Content warning: this post is about the going to the dentist.
My new tooth was installed this morning. It looks so much better than my old crown (the neon one? The one that was waaay longer than my other front tooth?). And it outclasses that fucking flipper by miles. Is it perfect? No. But I can live with it. The journey that began in July with my old crown falling out is now, hopefully, over.
But I must insert here that my dentist sent me home with the flipper. Just in case, she said. Blah blah slow drying cement blah.
JUST IN CASE? I have twice in the last two seasons had the experience of my front tooth falling out. Twice. Really don’t want to make it a trifecta.
There was tugging and pushing and pressure and enough pokes with that pokiest of all pokey tools that at some point novocaine was administered. Of course that’s no fun either — the roof of the mouth several times, my upper gums.
Even after being numbed up, I clutched my hands. I pressed my clutched my hands into my abdomen as if that could protect me. My trick of leaving “Little DeeDee” home required some maintenance. Enjoy Finn. I told her. I’ll be home soon.
Even numbed up, I had to announce at one point that I was starting to panic —
(they were blowing the air DOWN MY THROAT. And for a while. That was new, and by new I mean awful).
What’s next, I asked. Does the cord come out, I asked. How much pressure? And, what’s next again and again.
I was behaving like such a baby that at one point I felt compelled to let them know that I gave birth twice without pain meds.
Home again, now, I am breathing in ease and I can relax. I’ll work on the couch throw for K and me — what I’m calling the leftovers project.
I’ll make lunch. Walk Finn. Maybe watch another couple of episodes of the Korean series The Extraordinary Life of Attorney Woo, which I didn’t think I’d like but I do.
Dee~ Funny-NOT Funny…I love the idea of throwing in a childbirth story to redeem yourself! ha
I’m glad you got through it an are enjoying your new tooth. I have a dentist appointment coming up. Just a cleaning…but…
sigh
Good luck with your tooth Dee! I have two new crowns that I’m afraid will fall out. Thank god not in the front of my mouth, but still such a worry.
I always warn dentists that I have a dentist phobia based on a complete lack of trust and past trauma experiences. And that I need painkillers. Like wtf, drilling hurts a lot! Give me the shots Damnittohell.
Good luck. May this be the last of the tooth trauma!
This dentist is new to me so I had to alert her to how much I need the blow by blow narration. Unfortunately I need another implant on the lower right. For that I’ll ask for diazepam!
noooooo! I can’t believe what they put you through. Is it because it is a front tooth that there is so much sensitivity? If so why no Novocaine prior to doing the work? I would sue them for pain and suffering. What is the “chord” – never mind, I don’t want to know.
It looks great, I do think it looks great! Perfect color match. You’ve earned a few days of eskimo pies?
If it makes you feel any better, at OT for my hand, I put my kevlar (?) brace in my mouth and bite into it while the therapist stretches my immobile wrist back 120 degrees (probably I exaggerate) to my arm. I groan into it loudly.
Ooh that sounds painful. Hope it’s going well. And that insurance covers for as long as you need.
The gum needed pushing away from the abutment otherwise I wouldn’t have needed novocaine. She was great, the dentist. I just wish I wasn’t still worried about it falling out again.
Oh my .. it all sounds awful!! The new tooth does look really good … frustrating to have to keep worrying about it falling out again. I am in between dentists right now .. walking around with a tooth that has before crazy sensitive to both cold and warm. Hoping they’ll see me before my first scheduled appointment in August!! I am a real baby when it comes to the dentist.
I switched to Sensodyne toothpaste and was shocked at how much better my mouth felt after. Do you use it?
I do …
Oh good. Hope you get in soon, then.