#oral conscious sedation

[beauty-grace-outer-space]

Has anyone ever had Triazolam/Halcion for a dentist appointment? 

I’m having a super minor thing done, but I have a phobia of things being wrong with my teeth so they’re letting me do conscious oral sedation (pills) but I’m getting conflicting information. 

One person told me to go home and sleep it off. Another told me not to sleep for 5 hours after the appointment. 

But.. it’s a sleeping pill? How do I not sleep? 

[blondeboyfriend]

𝐒𝐀𝐋𝐓𝐖𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐒𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐙𝐄 (𝟏𝟖+)

𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐎𝐑𝐒 𝐃𝐍𝐈

[ PAIRING ] Zeke Yeager x f!reader [ AUTHOR'S NOTE ] This is my submission for @bastardblvd's Wet Hot Slimeball Summer Collab. My prompt was ☀️lifeguard☀️. Special thanks to the love of my life, @strawberrystepmom, for beta reading this. [ SYNOPSIS ] LOCAL LIFEGUARD LETS CUTE GIRL DROWN SO HE CAN PLAY THE HERO AND GET PUSSY [ WORD COUNT ] 1.8k [ CONTENT ] Modern AU, mostly written from Zeke's POV, no plot; no problem (jk there are problems), manipulation, dubcon, predator/prey vibes, lowkey somnophilia (y/n is barely conscious), oral sex (f receiving), public-ish sex, jerking off.

Zeke didn’t consider himself a bad guy. He was well-mannered, his politeness instilled in him by his late mother, and pretty nice if he put his mind to it. He was a hard worker and the first to jump into the water to save someone. His experience was unmatched, having been stationed at the same beach since he was a teenager, and his knowledge was unparalleled. His boss had even dubbed him the boy wonder…

No, Zeke wasn’t a bad guy…

He just did bad things…

Like letting pretty girls get themselves into trouble so he could rescue them from the big, bad ocean.

But who could blame him? Temptation was lurking around every corner. It was like a siren’s song, leading him astray and drowning him in inebriating waters. He simply couldn’t control himself sometimes. It’s not his fault he was bogged down by his carnal desires.

And it’s certainly not his fault that you came to the beach on a quiet Monday morning. He spotted you from the lifeguard tower, his eyes glued to you. You looked like an angel making your way across the sand, your white billowy cover up trailing behind you, caught in the gentle sea breeze. His cheeks grew warm as you unbuttoned it, revealing a matching white bikini underneath. It looked heavenly against your sun kissed skin.

Zeke knew he should tell you about the three rip currents plaguing the beach, but where was the fun in that? He opened the door to the tower and stepped down, watching you as you waded in the turbulent water. You looked so unaware of the danger surrounding you. All it would take would be one big wave to knock you down and then you’d be swept out to sea.

“Be careful,” he shouted through his megaphone. He needed to at least seem diligent.

You turned, your back facing the ocean, a rookie mistake.

“I will,” you hollered back.

He could barely hear you over the waves licking the shore. Thankfully he didn’t care. He was too caught up in the sneaker wave heading towards you. By the time you noticed it was too late, and the wave knocked you off your feet. You fell forward on your hands and knees, and tried to anchor yourself, but the water kept rushing in, gradually submerging you. As it began to recede the waves pulled you away from the shore and into the untamed ocean.

Zeke smirked. You didn’t seem too phased as you casually treaded water. He assumed you would have panicked and flailed around, wasting your precious energy. He couldn’t help but be a little disappointed. Your inconceivable skills decimated his plan. He exhaled deeply and debated pursuing you in a more socially acceptable manner. At this point it was the only way.

Contemplating such a thing made his mouth fill with saliva. He couldn’t bear the thought of attempting small talk or suggesting you two grab a drink. It was wholly against his nature.

And lucky for him he wouldn’t have to.

Another sneaker wave consumed you, leaving no trace of your existence. Grabbing his rescue board he made his way down the beach and into the water. When he pulled your limp body onto the board, you were sedated and calm. He always loved an easy rescue.

“So stupid,” you murmured.

He looked down at you, his eyes trained on your exposed breast. The chilled ocean water left your nipple erect. It practically demanded his attention.

“You’re fine,” he cooed. “The water’s deceptive today. Don’t beat yourself up.”

His tone was saccharine, terminal in its sweetness. He was amazed he was able to mask his hunger. Seeing you so defenseless made his cock throb. You weakly smiled and muttered a muted “thank you” before drifting away as Zeke took you back to shore.

“Let me take a look at you in the tower. I want to make sure you’re okay,” he said, lifting you up.

He didn’t give you a chance to protest, not that you would’ve been able to. You were hardly in a position to exercise your agency. All you could do was gaze up at him sleepily, worn out from your battle against the waves.

The inside of the lifeguard tower was cramped. Sand littered the floor. The hot air was thick with the smell of sunscreen and salt water. He sat you down in the lone chair and stared down at your exhausted body. He lifted your chin. Your dazed look made his heart race. He got down on his knees and extended one of your bent legs. His weathered hands were rough against the tender flesh of your thighs.

“Does anything hurt?” he asked even though he honestly didn’t care.

You shook your head.

“I’m going to check you for injuries anyway. Better to be safe than sorry,” he recited.

He caressed your limbs, taking in every inch of you. His hands wandered your body, his eyes consuming it. It was hard to believe such a stupendously lifeless angel was gracing his presence.

“How do you feel?”

“Like… I need to… sit down for… a while,” you mumbled.

Your eyelids were so heavy; you could barely keep them open. But overall you seemed in good enough shape. Zeke couldn’t have had better luck.

“I think I can manage that,” he said warmly as his cock continued to throb. “I need to keep an eye on you for a bit anyway.”

“No. Go and…. do—do your job. I’ll be okay here by”—you yawned—”myself.”

Zeke placed his hands on your hips, his grip tight and commanding.

“I’d be a pretty shitty lifeguard if I left you in here on your own,” he said. 

His grey eyes were dark with ache. You let out a weak laugh and wiped away the sand that had dusted your cheek. You mumbled an apology. He shushed you and hooked his fingers under your bikini bottoms. You exhaled sharply and he paused.

“What?” he asked playfully. “C’mon.”

Your face was adorned with a pathetic, little frown. It hardly deterred him, but he decided to play nice. He cupped your face with a calloused hand. His cock was chafing against his board shorts.

“Don’t you want to properly thank me for my efforts?” he asked, running his finger along your bottom lip.

You hesitated.

“I’ll make you feel so good,” he purred, sounding more inelegant than he would’ve preferred. He slipped two of his fingers into your mouth. “If anything I’m doing you a favor on top of saving your life.”

Your mouth was soft and warm. He wanted to fuck it.

“You deserve some comfort after everything you’ve been through,” he said, pressing down on your tongue.  His tone was slightly more urgent, more insistent. “Don’t deprive yourself.”

You did nothing in protest, entrusting him with your life once more. Seeing you surrender yourself did wonders for his ego and made his balls feel tight. Your steadfast silence was heavenly. He always preferred the quiet type.

He took his fingers out of your mouth, staring at your lips. He thought about kissing you, but that was too intimate. You were prey, nothing built to last. His eyes trailed down your body, lingering on your breasts. He untied your bikini top and watched as it fell unceremoniously to the floor.

He took your erect nipple between his lips and sucked. He wondered if you could feel his beard against your skin, and if you noticed how he kept his well-oiled and trim. You hummed as he swirled his tongue around your nipple. 

You sighed heavily and made a feeble attempt at curling your toes. It was so cute. He couldn’t help but whimper a little.

Your skin was salty, still dappled with water. The ocean’s cruel touch left your skin clammy. But it did little to deter him. He didn’t care if you were warm, he just cared if you had a heartbeat or not.

He pulled away from your breast and peeled off the rest of your bikini. He positioned himself between your thighs and buried his face in your cunt, his nose brushing up against your clit. Your scent was ambrosial and dizzying. He spread apart your folds with his tongue, savoring the taste of your arousal.

Zeke looked up at you, meeting your sleepy gaze. He swept his tongue along your cunt before slipping the tip inside. A small whimper fell from your lips. He did it again, relishing the sound of your voice.

“Yes…” you mumbled as he lapped at your folds.

He felt like his cock was going to burst. He pulled his cock out of his board shorts and palmed its aching tip. It was dewy with precum. He gripped the length of it and stroked. Euphoria enveloped him.

He sucked on your clit as your soft moans filled the lifeguard tower. He felt insatiable and couldn’t stand the thought of this moment ending. In a perfect world you would be his little pet, one he could consume at any time. The sweet taste of your arousal would always be within reach.

“Fuck,” he groaned, his gruff voice muffled by your cunt.

More precum dribbled from his tip and he began to rut against his fist. He showed neither himself nor you any mercy. He was relentless as he feasted on your cunt. You writhed in your seat, your body falling victim to the debauchery Zeke unleashed.

He made eye contact with you, his lustful gaze unwavering.

“Are you going to be a good girl and come all over my tongue?” he asked as he furiously jerked himself off.

“Uh-huh,” you said, placing your hand on the back of his head.

Your touch sent him over the edge. He knew he wouldn’t be able to keep it together, but he refused to come before you. He grabbed onto your hips and rolled his tongue against your clit, trying to ignore his swollen cock. He continued to hold your gaze.

“Oh my god,” you murmured, pushing his head deeper into your cunt.

