Nothing But the Tooth

Oh, the drama!

I'm getting really tired of the dentist's chair. I had to drive another 70 miles to the Oral Surgeon again today because I'm having problems with the implant that isn't even completed yet! I won't rehash the entire procedure, but if you're curious enough you can read about it here.

Long story short, there's a gigantic screw that's been drilled into my mouth, and I noticed on Wednesday that it's poking out near the top of my gums. So, I paid an unexpected visit to the surgeon, who said, "Yep. That's a problem." I'm now scheduled to travel back next Thursday so he can try to fix it, or re-graft the whole thing all over again. Translation: Take the screw out and drill it back in and set the whole process of getting my tooth replaced back by yet another month and a half. *Sigh*

I don't blame anybody. Stuff happens. I've learned to roll with it, but this is getting frustrating. As much as I want this done, either alternative doesn't sound like much fun. I'd almost rather eat spinach than have to endure more shots to freeze the most sensitive part of my mouth. Almost. Hey... maybe I could record the whole thing and become a YouTube sensation! Nah, I'm not much into videos and home movies. They tend to disappear.

The one good thing about traveling north for dental work? They have a Biggby Coffee Shop. Now that's worth the trip. Numbing dental pain with coffee... one cup, one tooth at a time.

Maybe it's not so bad after all. At least until I get the bill.

Brusha Brusha Brusha...

"Brush your teeth and comb your hair!"

I heard it every morning growing up. I was brought up with fairly good oral hygiene habits. But I'm paying the price (quite literally) now for one slight problem. My parents rarely took me to the dentist. My much older brother had terribly crooked teeth and had to have braces, so all of their money and effort was poured into him. So while he had years of appointments with the Orthodonist over the years, I was never taken to the dentist again. Now, I'm not blaming them for the fact that I didn't go as an adult either, but...

But. It was just a few years ago that my aching teeth drove me to the dentist's chair for the first time in... well, let's just say Gerald Ford was probably in the White House the last time a dentist saw me. By that time, despite my best efforts to brush every day, I had to have four wisdom teeth yanked, 16 fillings, and two root canals. Despite their best efforts at salvaging a front tooth that I chipped as a kid, it finally gave up the ghost last December. My tooth was infected, and they yanked it.

So today, I'm off to Gaylord for step two of a year-long process that will eventually replace the big gap in my smile. Today's procedure includes drilling a long screw into my gum that will hold the new tooth in place. Oooh, fun. As I understand it, I'll be waiting three more months while my mouth adjusts to it before they attach the new tooth. *Sigh* $3,600 later, I'll be able to smile again without worrying that the temporary tooth will fall out of my mouth.

I wish I could tie this experience to some deep theological truth, and perhaps someday I will. If I can encourage you at all through this rambling diatribe, please understand this: A little discomfort in the dentist's chair today will save you a world of hurt tomorrow. Take your kids. Set the example by having regular appointments yourself.

Oh, and don't forget to floss.