mine was right next to a front tooth (incisor). I hear you. You will still be able to bite normally.

Remember your new crown will be a bit tougher, so you will still be able to chew. Your dentist will help you test that prior so you won’t be released without being able to use everything like you should.

I had stopped chewing on that side of my mouth because of the tooth damage, so it took practice to remember to use those teeth again.

I had one, from a tooth that got damaged with braces as a teenager. It finally got to the point in my 40s that it hurt all the time and couldn’t be saved. My dentist suggested the root canal. Like you, I was scared.

I didn’t need to be scared. It barely hurt after - in 48 hours it was like it never happened. During the procedure (maybe 75 minutes total?) they had really good pain blocks. My advise is to let them know your fear. Good dentists/endodontists expect it and have ways to help you.

If you’ve been in pain from this for a while, you have already been feeling the worst of it. It’ll be so much better afterwards. Really!

They will likely fit you with a temporary crown to protect the remaining tooth until a proper crown is ready. Most of the pain will be from your irritated gums after the procedure, which will ache. Root canals terminate the damaged tooth nerves, so you may need to relearn how to chew on that tooth a bit. But did I mention it won’t hurt?

I work in procurement. That means I negotiate with suppliers all day, every day. I’m the one the team calls when they need something fixed, and want something better than using a big hammer or lighting everything on fire.

The absolute best tip was courtesy of my first boss in the field:

"Always be prepared to walk away and say ‘No, thank you’. "

You won’t look weak (except to the wrong people). Instead you’ll come across as empowered, that you know what you want, have no tolerance for games, but also can be trusted. Very few people like people who always say yes, no matter what anxiety says. In order to be here, it’s important to have options and choices you can accept. Be ready to jump rails if it looks like you won’t get your first choice. That’s how good negotiators in my field do it - they have several acceptable options.

It’s still not easy to do. It requires perseverance and flexibility. Allow yourself to practice in lower-risk situations.

Some cats get lonely and it’s not about play, but knowing they have options. When I had a similar situation, my 3 year old cat pulled out her belly fur from stress, so I got her a new friend. Over grooming immediately stopped. It took several months for them to be friends, but my first cat was MUCH happier having another cat.

Same. I thought life would be worse so I stayed married longer than I should have.

Turns out being unhappily married is far more lonely than being single…by a LOT.

Unless you need/like to stand before takeoff, I don’t see the point. I don’t mind if people do, as long as they are polite.

Bag space woes? It’s real, but seriously see what you can do without. I fly for work at least once a month and I’m a pro one bagger for trips of 4 days or less; more if I’m doing summer weight clothes. It means I rewear things if they are clean and sometimes wash clothes in my hotel, but damn does it make travel easy.

Checked bag fees suck. Be the first to volunteer to gate check. I can only recall one flight in the last few months where an announcement wasn’t made. The bag is waiting at the destination gate so you don’t even have to handle bag claim. I do it every time I travel.

This is why I won’t fly Southwest unless I have no other choice. Nice planes and otherwise lovely flight experience; shame about the seat policy. Every time I’ve tried, it’s a confused mess of pushy or perplexed people in line, and I end up completely annoyed before takeoff.

On the flip side, it’s free birth control. 😋

I’d rather sit and knit until my group is called and stroll up without rushing as I know exactly where I’m sitting. I watch people stress. SMH

Same.

But, you answer your phone? 😎 Nobody I want to talk to ever calls me anymore. (That’s mostly good.)

My favorite spammers are the ones who I explicitly tell “I’m not interested in doing business with you, but will keep your info on file…yada”…that double down. Like, FFS I make shampoo. There is ZERO chance of me buying circuit board subassemblies, vending machines, or livestock. Now if you’ve got a line on polyquat surfactants…call me.

Home Assistant setup, along with media hosting for a hard drive full of all my music and movies.