Zeke struggled to ignore how sweet you sounded as your orgasm washed over you. The relief he felt once you finally stopped was immense. He stood up and tried in vain to wipe away some of your arousal that had soaked his beard.

His cock was heavy in his hand as he pulled on its length. He was so close, he could taste it. He felt like he was going to burst at any second. He watched as you shut your eyes and seemed to doze off. He couldn’t help but be a little heartbroken. You were supposed to be marveling at him and his beautiful cock. He snapped his fingers by your ear while he fucked his fist. 

“Look at me,” he growled.

Your eyes fluttered open and stared at him. His entire body was flooded with warmth as long, thick ropes of cum splattered against you. He couldn’t control his hearty moans as he watched it drip down your skin. You looked so confused, so lost, and it was exactly what he wanted.

[wibixthecowboy]

Play the Song: Chapter 12: As we Breathe

Task Force 141 needs a new sniper and despite their complaints, they're assigned Flash, a joke-making, ABBA-listening, 20-year-old sharpshooter with better aim than the whole team combined. In other words, Ghost is practically handed the love of his life but he needs time to adjust because she's a firecracker.

Warnings/Tags: !graphic depictions of panic attacks!, references to suicide attempts (no descriptions), references to SA (no descriptions), Age gap (20/30-32), gore, descriptions of injury/blood/wounds, justified angst, tooth rotting fluff, slow burn, protective ghost, family dynamic, big brother soap has an attitude problem, father figure Price, wholesome brother Gaz, touch starved Ghost, eventual smut, praise, choking, thigh riding, unprotected (wrap it up people), size kink, oral f receiving, ghost will do anything to get his dick sucked, idk I’m sure it will get dirtier as I go, shifting POV  

A/N: I know what you all want and I am here to give it to you. Enjoy my two, severely emotionally underdeveloped loves interacting in (somewhat) non-deadly scenarios. 

Words: 6.7k

Side note: All of these characters are fictional! Please don’t be weird about their real life actors, leave them out of this and be respectful!

Part 1  Part 2  Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10 Part 11 Part 12

Tag list: @urfavsunkissedleo @butskii @abbiesxox @itsasecrets-things @thatonewriterthatnooneknows @copiasratscheese​ @Sheviro-blog

★Flash

     “Will you just take the fucking applesauce?” Gaz’s voice is bordering a whine and Flash doesn’t feel the least bit guilty when she declines again. She is hungry, but her hunger doesn’t outweigh her need for entertainment. For something other than the dusty novel she’d snatched from Price weeks ago and the small window to her left.

For the last three days, she’s been stuck in her bed. Her only solace being short trips to the bathroom and the horrible nurse service being provided in shifts by Soap and Gaz. Both arrive either so guilt ridden or angry that their conversations are reduced to mumbled words.

After she’d passed out in the truck- passed out, not died, (a correction she’s had to make every time Soap decides to give her another rundown of what he likes to call her ‘Rick Grimes’ moment) the team was able to stop enough of the bleeding and get her to the nearest med bay before her heart stopped pumping.

She’d been kept sedated for the next four days, lulled into a hazy half conscious state by a concoction of epinephrine, morphine, and god knows what else. The magic drug- a more advanced and highly addictive form of a stim shot, had practically healed everything. By the third night, she’d been able to lay on her back without pain, and by the fourth, her injuries were reduced to bruising and two half healed and itching cuts on her shoulder blades and forehead. When the doctors had given her the order to ‘take it easy’ and ‘stay in bed for a few more days’ she’d nearly laughed in their faces. But after an awkward ride back to the base with Price, it was made clear that she’d be on her ass until the doctors cleared her.

Since then, she’s been rotting away in bed. With the fog of a rather severe concussion gone and only a slight wobble in her step, Flash felt confident enough to get back into training. Others, not so much.

“Stop coddling me and I just might.” Her words, although bitter, are spoken through a half smile. The joints of her legs ache with the need to move. She can’t remember the last time she’d gone longer than a day without some sort of physical exercise.

“Oh for fucks sake. Just take it.” Gaz lets out a frustrated groan and tosses the container and spoon at her blanketed legs. They land just shy of the unread paperback by her shin. A copy of ‘True Grit’ that Price had silently handed to her after she’d begged him to let her join their next raid. “Maybe Ghost will spoon feed it to you if you ask nicely enough.”

His hand freezes against the door handle and Flash’s eyes widen. That was the first Ghost had been mentioned since the incident. After his freak out. No one had spoken to her about it, so she didn’t bring it up. Other than foggy memories of him sleeping in a chair next to her bed at the med bay- his head lolled to the side in a way that made her knees weak. Ghost had been absent.

“Just eat the food.” Gaz says nothing more before slipping from her room and shutting the door gently behind him.

Guilt coils her stomach into a tight knot and the game that she’d been playing for the last few days loses its appeal.

The applesauce is dull and pasty, and when she swallows, it sticks in her throat like mud. The first night she’d woken up from her drugged sleep, she willed her memory to clear, to give her a picture of Ghost’s face that wasn’t blurred with tears and blood loss. But it was useless. After that, avoiding thinking about the last few moments in the truck had been easy. Until now.

Although every sense of hers had been compromised, her brain had no problem recalling every point of contact that Ghost had made. As if her body remembering the gentle way he held her hand against his cheek was more important than remembering to breathe. As if it still is. The healing drugs didn’t touch the burns left by his desperate hands.

The scraping of her spoon against the nearly empty plastic cup does nothing to drown out the now crashing waves of memories. Him grasping at her legs and shoulders to haul her to the truck, begging her to keep her eyes open, removing his mask. The last bite of her applesauce tastes of brine and copper and it gags her. When she coughs the skin of her hand comes back splattered with shining red. Stumbling to the bathroom, Flash drops to the blessedly cool tile in front of the toilet but the food weighs heavily in her stomach, refusing to move despite the foul taste in her mouth. When she looks down there’s a splatter of pureed apple across her right hand where the blood stained just moments ago.

Avoiding her two mirrors, Flash rinses her hands, ties her hair back, and changes her clothes for the first time in three days. She needs out, and god help anyone who tries to stop her.

_____

     The hot Las Almas sun burns the sensitive skin of Flash’s scabbed and stitched shoulders and sends a steady stream of sweat gliding down her spine that drops to the dusty dirt road just a few minutes from their base. She’d found it while stalking Ghost on one of his runs after a dull morning of training. Now it serves as the perfect place for her to slip away unnoticed and run until her feet bleed.

She’d been going for about an hour already, entranced by the steady thump of her braid against her back as she let the hot afternoon sun dry the waves that so violently threatened to pull her under. An angry, clouding storm of failure covers every expanse of her mind. She’d failed the one chance she’d been given. Price had finally given her an in, a way to prove what she’d so desperately been trying to show them, and she’d blown it in less than an hour.

A familiar crunch of tires sounds from behind her and she moves to the edge of the rough dirt road, giving the truck room to pass, but it slows to match her pace. When she glances over, she nearly stumbles on a loose stone. Ghost is sat in the driver's seat, one arm steering at the base of the wheel and the other holding a bottle of water out the window.

“You don’t have to say anything, just take the water and I’ll leave.” His voice is withdrawn, quiet in a way that tells Flash that he understands her need for silence. And when she takes the bottle from his bare hand, the faded scars only prove her right.

He watches her drink and she pretends not to notice as the water wets her parched mouth and throat. When she finishes that one, he gently pulls it from her grasp and another is pressed into her empty hand. Flash sips this time, breathing deeply between swallows, catching the breath she hadn’t noticed she’d lost. His gaze falls to her shaking knees and the shivering of her strained thighs and she waits for him to admonish her, to order her back to the base and put a padlock on the door this time, but he only turns away to set the empty bottle somewhere in the back seat.

“Do you want to drive with me?”

The question catches her off guard. The softness with which its spoken, still detached and hesitant but sentimental nonetheless. She opens her mouth to deny, admit that she’s ran this far to be alone, but the aching in her chest tugs towards him like a magnet.

Silently, she rounds the car, slides into the passenger seat, and Ghost continues driving wordlessly down the path, at a leisurely unhurried speed. With the windows down, the hair that had fallen from her braid flutters around her face in the light wind, tickling the bare and damp skin of her neck. She licks the dry skin of her lips and tastes the salt beaded at the bow of her mouth.

The slow roll of sand dunes calms the racing of her heart and she syncs her breathing to their soft shapes, in with the incline and out with the descent. Her sweat slick legs stick uncomfortably to the warm leather seat but the relief of resting her strained muscles surpasses the discomfort.

Flash closes her eyes against the bright setting sun, oranges and yellows shine brightly in the sudden darkness and the knot in her stomach loosens enough that she can fill her lungs completely. Fresh air, spun with the sappy golden light spilling across the desert blows across her face and cools the twin trails trickling over the curves of her cheeks. Salt spreads across her tongue, but this time it carries something much heavier. They come faster now, rivulets running and turning into streams that course over her chin and down her neck, bleeding into the sweat soaked collar of her shirt. She doesn’t open her eyes as the crushing weight of the fear she’d felt sets in. So she cries. She cries for what could have happened, what would have happened if she hadn’t pulled herself from the water, and hates every second of it.

Then a warm hand is nudging her own. Ghost, in a silent mimic of her gesture from days before, wraps his smallest finger around her own and squeezes. The fear lessens, pulling back to a dull throb against her ribcage. She doesn’t open her eyes as she unwraps their pinkies and slides her hand into his to lock their fingers in a tight hold. His hand envelops her own, warm and comforting, and she fastens herself to him like a tether to a dock. Afraid that if she lets go she just might drift out of reach.

