Zoaring With Glinda

Monday, January 4, 2010

Duck, duck, a gaggle of geese!

The dentist office called me at 7:30 Monday morning and said that they could see me at 9:40 about my 'trobbin' tooth. I had left a message on Sunday on their answering machine, and as a result there were three other 'emergencies' that were after me. An X Ray confirmed that the farthest tooth[molar] on my upper left side was in fact the one that was 'screaming'. My two choices were/are a 'root canal' that looked complicated enough to refer me to a specialist[$1200: They would do the procedure, place a temporary filling in the tooth, and send me back to my dentist for the permanent filling.] Or: extraction [$200]. I left with prescriptions for an antibiotic and pain pills. What to do? What to do?
My decision was not based on cost. It is all about pain, time, appointments, more appointments, no guarantees, my dental history. etc.
I have decided that yanking that tooth out is the best option. It is not a part of my smile [!!], and it will not have a chance to require future attention. I have already had to 'revisit' a finished root canal...not good.
I am not looking forward to it, but I guess I'll cross that bridge on Monday at noon.
Chewing on the 'right' side only ... along with preventing the top teeth from getting anywhere near meeting the bottom teeth[ouch!] ...is a hassle.
As I left the dentist's office, feeling lower than whale poop...[ the bottom of the ocean is pretty low!], I looked over at the mill pond [a favorite sight] that I used to drive by daily on my way to school. It had so many geese gathered on its surface that it was difficult to see any water. Spectacular! I used my phone[see the side view mirror??] to capture the essence of it. Birds of a feather...there were certainly a lot of them.
Things can change in a flash.
Friday...just my regular 'RA' state of being.
Saturday...hmmm...small signals from the upper deck.
Sunday...Tooth #15...HELL-O!

And there you have it!

G'night all! Pain medication kicking in....Z-zz-Z

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posted by Mare at 10:58 PM

17 Comments:

  • mare-sorry for your problems -how can one little tooth create such a big problem? Good to have soft foods in the house. Do you and Flo do puddings? Good luck.
    R.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, At January 5, 2010 at 8:53 PM  

  • Mare, you have a problem. I'm missing my right upper back tooth and can't tell it has adversely affected my life.

    I really don't like losing a tooth, however, that will be negative to the teeth on either side of it.

    Hope you can get this resolved quickly.

    By Blogger Linda, At January 5, 2010 at 9:25 PM  

  • So sorry, Mare. Very painful (not to mention expensive). I would choose yanking, too. Good luck. My suggestion... mashed potatoes, pudding, and milkshakes. Yum!

    By Blogger Janie B, At January 5, 2010 at 10:21 PM  

  • root canals are not fun, I understand why yanking it seems easier and cheaper...no one tell you that fillings and even root canals may one day need to be replaced.

    By Blogger Great Grandma Lin, At January 5, 2010 at 10:34 PM  

  • Sorry about your pain and yeah, I'd do the $200 thing.

    Hope you're feeling better soon!

    By Blogger Kay Dennison, At January 6, 2010 at 2:55 AM  

  • I'd do the root canal instead, because the opposite tooth will fall out, if it has no tooth to meet it when chewing. So you would be out 2 teeth instead of one.

    At least, that was my experience!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, At January 6, 2010 at 11:45 AM  

  • Oh Mare! I am so sorry. I have always had dental type issues so I can really relate to what you're going through. My first inclination would be to save the tooth if at all possible because of the upper molar but I guess the dentist could give the best advice.

    Art is going through a similar dilemma right now. He's going to the dentist today. He bit wrong on a noodle of all things and jarred a bottom front tooth. He's got to decide whether to pull it and have braces to push the other crowded teeth over or try to save it. I don't know...

    By Blogger Kay, At January 6, 2010 at 3:26 PM  

  • sorry about your tooth but i have to tell you i'm very impressed that you can take pictures with your phone and upload them to the internet! you go!
    emily

    By Anonymous Anonymous, At January 6, 2010 at 3:52 PM  

  • There is a good reason why, "I'd rather have a root canal" is a popular way of describing anything you really, really DON'T want to to.

    Root canals are expensive, can be painful, often require a crown... which is even MORE expensive, and have been known to fail.

    Yanking a tooth that does not show when you smile, and isn't necessary to chew a moderately tender slice of prime rib on the other hand... is far less expensive, although often as painful (especially if you sip drinks through a straw too soon after extraction) but has never failed to cure the problem of a rotting tooth in your mouth.

    It takes a great deal of time for a missing tooth to have an adverse effect on the teeth surrounding it, although it most often does.

    I went through six... yes I said, SIX... implants. They are also not always a permanent solution. They can fail as well. I lost one of them five or six years ago. They were done nearly fifteen years ago. By the way, I had them because I was working for a dentist at the time and he did them at no charge. The lab tech also did the crowns over the implants at no cost to me. Whew! That was a very generous gift from both men! I'd still be paying off that bill. It's ridiculous what dentist's charge these days. I did dental consulting for a while and was always somewhat... mmmmmmmm
    amazed... at how much money they thought they should, could, charge their patients. Not necessary.

    I think your decision is a good one.

    Hope your back to enjoying all the foods you want to eat, completely pain free, soon!

    By Blogger wispy willow, At January 6, 2010 at 6:45 PM  

  • PS Love the pic of the mill pond covered with geese. And you did that on the way home from the dentist?? What a woman!

    And thank you for checking in on me, Mare. I appreciate it!

    I will write sometime soon and let everyone who cares to know where I've been and/or what I've been up to.

    By Blogger wispy willow, At January 6, 2010 at 6:49 PM  

  • A gaggle of geese and a story about teeth!
    I'm sorry for your pain. I have only had one root canal so far, but it was a nightmare. I think you made the right choice.

    By Blogger Linda Reeder, At January 6, 2010 at 10:20 PM  

  • :(, I hate problems with my teeth, I also used to work for a wonderful dentist, he would prefer we say "extract" not yank. (Sounds less painful). If it is the very last tooth on the upper right, maybe have it extracted, but you/we do need these choppers for a very, very long time. I would talk to the dentist again. Hard decision.

    Love the pic. I think you are so cleaver to be able to get it from one source to another.

    Love ya MOW

    By Anonymous Anonymous, At January 7, 2010 at 9:06 AM  

  • LR was here.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, At January 7, 2010 at 12:04 PM  

  • Did ya know that occasionally there are swans on the mill pond? I'll call you if I see them...they are indeed a beautiful sight!

    lv

    By Anonymous Anonymous, At January 7, 2010 at 6:22 PM  

  • A sore tooth can really ruin a lovely day. I hope, whatever you decide, you feel better soon.

    I, too, am impressed that you can upload a picture from your phone.

    By Blogger Jo, a retired teacher, At January 7, 2010 at 6:24 PM  

  • So sorry you're having problems. I hope you get to feeling better soon. Ooooooo root canals are no fun, but the end result makes it worth it.

    By Blogger dellgirl, At January 10, 2010 at 1:23 AM  

  • It was interesting reading your comments..I am so sorry about this. I haven't yet (knock on wood) had to endure a root canal or having a tooth pulled except for wisdom teeth years ago..Did they have to make to wait so long to have it done...

    By Blogger RamblingWoods2.com, At January 10, 2010 at 3:38 PM  

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