Today I discovered that I have two wisdom teeth. Great. When I was 21 I had the two on the bottom row out. Today's xrays showed that while I had a tooth out, it wasn't my wisdom tooth.
That wisdom tooth is now broken with damage to the roots and needs to come out. Only it runs really close to a nerve and the roots are so long they are actually embedded in my jaw.
So what does this mean? A visit to the oral surgeon. That sounds even scarier than a dentist. The one who visits Port Lincoln is very busy so I won't get an appointment for a couple of months, and then I probably won't have the procedure until a month or so after that. I have to say I don't mind putting it off!
For the moment the tooth has been filled with a temporary filling to stop it from hurting while I wait for my appointment. Once all that settles down we will be able to see if I am still experiencing pain from the other tooth on the top row. I'm half tempted to ask him to just knock me out and take them both. Or take them all and give me nice strong false teeth. I have had nothing but trouble with my teeth my whole life and it's not fair. I brush, floss, rinse and visit the dentist regularly. REALLY regularly!!!!! I have spent sooooo much money at the dentist! And it's not a fun way to spend your cash!
Sigh. The anaesthetic (stupid word, can't spell it) has begun to wear off now and the pain is coming back. Time for more painkillers. I'll probably get a stomache ulcer next from all the painkillers. Not that I'm being negative or anything. Sulk.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
I hate my teeth
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8 valued opinions!:
First let me apologize for the laughter over here. I'm sorry for your pain, really I am. You just write about it so comically! And I loved your tip at my place. (especially the warning for any kiddies reading! LOL!)
My ADHD can sympthize with you more than I can. She is dentist phoebic (gets laughing gas just to get a cleaning!) and has had lots of dental work.
So hang in there. Surely tomorrow will be a better day.
{{{HUGS}}} and HEAPS of sympathy. :(
1. Demand (nicely) Nitrous-laughing gas when you schedule the appointment Do this ahead of time to make sure they schedule you in a room that has it hooked up. DO THIS EVEN FOR THE INITIAL VISIT!
2. When they call to confirm your appointment, remind them you will be needing nitrous (alw3ays do this very nicely----more flies with honey. Be sweet----but firm).
3. When you arrive for your appointment, as you are checking in, remind them you need nitrous.
4. When they call you back to the room, remind them you need nitrous.
5. When they give you nitrous (even if it is just so they don't have to listen to you anymore) Remind them that you need to be on the nitrous for a few moments before they can touch you---it takes about 5 minutes before it starts to work.
6. Breath in, breathe out. DON'T OPEN YOUR MOUTH UNTIL ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY--that part is hard for me. When you open your mouth, you don't get the full effect.
7. No matter how you felt during the exam, remind the surgeon you will need the nitrous turned up higher for the procedure.
8. After the procedure...PERCOCET for the first day or so.
9. After the Percocet.... VICADIN. It helps a lot but you will still be able to function. (the Percocet may knock you out!)
10. SMILE The pain is gone and the incident is over!!!
11. Stop taking the Vicoden when the pain is gone.....I MEAN IT!!
(otherwise you will have a whole new set of problems!)
And Relax....I've had all those things done and the worry and fear before the procedure is ALWAYS worse than the procedure itself. Plus, I make the dentist laugh....at me or with me....I'm not sure.
OK, this book is over. Goodbye!
Kelly: you are allowed to laugh. If I'm going to complain I may as well do it in an entertaining way!
Lightening: sympathy is nice...but do you think you could just take my place and have it done for me? I mean come on, what kind of friend are you? ;)
Mary: The worry I have is that this visiting specialist doesn't have nitrous. He does in his surgery in Adelaide, but I'm not sure that he is set up for it in Pt Lincoln. My dentist said that if it's bad enough they may knock me out completely, which works for me! I have x-rays tomorrow to get a decent look at exactly how bad it all is.
Today I have a really sore tongue because I bit my tongue three times yesterday while I couldn't feel it. But I just had to have a cheeseburger at Macca's! We are junk food deprived out here in the country.
If the specialist doesn't have the nitrous then ask (TELL) him to please write a script for you for something to take ahead of time to calm your nerves. I could name a few but I am afraid I am starting to sound like a druggie----of course if I was a druggie then I don't think I would use words like "druggie".
If you DO take something, you will need to be sure to get a ride because we cannot have you out there driving the tractor down the wrong side of Main Street. :)
Relax. It will be fine. I am as sure as a person can be that it will all work out.
As for sleeping with a nightguard. No problems except for the occasional drool. yuck.
Now this is my last comment on this post because I have taken up the entire page.
Classic! Your post and the comments had me laughing! I feel dreadfully for you though re the pain! Aagh! My back's kept me awake the previous 2 nights - last night was the first time I could get comfortable enough to sleep. Pain is foul! It does your head in... So, I hope you get all you need to help your pain go away and that you begin to feel calm about any treatment you are needing to have. And just keep reading your funny posts - even though you don't mean to be funny... as 'they' say, "laughter is the best medicine"... Bless your heart!
Mary: You are allowed to take up the whole page, I love your comments! I have been prescribed valium before for a similar procedure but I never took it, I was afraid of what it would do to me. I also didn't have the procedure...but that's a whole other story!
Naomi: I've found that complaining with a bit of hunour thrown in makes you sound like less of a whinger! And like they say, you have to laugh...because the alternative isn't much fun.
All the valium will do is make you relax and maybe be a bit sleepy. That's why we can't have you driving the tractor until you know how it works. For me, valium didn't work at all. Doc switched me to Xanax. This all was going on when we were having problems with jm last fall. He's doing better and it is a comfort zone to have the xanax here if I feel the need. But that is seldom....and yes, I do keep it locked up. Too many teenagers in and out the house to leave meds like that around.
OK, Time for a new post!!
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