They say nothing as they cling to each other, and Flash doesn’t dare turn her now open eyes to Ghost, afraid that she’ll snap their tether by acknowledging it. So she keeps her gaze on the pinks and purples sprawled across the dimming sky and tries to ignore the burning disappointment when one final turn brings the familiar concrete building into view.

“Can we do one more loop, I can’t- I-” She begins to ask, faltering when Ghost obliges without hesitation. And a burning sense of endearment spreads so quickly through her that the stinging behind her eyes recedes. Blinking away the thick tears still lining her lids, Flash sniffs once and then sags further into her seat.

“Do you want to talk about it?”

His question is a formal invitation, an obligated question. One she’s been asked on multiple occasions and refused each time. She could ignore it now and it wouldn’t be brought back up, she knows that for a fact. But whether it's the burning need to confess or the lack of social interaction, Flash feels the confession loose from her mouth in a stream that she can’t seem to stop.

“I killed him with a rock.” Even though the words are spoken by her, the depravity of the statement makes her heart stutter. “When I missed with my knife I just smashed his head in with a rock.” The memory flashes through her mind, a stunted and bloody reel of pictures. “It was too easy.”

A long stretch of silence fills the space between them and Flash can’t help but worry he’ll slam on the breaks and shove her out, tell her just how damaged she must be to resort to something so animalistic, so beyond human norm. The weight of his hand in hers grows cold and she has the sudden urge to tuck herself into the small space at her feet, away from the heavy words floating between them and the piercing blue eyes at her side.

“When you know someone coming to kill you Flash, everything turns primal. It’s not something you learn through lectures. I’m sorry you had to learn so quickly.” His words are like a balm to her nerves. Petting back the raised hackles of her mind. “I’m sorry that I wasn’t there to stop it.”

“It’s the SAS Ghost. Things happen. I won't always have someone there to save the day.” She speaks firmly but turns to Ghost with a sad smile, the action has the dried tracks of her tears itching. When she brings her empty hand up to wipe her cheeks, the dirt lining her fingers has her squeezing it back under her thigh.

He lapses back into his familiar silence and Flash tries not to think about the dirt wiping from her hand onto his own clean skin where their palms meet. Then becomes increasingly aware of the dust clinging to her thighs and arms and how it rubs off onto the dark surfaces of the truck. Ghost doesn’t say anything. His unoccupied hand taps lightly against the steering wheel, another quirk that Flash quickly learned meant he was picking his words carefully.

“Knowing something is going to happen doesn’t make it any easier to cope with.” The tires crunch as dirt turns into gravel, they’re just minutes away from the base now.

His words, although validating in their own way, crack open a spot in her steeled mind that she is nowhere near ready to unravel. So instead of responding, she closes her eyes and lays back against the seat, focusing on holding the now cool night air in her lungs. She grips Ghost’s hand steadfastly. When they pull into the lot this time, her mind feels clearer and when she releases his hand to go inside, she feels a little less broken.

_____

★Ghost

     Although her eyes are focused on Price, taking in every word he speaks with an endearing efficiency, Ghost still watches them. Searching for the voided, lost look that most recruits adopted after their first incident. The look that he’d seen hints of while driving with her hours before. But the blue remains sharp as they scan the layout of the next warehouse they’d be raiding. A dilapidated barn just a few miles from Alejandro’s ranch. They would leave tomorrow to spend the next two days planning their approach with Alejandro and his team. His bag, packed the moment he got back from their drive, waits next to his door. It was his desperate attempt to keep himself in his room. To keep himself busy so he didn’t cross through the bathroom and to Flash’s door to press his ear against the wood. Just to make sure she was still there, still breathing.

It was easy to brush off at first. The shaking was from strained muscles and elevated heart rate from his morning jog. But that day, when she’d come over the hill looking half dead, still clutching a bloodied rock, the fear, and dread that gagged him was undeniable. The anxiety that shook his experienced hands as he attempted to wrap unwilling bandages over a seemingly unending expanse of flowing blood was beyond uncharacteristic. Soap had taken the gauze from his hands and shoved him to the side, working with Gaz to stop the bleeding. Her clouded, half-lidded gaze had sent him into a shaking, gasping sort of fit and it was Soap who had ripped the pill bottle from Ghost’s pocket and shoved two of the pills into his palm with shaking, bloodied hands before returning to monitoring Flash’s heart rate.

After getting her to the med bay and stabilized, he’d remained at her side for the entire stay. The gentle flutter of her eyelashes was his only respite as she drifted in and out of a drugged sleep. The only time he left her side was to slip into the staff bathroom and to down another cup of the never-ending supply of dirt instant coffee the front office kept. Price had ordered him back to the base hours before she was to be taken off the sedative. It was a short exchange over the phone, gruff, tired, and ending in a snapped command.

When Price returned with her that night, Ghost had been waiting in the window. He wasn’t sure what his plan was, but when he saw the way Price had to practically lift her from the passenger seat and brace her as she limped to the door, he’d retreated back to his room, unable to look at the bandages at her temple, ones he wasn’t capable of tying. Instead choosing to curl against his headboard and choke on uneven breaths until a drug haze pulled him under.

Looking at her now, nothing like the small girl, pale skinned and drowned in hospital blankets, the beating of his heart doesn’t slow. Soap, next to him, is doodling small flowers on the mission summary and Gaz sitting beside Flash, is tugging at her sleeve. After one particularly harsh tug, she whips around in her chair and levels him with a harsh glare, when she goes to turn back, her eyes catch his. The irritation melts from her brow and Ghost struggles to keep his breath steady when his gaze drops to the blue-green bruise that still curves along her cheekbone. Flash catches his line of sight and lets the hair tucked behind her ear fall into her face, covering the bruising entirely when she turns back to Price. But the image remains, permanently branded against the large corner of his mind she’s always occupying.

They go on like that for the rest of the meeting. Eyes occasionally meeting only to hover for a moment before flitting away. Acting like he hadn’t just watched her shatter in the small cab of his truck an hour before. He knew better than to push though, the need to just forget was more familiar to him than it should be. So he watches her take notes instead, careful little words in the spaces between paragraphs with a pencil he now recognizes as his own. Stolen from the space next to his paper, he hadn’t even noticed. And despite everything, amusement flickers in his chest, and a familiar warmth tightens his ribs. Ghost dips his head down to level his eyes with Flash, glancing at the pencil in her hands and up to her waiting gaze. She smiles at him. It’s half done, morphed into a slight grimace from the split in her lip, but it still carries her usual air of mischief. And he thinks that maybe, things might be okay.

_____

★Flash

     Flash is brushing her teeth when she sees Ghost again. Her hair still damp and curling from the shower she’d taken to scrub the dried sweat and dust from her skin. She’d also braved a look in the mirror. A small blue-purple bruise curves along her skin between her cheekbone and eye, a half healed split at her lower lip, and a stitched line at her temple were all that remained of her encounter. It wasn’t a pretty sight, but better than she’d been expecting. Her shower though, had run out of her allotted bathroom time and into Ghosts. It wasn’t the first time it happened, but when it did, he would politely apologize and leave her to finish.

But now, dressed in joggers and a delightfully worn shirt, he hovers in the open doorway. She wonders if he feels it. The pull.

He’s about to turn and leave when Flash finds herself mumbling through a mouthful of toothpaste, “Don’t leave I’m almost done.” She’s not quite sure why she asks him to stay, but she does.

Flash can’t help but smile at the way his socked feet shuffle awkwardly against the tile, not sure where to stand. It’s incredibly sweet, and the softness of the action only strengthens the pull that begs her to step forward and into him.

“So,” Flash starts, spitting her toothpaste into the sink before continuing to lazily brush in half circles, “do I get to see your face now? Or is that something you reserve for people who are near death?” In one smooth movement, she’s resting on the counter in front of him, hoping the toothbrush hanging from her lips hides the wince as her sore muscles strain. “Ya know, like a ‘I can show you but then I’d have to kill you’ type a’ situation?”

Ghost is silent, unresponsive to her prodding. Any other night he would have told her to drop it and go to bed. Maybe give her a snarky response if she’s lucky. But tonight he’s quiet, just as before. And then she sees it. The way his shoulders curve inward and the flickering of his eyes as they move to look at anything that isn’t her.

“You know it's not your fault right?” Flash’s voice is soft, the same one she’d use to coax a scared dog from a corner.

“What?” A whisper.

“It’s not your fault.” She slides from the counter, leaving her toothbrush next to the basin, she walks quietly towards him. Cautious, slow enough for him to back away, she reaches up to brush a hand against his face. It’s a daring move but he doesn’t pull away.

The cotton of the mask is warm from being so close to the heated skin of his cheeks. Golden lashes brush against them and their freckled surface as his lids shutter closed. Flash drinks in the rare moment of softness. Her mind drifts back to her last few moments in the truck, how warm the skin of his face had been and suddenly, she’s never wanted anything more in her life.

“Can I touch-” Her words breathe out into the empty space between them and Ghost’s eyes fly open, wide and searching her own.

“Blindfold, I - can you wear a blindfold?” His words are stuttered and rushed with a desperation she can’t even begin to understand. Flash offers him a silent nod and then the space in front of her is empty.

She lifts herself back onto the counter, just to busy herself as she listens to the opening of a drawer and the quiet whisper of him digging through clothes in his room. He returns with a beautifully patterned terracotta scarf. Like the one’s she’d seen at the market. He sets it gently in her lap but she pushes it back into his hands.

“Here, you can tie it. So you know I’m not peeking.”

He nods once before taking the brown fabric with shaking hands and folding it into a neat strip and leaning in close to wrap it gently around her eyes. Flash senses his hesitation as he pauses before tying the knot. Wary of the bruise beneath her eye. She gives her best reassuring smile and it seems to do the trick.

“Is that too tight?” He whispers and Flash shivers as his breath fans across her ear, light and warm.

“No. It’s perfect.”

There’s a gentle rustle of fabric and then his mask is resting on her lap. Nerves beat her heart up into her throat.

“Are you scared?” Her whisper is careful, spoken into the quiet space between them. A question spoken to him but a silent admission of her own.

“Yes.”

“It's only me.” She can’t help but smile at his honesty.

“That’s what I’m scared of.”

“Can I touch you?” She murmurs, and he hums a confirmation. It’s a quiet, broken noise.

A soft sigh breaks the silence when the pads of her searching fingers meet his cheek and draw upwards to a rather prominent cheekbone. She can’t help but smile at the heat she feels beneath her fingers, he’s blushing.

Quick breaths come from his nose, followed by two long exhales. Subtle enough that if she weren’t inches from his face would have gone unnoticed, but his warm breath falls against the small strip of her cheeks left uncovered by the scarf. Her heart swells in her chest when she realizes he’s attempting to calm himself.

“Why do you keep trying?”

His words catch her off guard and her exploring fingers come to a halt at his browbone. A displeased huff urges them on and to a soft brow. Flash takes a moment to think, but it doesn’t take her long to find a response.

“Because you deserve to heal.” Ghost turns his head into her hand, muffling a groan. It’s a noise unlike anything she’s ever heard before. An amalgamation of sadness and desperation that makes the blood in her veins slow to listen.

“Has no one ever told you that?”

“No.” He speaks into her palm, hiding his face as if she could see him through the scarf.

“Well, you do.” She smiles softly and flinches in surprise when his thumb brushes against the soft skin of her lower lip. He pulls back quickly,

“Sorry, I-”

“No, you’re fine.” Flash reaches down and grabs for his hand, bringing his thumb up to her lips again when she finds it. He takes a shuddering breath and she wishes for just a moment that she could pull the blindfold up from her eyes and look at him, see the way his body is reacting to her touch, rather than feeling, and hearing it.

“Your smile.” His thumb parts the plush of her lips, so gently she almost doesn’t feel it.

“What about it?” She can’t help but laugh at his odd remark.

His face under her hand moves, and a familiar divot forms under her ring finger.

“Oh good lord you have dimples?” She breathes against his hand.

“Just on the left.” His words are murmured, shy if she thought he was capable of such an innocent emotion. And in the warm darkness of the bathroom, without seeing the scars on his hands or the dazed look his eyes so often held, she realizes just how innocent he is. The boyish way he holds her face, similar to the way a child learning to write struggles to grip a pencil. Like the concept of touching someone without the intent of harm is as foreign to him as a new language. And the realization absolutely crushes her.

“Freckles, dimples, blue eyes. You must be a real stunner.” She teases, an awful attempt to fight the burning behind her eyes. The skin beneath her hand warms again and the overwhelming urge to throw herself into him is consuming, to wrap herself so tightly around him that their skin fuses and they become one. The thought is as terrifying as it is tempting.

“Far from it.”

She frowns at his words but the hand on her face smooths her brow in a gentle caress. Her next exhale comes shakily through her nose.

Braving the waters, Flash traces up the soft curve of his cheek and her fingers catch on slightly raised skin, silkier than the rest, a scar. It travels from his left cheekbone to his hairline just above his eyebrow.

“How did this happen?” Her imploring question is light and spoken without pressure. He could leave it unanswered if he wished.

“My father.” His response is quiet but it’s a scream to her ears. Images of him as a child, a defenseless teen screaming as he clutched his head in pain fill her mind in a rush. She quickly moves on. Feeling for more, battle-oriented scars, but she feels none.

“Do you have any more?”

A rumbling laugh vibrates down her arm and warms her chest.

“Plenty. Although the reconstructive surgeries helped, there’s always going to be a mark.”

“Where?”

A gentle hand reaches for hers and guides her fingers in an arc from the corner of his mouth to a point near his hairline. She traces the spot over on her own until she feels the slight change in texture, the jagged shape that whatever had cut him left behind. She didn’t dare ask its origin.

“Your scars make mine seem like papercuts.” A nervous laugh blows past her lips.

“And I hope it stays that way.” He glides warm fingers just inches from the stitches on her temple. “You already have enough.”

“Nothing near as cool as yours.” She protests, tracing his cheek once more to emphasize her point.

The room is silent, and for just a moment, she thinks she's ruined it and then he’s laughing again. Stuttered like he hasn’t had enough practice, and Flash wishes he’d never stop.

“What?” She asks, incredulous.

“I’ve never had someone call my scars cool.” The stuttered laughs come through his nose now, in gentle breaths of air that warm her own cheeks.

Another mostly nervous laugh looses from her parted lips at the absurdity of their situation. If someone told her a year ago, as she unabashedly stared at Ghost giving his lecture, that she’d be on the counter of their shared bathroom, blindfolded and committing his face to memory with her hands she’d probably laugh. And then file a report.

Flash smiles shyly before bringing her other hand up to gently cup his face, eager to change the topic. “Is this normal?” She breathes as he leans further into her, now pressing against the counter space between her legs. Heat radiates from him, warming her in a way she’s never felt before.

“Is what normal?”

“Wanting to touch you so badly my chest aches.” The admission makes her heart stutter in embarrassment and something warm and syrupy slows the muscles of her mouth.

“I don’t think so.” His answer is mumbled, and before she can feel the sting of rejection, he’s pressing his forehead to hers in an almost feline gesture.

Their lips are just inches away, all she’d have to do is tilt her head up and they’d be kissing. The thought sends her heart thumping so painfully that her stomach rolls with nerves. Enough that she just savors the closeness they have already.

“I feel like I’m going to puke.” She whispers to him with a nervous smile and instantly regrets it. There’s just something about his presence that loosens her tongue in ways it shouldn’t.

But then Ghost is laughing again and pressing his forehead harder against her own. “Me too.”

And the confession is orchestral.

Her arms reach from where they’re pinned between them and up into the soft curls at the nape of his neck. A muffled moan is pressed into the skin of her neck so she does it again, a gentle scrape through his hair. Tremors wrack his body in waves. Then he’s pulling away and her hands are slipping from his shoulders too soon.

“Off the counter, face the mirror.” Although his voice is still soft and shaken, it’s demanding enough that Flash doesn’t protest. She feels him reach around her for something on the counter, muscled chest pressing close to her shoulder.

“I’m getting some deja vu.” Ghost’s murmur is quiet and entirely self-indulgent.

“To what?” Flash’s brows furrow in confusion under the soft silk.

“Well uh-” His words stumble out, unprepared. “That night you took that pill?”

Flash’s stomach sinks and her tongue sticks to the roof of her mouth when she responds. “Uh-huh.”

“You were struggling a bit with cleaning the scratches. You couldn’t even hold the cloth.”

“Oh god.” Even with the scarf on her face, Flash still has to drop her head in her hands. “I didn’t do anything weird? Did I?” She thinks back to the table that morning, Soap's laughing and Ghost's not so subtle smile.

“No.” Ghost runs a finger slick with a paste that she quickly recognizes as the salve the doctor had given her for sore joints over her skin. Far from the scratches and cuts on her shoulders. She practically purrs at his touch combined with the cooling effect of the paste. “But you’re very touchy.”

Embarrassment floods hot through her chest and she starts to apologize but Ghost interrupts her again.

“Don’t apologize.” Those fingers drift up and to an unblemished space just past her shoulder. “Just be quiet and let me make up for my mistake.”

“You don’t have to-” Her words end in a sharp moan when his fingers dig into a tender spot against her neck. “Holy shit.” His fingers fumble a bit but he regains his composure quickly, returning back to the spot and rubbing delightful small circles against the knot. “Jesus-” Her mumbling is cut off with a soft hush and she finally gives in, dropping her chin to the heated skin of her chest as he loosens the muscles that had grown stiff after days in bed. When he reaches a spot along the arch of her spine, smoothing deep half circles into the muscle there, a broken whine falls involuntarily from her mouth. It’s entirely pathetic but she’s too far gone to care. This last sound seems to signal him though and he’s stepping back, dropping those magic hands from her lower back.

“Okay.” His voice is breathy ghost of a whisper and despite never seeing his face, Flash knows that if she were to pull the blindfold from her eyes, he’d be shaking and casting his eyes to the floor, those precious strawberry blonde curls falling across his forehead, and cheeks ruddy with the warm blush she’d felt just minutes before. But she leaves it tied neatly against her damp hair, even though her fingers itch to slide the soft fabric from her eyes.

There’s a rustling, Ghost is reaching past her to grab something from the counter and she can practically smell the anxiety leaking from his skin, along with something else she hadn’t noticed until now.

“Is that citrus?” She tries not to sound too surprised, she shouldn’t be. It had been one of the first things she’d noticed when flopping herself onto his bedding. Something she did not want to think about.

“It’s uh- oranges?” He sounds unsure, Flash is about to point this out but he continues. “My mum wore it.” There’s another brief pause. She can practically hear his internal debate over whether or not he should continue. “It’s- It helps with- anxiety.”

“Oh.” She stands there for another moment, not wanting to leave quite yet, but not having anything to say. He doesn’t move either, just stands quietly in front of her. “I like it.”

“Me too.”

Gentle fingers slide the scarf from her eyes, the light of the bathroom is blinding and she has to blink several times to clear the dots from her vision. When her eyes finally focus, she cranes her head upward from the soft cotton of his chest. Ghost’s eyes are staring into the mirror above her, at himself. There’s a small strip of exposed skin between his shirt and balaclava. She can see the collarbone that she’d whispered to so many nights ago.

“I’m going to bed.” She says to the strip, and without looking back at his face, turns and walks as calmly as she can to her room. Even though the racing of her heart screams at her to run, to hide, to grab him by his stupid masked face and kiss him.

The last thought scares her enough that she shuts the bathroom door with a bit too much force. The sound makes her jump. It’s entirely pathetic but the creeping sickness from this morning is gone, replaced with something much much worse. Something deadly, something terrifying, something that makes her want to laugh and cry. So she does both.

It doesn’t help.

_____

     Flash can’t wipe the love-sick smile off her face as she walks to their small kitchen. Her water bottle swinging in time with her steps.

“He won’t always be like that.”

The metal bottle clangs loudly against the concrete when her hand slackens in surprise.

“What?” She breathes, heart beating wildly in her chest.

“I said, he won't always be like that.” Soap says from the small couch in the ‘living room’. He’s draped himself lazily over the arm and is flicking through an old copy of the ‘New Yorker’. A cartoonish drawing of pointing Uncle Sam is printed on the front under bold red letters reading ‘I WANT YOU’.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She says calmly, swiping her bottle from the floor and continuing towards the sink, averting her eyes from the dramatic cartoon.

“Oh don’t play coy. You’re smiling like a fuckin’ teenager in love Lass. I know.” His tone isn’t accusing, if anything it's bored. Like he couldn’t be bothered to finish the conversation he’d started. “He’s true to his name. He’ll be kissing you like he needs you to breathe, and then the next mornin’ float right by you. Stings like a bitch. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

“How do you know?” She asks over the flowing tap. “Did you two...” Her half question drifts, waiting for him to pick up. It takes the metal burning into her palm for Flash to realize the water is steaming, she tips the bottle over and starts again.

“Were we together?” He flips another page, casual, like he’s not admitting to fucking his best friend. “I guess you could call it that.”

“He wasn’t interested in that... stuff?” She thinks back to the way his hands trembled the first time he’d touched her, and the way he practically vibrates when their bodies come within inches of each other.

“No,” a devilish chuckle comes from behind the paper “we didn’t have trouble in that department.”

“So you were a thing?” She asks and is blindsided by a sudden burning in her chest. It curls around to tense the line of her shoulders, bringing them closer to her ears like raised hackles.

He finally lowers the magazine and shakes his head at her reaction. “No need to get possessive. It lasted about two months before he realized that fucking every ten minutes wouldn’t fix his shit load of issues.” His words immediately drench her in a cool wave, and an embarrassing guilt flushes high in her cheeks, along with a biting sympathy at his confession. “My feelings were unrequited, unfortunately.” He gives her a sad smile. “He needs someone who isn’t broken. He needs someone who can guide him out of the shit storm he’s been led into.” The magazine is flipped back open and brought back up, his tone turns curious. “Someone like you.”

She starts to deny, to tell him that she is far from unbroken, but Soap waves another hand at her.

“Don’t bother, I don’t care.” A plain lie. “I just wanted to warn you. He can be-” a pregnant pause splits his words, “he can be challenging. He’s got a cargo container of shit that he hasn’t even begun to unpack. It can lead to some pretty rough mood swings.” Soap puts the magazine back down. “What I’m trying to say is he’s a real piece of work, but if anyone deserves the help, it’s him. I just hope you’re the right person.”

Flash can hear the unspoken words ring through the air between them.

‘Because I wasn’t’

When Flash reaches Ghost’s door in the bathroom, away from the prying eyes still pretending to read the old magazine, she knocks softly, waits a few moments, and then knocks again. There’s no response.

He’s blocked himself off again.

Disappointed and trying not to think of Soap’s words, Flash slinks dejectedly back to lie in her bed. Her IPod still lay on her nightstand, nestled in the center of a neatly swirled nest of wires. Right where Ghost had put it her first night there.

Then for some reason, imagining him taking the time to do something so unimportant with so much care, for her no less, sends a wave of something nearing homesickness through her. A brittle sort of feeling. And for the first time in over five years, Flash has the urge to call her sister.

“This is not good.”

A/N: AHHH MY AWKWARD LITTLE BABIES. I hoped you loved this as much as I loved writing it. God I love unhinged relationships, they’re just *chefs kiss*.  

[st0rmyskies]

Sitting here waiting for the numb half of my face to figure itself out after getting some dental work and thinking about how the boys all handle their shit at the dentist. 

Under the cut because I'm sure some people don't like talking about dental stuff.

Time - Incredibly mistrusting. He hates being in the chair, will stand awkwardly in the doorway until it’s absolutely necessary that he takes a seat. Unless he gets to WATCH the dentist pull up the numbing medication from the bottle he will refuse any injections. Can and has sat through fillings without procaine before. And Time has a fair number of fillings, seeing as his dental health kind of fell to the wayside during his teens. Also has a dental implant or two. It's easy to lose teeth in his line of work.

Twilight - Goes to the dentist every 6 months because he knows he needs to, but doesn’t necessarily relish this. Luckily he takes such good care of his teeth that he hasn’t needed anything major done. The hygienists all fight over who gets to take the cute cowboy each time he comes in. So much blushing and "thank you, ma'am"-ing that it gets the entire office distracted for the afternoon.

Champion - Will sit straight-backed and stiff in the chair, staring straight ahead the entire time. Instant compliance with everything the dentist asks ("Open your mouth." "Spit." "Turn this way."). Even if he white-knuckles the arm rests, he’s not going to complain or flinch for anything: not injections, not drilling, not cleaning. He’s in good oral health for his age. 

Warriors - Gets all the dish on the office drama every time he goes. He has his One Special Hygienist that he requests specifically for each cleaning. The day he is diagnosed with a cavity, he is disconsolate and needs a box of tissues. He takes a lil something to take the edge off before his filling appointment and refuses to leave the office without a face mask to hide the fact that half of his face is drooping. Resents being swollen afterward. 

Sky - Is the asshole who hasn’t gone to the dentist since he left home, gets berated by Sun until he finally makes the appointment. He dislikes dentist visits quite a bit and definitely has a wide-eyed look on his face the whole time, is much too chatty with tools in his mouth, and at the end is given a clean bill of health despite his lack of conscious upkeep. Jerk.

Legend - He let his oral health fall to the wayside during his early teens and didn’t pick it back up again until after he started living with Hyrule. Consequently, he’s needed a fair amount of work done but he takes it like a champ. What, like it’s hard? He’s had road rash that hurts worse than this. Just pops in his headphones and vibes while his face gets numb.

Hyrule - Has religiously seen the dentist twice yearly for quite some time, although often it's more than 6 months between visits because life is like that. He and the dentist compare notes on patient stories and treatment options. He usually has some case he wants to consult with them on anyway. His coffee addiction means that he’s had a fair number of cavities as he’s aged. Definitely has fallen asleep in the dentist’s chair. 

Four - Doesn’t like the dentist, but doesn’t hate it. Is very specific about which hygienist he sees, absolutely refuses the ultrasonic cleaner, and is pretty meticulous about most things, including his teeth. Has definitely played with the canister of laughing gas when left alone in the room, and now they don’t leave him alone in the room anymore. Hasn’t needed major work done yet. 

Wind - If this kid could pay someone to go to the dentist for him, he would. He goes only when he’s having a problem and then bitches and bellyaches that he needs work done. He pesters someone into going to his appointments with him so that he doesn’t have to do it alone, and they usually get sweets after, defeating the purpose of dental care.

Dark - Nope. No. Absolutely not. He would need to be heavily sedated for any type of dental work, and even then someone would need to bring him to the office and stay with him the entire time to make sure he doesn’t just up and leave. The chair, the masks and goggles, the gloves and tools, the light over his face, it all brings back bad, bad memories for him. He has a mouth full of veneers and is pretty good about his teeth mainly because he never wants to see the fucking dentist, ever.

[homenecromancer]

i am incapable of judging how comfortable other ppl are with reading about medical issues, sorry if this readmore doesn’t work, this is a needlessly detailed post bc this blog is partly my diary lmao

recap: in October 2022 i had a big fuckin abscess in my upper jaw above one of my rear molars (tooth X), which was incredibly painful and led to the coincidental discovery that my rearmost molar (tooth Y) had to be extracted. tooth X had previously had a crown placed on it, so draining the infection required drilling through that crown, performing a root canal, and then placing a filling over the drill hole. tooth Y was extracted and, over the course of almost a year, replaced with an implant

and then, late in December 2023, i started developing some slowly-building dental pain, seemingly localized to tooth X. last week i finally got around to seeing my regular dentist, who took X-rays and essentially went “…I gotta send you back to the guy who did that root canal, he has a fancier X-ray machine and will be able to see more”

and as it happened he was able to fit me in after only a couple of business days, so this past Tuesday, i went and saw him and he did a 3D X-ray. (ok. side note. this was actually done by an extremely kind, skilled, very pretty technician. which i tell you because “a nice lady tells me what to do” was a pleasant note in this whole lightly-nightmarish sequence of events.) anyway this was extremely cool to look at with him, because explaining what it showed required a bit of a basic course in looking at X-rays, and it was very interesting

unfortunately what the X-rays showed was that there was a dark patch of infection above the root area of tooth X. as he showed me, and explained: after the root canal (which was beautifully done), only the vertically-running nerves had been cleaned out. this probably left a small amount of material in horizontally-running tunnels which would have been impossible to see at the time. that material slowly died over time, leading to the infection. cleaning it out in a way that attempted to save the tooth would be fiddly, complicated work with a low chance of long-term success. yanking it out, on the other hand…

so he referred me back to the oral surgeon who had done my previous extraction — and as i drove home from the endodontist, my mom performed a minor miracle and managed to get me an appointment that afternoon with the surgeon. turnaround is never that fast. it ruled

the surgeon basically had a quick look and went “yup, that’ll have to come out, when do you wanna do it”. as it happens, i am away from work until next Tuesday, so i mentioned that to the scheduler, who said essentially “how’s Thursday [today] work?” and i said “YES”

fast forward to today, everything went much as it had for my first extraction… until i woke up and fuzzily noticed that they were still removing tools from my mouth

what had happened was this: they got in there and extracted tooth X, but noticed that the implant which had replaced tooth Y was attached less strongly than it had been (it was fine at my last post-implant checkup). the theory was that the infection at the root of tooth X had started to weaken the whole area. so, since i was still sedated, they called in my mother (medical power of attorney, for exactly this sort of situation), told her what was going on, and asked her opinion. she agreed with them — as did i once i was conscious enough to understand what had occurred — that it was best to take out the implant as well, let the whole area heal, and place both new implants at the same time

this has all happened over the course of a week from when i decided to drag myself in to go see the dentist 😑

[dentistloxahatchee]

Conquering Dental Fear: How Sedation Dentistry Can Help

For many individuals, visiting the dentist can be a source of intense fear and anxiety. Dental phobia can prevent people from seeking the necessary oral care, leading to neglected dental health and worsening oral conditions. However, there is a solution that can help individuals conquer their dental fear: sedation dentistry. In this blog post, we will explore how sedation dentistry can provide a comfortable and stress-free dental experience, enabling individuals to overcome their dental fears and receive the essential dental care they need.

Understanding Dental Fear and Anxiety:

Dental fear and anxiety are common and can stem from various factors, such as previous traumatic dental experiences, fear of pain, or feelings of vulnerability. These fears can lead to avoidance of dental appointments, resulting in deteriorating oral health and the need for more extensive dental treatments in the future. Sedation dentistry offers a viable solution to break this cycle by providing a relaxed and anxiety-free environment for dental procedures.

What is Sedation Dentistry?

Sedation dentistry involves the use of sedatives to help patients relax and remain calm during dental procedures. The level of sedation can range from mild relaxation to a deeper state of sedation, depending on the patient's needs and the complexity of the procedure. Sedation dentistry techniques are administered by qualified dental professionals who carefully monitor the patient's vital signs throughout the process.

Benefits of Sedation Dentistry:

Anxiety Reduction: Sedation dentistry helps alleviate anxiety and fear associated with dental visits. Patients can feel more at ease and comfortable, allowing them to undergo necessary treatments without distress.

Pain Management: Sedation dentistry can be combined with local anesthesia to ensure a pain-free experience during dental procedures. Patients can undergo treatments without feeling discomfort or pain.

Time Efficiency: Sedation dentistry enables dentists to perform multiple procedures in one session, as patients remain relaxed and cooperative throughout the process. This saves time and reduces the need for multiple dental appointments.

Improved Treatment Compliance: By eliminating the fear and anxiety associated with dental visits, sedation dentistry encourages patients to maintain regular dental appointments, leading to better oral health outcomes in the long run.

Enhanced Comfort: Sedation dentistry provides a comfortable experience for patients, reducing muscle tension and promoting relaxation. Patients often have little to no recollection of the procedure afterward.

Types of Sedation Dentistry:

Nitrous Oxide (Laughing Gas): A mild form of sedation, nitrous oxide is inhaled through a mask, inducing a relaxed and euphoric state. It wears off quickly after the procedure.

Oral Sedation: This involves taking a prescribed sedative pill before the dental appointment, which produces a calming effect. The patient remains conscious but deeply relaxed throughout the procedure.

Intravenous (IV) Sedation: Administered directly into the bloodstream, IV sedation induces a deeper level of sedation. It is typically reserved for more complex or lengthy dental procedures.

Conclusion:

Sedation dentistry offers a lifeline for those struggling with dental fear and anxiety. By providing a calm and stress-free experience, it allows individuals to overcome their fears and receive the essential dental care they deserve. If dental fear has been holding you back from seeking treatment, consider consulting a sedation dentist in Loxahatchee. Their expertise and dedication to patient comfort will ensure a positive and anxiety-free dental experience, paving the way for optimal oral health. Don't let fear stand in the way of your dental well-being—explore the benefits of sedation dentistry and take control of your dental health today.

[the2amrevolution]

Learning that something that has affected my self confidence and body image could be part of why I've been having sleep apnea, which means it's possible that having it corrected, which I assumed would be a cosmetic surgery pipe-dream, might be possible to have health insurance actually cover.

It wouldn't be an easy surgery. Its intense even for otherwise healthy people, but it has a high success and low regret rate, and nonsurgical options wouldn't really work for me.

The nonsurgical options would be metal braces with certain types of headgear. They work, but my teeth aren't sound enough for metal braces. A lot of them are 25-75% filling/resin bonding due to damage from my orthodontist treatment as a teen and ADHD. I can do aligners, but the aligners have limits on what they can correct. Surgical treatment combined with aligners would be my best options.

Homestly, my biggest worry with anything surgical isn't even about the surgery itself or healing or how much harder i will be affected by diverting energy to healing - its my reflex/brainstem myoclonus when I come out of sedation. I repeatedly, uncontrollably fling my body to the left into "startle reflex posture," and it decreases in severity over time following the reverse of the startle reflex cascade. That means that the last part of me to stop experiencing myoclonus is my neck and jaw.

Not great when you're talking about having orthognathic surgery.

(No, restraints would not solve it, they would actually more likely make me hurt myself because it is not voluntary movement. Restraints only work when the action is voluntary. I have to have my IV line detached before they start and then reattached when my arms are calmer or the line will get ripped out. I need the bed padded with a bunch of pillows so I dont slam against the rails, and I need a person on my left to help keep me from moving to far in that direction. A person can provide support without restraining. Even chest strap style restraints would result in injury because I would put so much force against them I'd bruise myself and possibly dislocate ribs.)

If we knew why I have this reaction to coming out of sedation (while under sedation I have no issues), then we could look into ways to reduce it. My best guess is something MCAS related, so IV ascorbic acid and other antihistamines might help, but we really don't know. Other triggers of my reflex myoclonus are heat, anxiety, strobe lights/flickering, and actually being startled by things like sonic booms, thunder, dog barks, etc.

There is, thankfully, also a much less intense surgery that will likely be recommended for me to reduce my apnea, which is nasal turbinate reduction, which would give the opportunity to test adding ascorbic acid and other antihistamines to my IV cocktail starting right before they reverse sedation. If my reaction is to the agent used to reverse sedation rather than the physiological processes of coming out of sedation, then bringing me out more slowly by allowing me to simply metabolise the sedative may also be an option.

Of course, all of this also requires a surgery and anesthesia team that are willing to listen to what I have to say and also believe me. Otherwise I'll tell them, they'll ignore me, and then they'll have the "oh shit we fucked up" look they've had in the past when they didn't listen and I had my reaction.

There is also the possibility that I won't have this reaction at all from general anesthesia (both surgeries are performed under general anesthesia with intubation). I had no abnormal reactions to anesthesia from my wisdom teeth extraction or gallbladder surgery. The myoclonus has occured with another oral surgery and gastrointestinal diagnostic procedures that were performed under conscious sedation (though I have no memory from either, which is typical).

[ao3feed-destiel-02]

Of Dicks Drugs and the Dentist

Of Dicks, Drugs, and the Dentist https://ift.tt/NkxS5VK by tea_or_die Dean needs some major dental work done, and his dentist offers to sedate him. He jumps at the chance for an extra afternoon nap, especially if it means he's not conscious while they drill into his teeth! He might not have been so eager if he knew how the anesthesia would affect him after he wakes up… Words: 3122, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English Fandoms: Supernatural (TV 2005) Rating: Explicit Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Categories: M/M Relationships: Castiel/Dean Winchester Additional Tags: Dentistry, Sedation, Recreational Drug Use, Marijuana, Oral Sex, Anal Sex, Dean Winchester is a Bad Patient, Fluff, Fluff and Smut via AO3 works tagged 'Castiel/Dean Winchester' https://ift.tt/Nvbwa75 March 25, 2023 at 10:10PM

[skeletonthecreator]

Hi, I saw your post about narcolepsy and wanted to ask you something. I had conscious sedation for a oral surgery last year and, in spite the meds having been predicted by everyone to wholly wipe me out, I was entirely lucid and unaffected by them. I found out that the medicine they gave me works by putting someone in a waking dream which… of course the meds had no effect, I live a good chunk of my life in “waking dreams” (I have brain fog, undiagnosed sleep disorder, etcetera); is that a common thing?

hey there! i'm going to be honest, i have no idea, i've never been under conscious sedation myself. i did some quick surface level research and couldn't find anything about it online either. i'm so sorry i couldn't answer this for you, if anyone else has this experience and would like to chime in in the notes please feel free!!

[dentem1]

What To Expect When Getting Dental Implants In Chhatarpur

For anyone looking to replace missing or damaged teeth, dental implants offer a reliable, long-term solution that looks and feels natural. If you’re considering getting dental implants in Chhatarpur, it’s helpful to understand the process involved. Here’s a step-by-step guide to what you can expect, from your initial consultation to post-procedure care.

1. First Consultation and Examination

Your journey toward getting dental implants starts with an initial consultation with your dentist. During this visit, the dentist will review your dental and medical history, perform a detailed oral examination, and take scans or X-rays. These images allow the dentist to assess your jawbone health, as adequate bone density is crucial for implant support. If necessary, additional procedures, such as bone grafting, may be recommended to prepare the jaw for implants.

This appointment is also an opportunity for you to ask any questions and discuss the procedure in detail.

2. Creating a Personalized Treatment Plan

After evaluating your dental health, your dentist will develop a tailored treatment plan that aligns with your specific needs. This plan covers the number of implants you’ll receive, the type of implants suitable for you, and the timeline for each stage. Your dentist will also explain sedation options, such as local anesthesia or conscious sedation, to make sure you’re comfortable throughout the procedure.

3. Placing the Implant

Once everything is planned, the implant procedure begins. On the day of surgery, local anesthesia will be applied to numb the implant area. If you feel nervous about the procedure, your dentist may also discuss sedation options to help you relax.

The procedure involves making a small incision in the gum to expose the jawbone, where the dentist will insert a titanium post that acts as a replacement root. Once in place, the dentist will close the gums around the implant. This surgery typically takes one to two hours, and you can go home the same day.

4. Healing and Bone Fusion (Osseointegration)

After implant placement, the healing phase, called osseointegration, begins. During this period, the titanium post gradually bonds with the surrounding bone, creating a stable foundation. This process can take a few months (typically three to six), depending on individual factors like bone quality and healing rates.

Your dentist will provide guidance on how to care for the implant area during this time to avoid infection or complications. You may also be given temporary solutions, like a bridge or denture, while the implant fuses.

5. Adding the Abutment and Custom Crown

Once the implant is securely integrated with your jawbone, the next stage is to place an abutment on top of it. The abutment acts as a connector between the implant post and the crown.

After attaching the abutment, your dentist will take impressions to create a custom crown that matches the look and color of your natural teeth. Once ready, the crown is secured to the abutment, fully restoring the missing tooth and completing the implant process. The crown is designed to blend seamlessly with your existing teeth, offering a natural appearance and feel.

6. Post-Surgery Care and Regular Follow-Ups

Following the procedure, regular follow-up visits with your dentist are essential to monitor the healing process and ensure that the implant is functioning properly. It’s normal to experience minor swelling, soreness, or bruising after the implant placement, but these symptoms should fade within a few days. Your dentist may recommend over-the-counter pain relief and specific aftercare instructions to aid recovery.

Maintaining good oral hygiene practices and following your dentist’s care instructions will help prevent infection and keep your implants in top condition.

7. Long-Term Care and Maintenance

Dental implants are designed for durability, often lasting a lifetime with the right care. Brushing, flossing, and routine dental visits will help preserve the health of your implant. Avoiding habits like teeth grinding and limiting smoking can also extend the life of your dental implants.

Your dentist in Chhatarpur will provide advice on keeping your implants strong, healthy, and functioning well for years to come.

Conclusion

Getting dental implants in Chhatarpur can be a life-changing choice, restoring both function and confidence to your smile. Although the process involves multiple stages, each step is carefully planned to ensure comfort, success, and longevity. From your initial consultation to final placement and ongoing care, your dentist will guide you every step of the way. If you’re interested in learning more about dental implants, consider scheduling a consultation with a reputable dentist in Chhatarpur to get started on your journey toward a healthy, confident smile.

[confi-dental]

Top Benefits Of Opting Painless Extraction For Your Dental Health

Dental extractions have come a long way, and modern methods have revolutionized the patient experience. Painless Extractions In Kandivali West, backed by advanced anesthesia and sedation techniques, offer a stress-free solution to removing troublesome teeth. Here are the top benefits of opting for painless extractions for your dental health:

Reduced Anxiety and Stress: Many people put off extractions due to the fear of pain. Painless extractions eliminate this concern by using modern sedation techniques that ensure minimal discomfort. This approach is particularly helpful for individuals with dental anxiety, helping them maintain necessary oral health without added stress.

Quick and Comfortable Procedure: Innovations in anesthesia allow dentists to perform extractions smoothly, often shortening the duration of the procedure. Patients remain calm and comfortable, allowing for an efficient process. This is especially valuable when multiple extractions are needed or for wisdom teeth removal, which can be more invasive.

Faster Healing and Recovery: Painless extraction methods minimize trauma to surrounding tissues, leading to less swelling and reduced discomfort after the procedure. This promotes faster healing and allows patients to resume their daily activities sooner, which is a big advantage for those with busy schedules.

Prevents Complications: Delaying necessary extractions can lead to infections, overcrowding, or misalignment. By opting for a painless extraction, patients are more likely to follow through with recommended treatments, which can prevent further complications and maintain overall oral health.

Customized Sedation Options: Painless extractions come with various anesthesia choices, including local anesthesia, conscious sedation, and even IV sedation, depending on patient needs and comfort levels. This flexibility ensures that each patient has an experience tailored to their personal preferences and medical requirements.

Improved Oral Health and Functionality: Removing problematic teeth without pain is essential for maintaining oral health. Painless extractions help patients prevent gum disease, abscesses, and other issues that may arise from decayed or damaged teeth, improving overall dental health and function.

For Painless Extractions In Borivali West, you can connect with them without any delay.

About Confi-Dental

The Confi-Dental clinic offers everyone with a wide range of dental treatment at affordable prices. The team working with the clinic is highly professional and makes sure that the patient is calm and getting the right course of treatment as per their dental condition. To know more or to get the dental treatment, you can book an appointment today, and the dentist will diagnose your condition, and will make a treatment plan as per your suitability.

Credit:- https://penzu.com/p/e287d58ef2104283

[intellibloghub]

Discover Twilight Sedation Dentistry and Dental Implant Specials at Smile Designs 101 in Somerset

Imagine stepping into a dentist's office without a hint of nervousness. For many, this might sound like a dream, but with the advent of twilight sedation dentistry, it’s becoming a reality right here in Somerset. At Smile Designs 101, we’re excited to bring you this innovative approach that promises a stress-free experience and exceptional dental care.

Dentistry has come a long way from the days when visiting a dentist was synonymous with anxiety. Among the latest advancements, twilight sedation dentistry stands out for its ability to ease discomfort and fear. In this post, we’ll explore what Twilight Sedation dentistry Somerset are, its benefits, and why it’s an excellent option for those seeking dental care in Somerset.

What is Twilight Sedation Dentistry?

Twilight sedation, also known as conscious sedation, represents a breakthrough in dental care. Unlike general anesthesia, where patients are completely unconscious, and twilight sedation keep you relaxed and mostly unaware of the procedure, while still being responsive to your dentist’s instructions.

The process typically involves administering medication through an IV line, inducing a state of calm and drowsiness. While you may not remember much about the procedure, you will maintain a level of consciousness that allows for cooperation with the dental team.

Benefits of Twilight Sedation

The advantages of twilight sedation dentistry go beyond just calming your nerves. It provides relief for those with a strong gag reflex or low pain threshold. Additionally, it allows for multiple procedures to be completed in a single visit, reducing the number of appointments needed.

Twilight sedation also opens the door for those who have avoided dental care due to severe anxiety. By creating a stress-free environment, it encourages regular visits, which are crucial for maintaining good oral health.

Why Choose Smile Designs 101 in Somerset?

Located in the heart of Somerset, Smile Designs 101 is dedicated to providing top-notch dental care with a personalized touch. Our team of experienced professionals is committed to ensuring that each visit is as comfortable and efficient as possible.

By choosing us, you’re opting for a practice that understands the importance of patient comfort and care. We offer a range of services, including dental implant specials that are expertly handled by our skilled Somerset dentists.

Who Can Benefit from Twilight Sedation?

Twilight sedation is particularly beneficial for those with dental phobias, sensitive teeth, or a need for extensive dental work. It’s also ideal for patients who experience difficulty sitting still for extended periods or have experienced traumatic dental visits in the past.

Furthermore, twilight sedation can be a great option for individuals with developmental disabilities or other conditions that make dental procedures challenging.

Preparing for Your Twilight Sedation Appointment

Preparation for twilight sedation is straightforward. It’s essential to follow your dentist’s instructions regarding fasting prior to the procedure. Typically, you’ll be advised not to eat or drink anything for at least six hours before your appointment.

Arranging for transportation home is also necessary, as the effects of sedation can linger for a few hours post-procedure. It’s recommended to take it easy for the rest of the day, allowing your body to recover fully from the sedation.

What to Expect After the Procedure

Post-procedure, you’ll likely feel drowsy and may not remember much about the treatment. Rest assured, this is entirely normal. Your Somerset dentist will provide detailed aftercare instructions to ensure a smooth recovery.

It’s crucial to refrain from operating heavy machinery or making significant decisions until the sedation effects wear off, usually by the following day.

Addressing Common Concerns

Many patients have concerns about the safety and efficacy of twilight sedation. At Smile Designs 101, we prioritize your well-being and conduct a thorough assessment to determine if twilight sedation is suitable for you.

Our experienced team monitors vital signs throughout the procedure to ensure your safety and comfort. We are happy to answer any questions you may have to help you feel at ease.

The Future of Comfortable Dental Care

Twilight sedation dentistry represents a significant step forward in making dental visits easier and more accessible for everyone. By alleviating anxiety and discomfort, it encourages individuals to prioritize their oral health without fear.

At Smile Designs 101, we’re proud to be at the forefront of this advancement, offering quality care and a welcoming environment for all our patients.

Experience the Difference at Smile Designs 101

Whether you're interested in exploring twilight sedation dentistry in Somerset or looking for dental implant specials, Smile Designs 101 is here to assist you. Our dedicated team of Somerset dentists is ready to provide exceptional care tailored to your unique needs.

If you’re ready to experience a new level of comfort and care in dentistry, we invite you to schedule an appointment with us today. Discover how twilight sedation can transform your dental visits into a relaxed and positive experience.

Twilight sedation dentistry is transforming the way people perceive dental visits, making it easier for individuals in Somerset to receive the care they need without fear or discomfort. At Smile Designs 101, we’re committed to providing this cutting-edge service along with a comprehensive range of dental treatments and specials.

Join us in discovering the benefits of twilight sedation and take the first step towards a healthier, happier smile. Contact Smile Designs 101 today to learn more and schedule your consultation. Together, we’ll redefine your dental experience, ensuring it’s as pleasant and stress-free as possible.

[dannyyyyyfsfs]

Understanding conscious sedation for dental care Conscious sedation for dental care is a technique used to help patients relax and feel comfortable during dental procedures, without putting them to sleep. This type of sedation is often recommended for patients who experience dental anxiety or have difficulty sitting still during treatment. With conscious sedation, patients remain awake and responsive but feel calm and at ease.

socalsleepdentistry offers a variety of conscious sedation options, including oral sedatives or nitrous oxide (laughing gas), depending on the patient’s needs and the complexity of the procedure. This approach allows for a more pleasant dental experience, particularly for those who are fearful or nervous about dental treatments.

One of the key benefits of conscious sedation is that patients can communicate with the dentist throughout the procedure. Although they feel relaxed, they remain aware of their surroundings, which can help reduce the feeling of being out of control. This makes conscious sedation an excellent option for many dental procedures, including routine cleanings, fillings, and even more extensive treatments like root canals.

The safety of conscious sedation is a major consideration, and dental professionals are highly trained to administer sedatives in a controlled environment. Before starting any procedure, the dentist will evaluate the patient's medical history and discuss any potential risks. The goal is to ensure that the sedation is safe and effective for each individual.

In addition to easing anxiety, conscious sedation can also reduce discomfort during treatment, making dental visits more manageable for patients who would otherwise avoid the dentist due to fear. For patients interested in exploring conscious sedation, visiting a provider like socalsleepdentistry ensures a tailored approach to their dental care needs, providing a safer and more comfortable experience.

Ultimately, conscious sedation is a powerful tool in modern dentistry, offering a solution for patients who need extra support in overcoming their dental anxiety or discomfort. By making dental care more accessible and less stressful, it encourages patients to maintain their oral health and visit the dentist regularly.

[stunningdentistryofficial]

STUNNING DENTISTRY 2.0

Presenting The Most Advanced Dental Hospital in New Delhi India

This State of the Art facility is equipped with the Latest Innovations from the World’s Top Dental Brands making this one of the Most Advanced Dental Clinic of the World.

Stunning Dentistry proudly houses in CBCT 3D Scanners, Intra Oral Scanners, Conscious Sedation Machines, Dental Microscopes, LASER’s, PRF Centrifuges, TENS machines, 3D Printers, Air Abrasion Systems, Digital Smile Design & Shade Matching Systems and much much more...

Stunning Dentistry is proud to have gone a notch ahead in providing 100% Sterilization throughout all Dental Procedures & Surgeries with:

1. Complete HEPA Laminar Air Purification System

2. ⁠The Most Advanced Dental Chair Water Purification System

3. ⁠Triple Filter Dry & Hygienic Compressed Air System

This Center is a testament to our commitment to “No Compromise Dentistry” & ensuring our clients receive the best in the world of Dentistry.

[idigitizellp21]

How dental anesthesia ensures a safe and pain-free dental experience

The mere thought of sitting in a dental chair can make many people uneasy. Dental procedures often bring to mind discomfort or pain, making the experience daunting for patients. Fortunately, modern dentistry offers solutions that ensure effective treatments and a pain-free experience and the only key tool in achieving this is dental anesthesia.

Feeling anxious or nervous about your dental treatment? Rest assured, dental anesthesia can help ease your fears and ensure a comfortable visit.

This blog covers dental anesthesia, its types, and how it ensures safe yet comfortable dental treatments

The Purpose of Dental Anesthesia

Dental anesthesia is primarily used to block the sensation of pain during dental procedures. The numbing effect allows dentists to carry out everything from simple fillings to more complex treatments, such as tooth extractions or root canals, without causing discomfort to the patient.

But dental anesthesia is not just about managing pain, it plays a pivotal role in keeping patients calm, reducing anxiety, and helping them remain still, which is crucial for the success of many intricate dental procedures.

How Does Dental Anesthesia Work?

Dental anesthesia works by temporarily interrupting the nerve signals that carry pain sensations to the brain. Once administered, the anesthetic blocks the sodium channels in nerve cells, preventing the electrical signals responsible for pain from reaching the brain. As a result, patients can undergo dental procedures without feeling any pain in the treated area.

The effects of anesthesia usually wear off after a few hours, gradually restoring sensation to the numbed region.

Types of Dental Anesthesia

There are different types of dental anesthesia, each tailored to the patient’s needs and the procedure’s complexity. Let’s look at the most common forms:

1. Local Anesthesia

Local anesthesia is the most widely used type of dental anesthesia. It is administered via an injection to numb a specific area of the mouth, such as the gums or teeth. The patient stays fully alert but experiences no pain during the procedure. This is ideal for minor to moderate treatments like fillings, crowns, or deep cleanings.

Example: During a root canal, a dentist will apply local anesthesia to numb the tooth and surrounding tissue, ensuring the patient doesn’t feel pain as the infected tissue is removed.

2. Sedation Anesthesia

In cases where patients experience dental anxiety or the procedure is more invasive, dentists may opt for sedation anesthesia. This type of anesthesia helps patients relax or even drift into a light sleep, depending on the level of sedation used.

Nitrous Oxide (Laughing Gas): Nitrous oxide is a mild sedative that helps ease anxiety while keeping the patient awake. It’s often used in combination with local anesthesia.

Oral Sedation: Involves taking a sedative pill before the procedure, which keeps patients relaxed but conscious.

Intravenous (IV) Sedation: Administered through the vein, this type of sedation works quickly and induces a deep state of relaxation, although the patient remains semi-conscious.

3. General Anesthesia

General anesthesia may be used for more complex procedures or for patients who cannot tolerate even minimal discomfort. This form of anesthesia renders the patient completely unconscious, ensuring a painless and anxiety-free experience. General anesthesia is typically reserved for oral surgeries, extensive extractions, or cases involving special needs patients.

Safety Measures and Monitoring

Dental anesthesia, when administered by trained professionals, is highly safe. Before using anesthesia, dentists assess a patient’s medical history, allergies, and overall health to ensure the best approach. This pre-assessment helps reduce the risk of complications.

Throughout the procedure, the dentist or an anesthesiologist will closely monitor the patient’s vital signs, including heart rate, breathing, and blood pressure, to ensure safety. For sedation or general anesthesia, this level of monitoring is even more stringent to avoid any adverse reactions.

Why it’s important for a positive dental experience

For many people, the fear of pain is one of the primary reasons for avoiding dental visits. Dental anesthesia addresses this fear by offering an entirely pain-free experience. Here are some ways in which it enhances patient comfort:

Reduces Anxiety: Knowing that a procedure will be painless allows patients to approach dental treatments with less fear.

Improves Cooperation: A calm and relaxed patient is easier for the dentist to work with, ensuring the procedure goes smoothly.

Enables Complex Procedures: Without anesthesia, certain treatments, like wisdom tooth extractions or gum surgeries, would be unbearable for patients.

Delivering Comfort with Precision: The Wand

At Gentle and Caring Dentistry, we are committed to providing the most comfortable experience possible for our patients. One way we achieve this is by utilizing the latest technology, including “The Wand”. The wand is a computer-controlled anesthesia delivery system that offers several advantages over traditional injection techniques.

The wand delivers a precise amount of anesthetic with minimal discomfort. This is because the wand uses a computerized feedback mechanism to adjust the pressure and flow of the anesthetic based on the tissue resistance. This targeted approach minimizes the spread of the anesthetic, leading to a more numb and comfortable experience for the patient. Additionally, the wand helps reduce needle phobia, as the injection itself is often less noticeable compared to traditional methods. If you’re looking for a pain-free and comfortable dental experience, ask a professional dentist Dr. Roxanne Irani about the benefits of using the wand for your next procedure.