Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Dentistry!

Here's a secret: I've been short-tempered the last four days. I'm walking around with a broken tooth. #10 (Ms. Left Maxillary Lateral Incisor t'lesser folk than you, my readers) kind of fell apart during flossing. The damage is all on the side that faces my tongue. It's all sharp edges and it hasn't been nice.

I'm off to the dentist's this morning to have that looked at, treated and possibly even fixed. What fun!

Oh, well, he's competent, personable and handsome. The chairs are comfy, too. If I could figure out how to read while they have three hands, a drill and some freaky-lookin' Implement of Torture The Healing Arts in my mouth, it would be mostly win -- though no cake.

24 comments:

LeeAnn said...

I saw "Marathon Man" at a very impressionable age. I once threw my young self down the stairs in hopes I would break a bone and not have to go to the dentist.
You have all my sympathies, grasshopper.

Mr.Wolf said...

Borrow an iPod with a talking book on it? That way you get to shut your eyes as well. I can recommend 'The Fifth Elephant'.


Good luck.

Robb Allen said...

I'm an odd one when it comes to dentists. I hate Novocaine / Xylocaine / John McCain / whatever crap they use. Can't stand the feeling of the numbness, so I generally forgo it.

Hence, I too avoid the dentist when I can. Alas, flossing seems to rip my teeth apart as well, so I feel your pain.

And without the numbing agent, I really feel the pain.

PA State Cop said...

Enjoy the drugs. ;)

Crucis said...

Over the past *%^^ty years I've had most of my fillings replaced. Many came out like yours, some just cracked in place and had to be drilled out.

Funny how, when we got'em, no one told us fillings weren't permanent.

Ed Skinner said...

You're about to be crowned.
All Hail Roberta the Xth!

Anonymous said...

Get better soon, Bobbi.

I [heart] dentists.

Shootin' Buddy

George said...

leeann beat me to it! Marathon Man took dentistry back 150 years.
And, I was tortured by a dentist as a child, and have soft teeth (due to bein' born premature, and all). So, I shiver at the thought of what you must endure, today.
Hang in there!

MO Bro said...

Ahh, what fond memories I have of being in a dentists chair... NOT!
I almost feel sorry for dentists, as they seem to be one of the most hated professions. Almost.
Sorry to hear of your trouble and hope you get through it just fine, as I'm sure you will. You have too many folks pulling for you not to.

Richard said...

George, I was a victim of a dental sadist as a child also, but 21st Century dentistry is a far cry from what we grew up with...

For one, the policy is now "The patient is numb when *they* say they are numb. If the patient states they aren't numb administer more Novocaine until they are."

Thumbs up on the iPod, but just about anything in your ears will help.

Data Viking said...

Hope you feel better soon. I love Novocaine, it has this nice metallic pepperminty flavor but does nothing to numb my jaw. Years ago it took biting my current dentist in reaction to pain while replacing a deteriorated filling to make him believe me when I told him it had little to no effect and asked him to use something else. Fortunately for me I have good teeth and seldom require any work except for routine cleaning. I for one am glad to have the profession around, historically bad teeth have been really bad news and I can personally attest to that with my one and only root canal several years ago. I tried to 'tough it out' but I was never so glad have an invasive dental procedure in my life.

Anonymous said...

Those goggle-type displays might be a handy thing: You're still getting the work done, but at least you could wikiwander or something to take your mind off it.

Jim

Hat Trick said...

There are good dentists out there. The dentist I went to in high school advertised as a "painless dentist". I confirmed that for him one time by falling asleep in the chair while he was doing a filling. (Novocaine only, no gas) Too bad he retired long ago.

Roberta X said...

I was in and out in under an hour. Both #9 and the incisor next to it had damage. Cost me...$112, American. Numb all morning, all afternoon, ending in a burst of giddiness about 9:00p.m.

John B said...

I finally bit the bullet and had my upper teeth removed.
last november.
I finally got to the point where I can gum foods as the upper plate they gave me sets off my gag reflex.
I guess I should have eaten no sugars and been more assiduous in brushing.
If I could do it all over, lots of things woould be different.

pw=whingi oh I could go anywhere and everywhere with that.

Anonymous said...

Health teeth and gums impact the entire body:

http://www.everydayhealth.com/dental-health/oral-conditions/gum-disease.aspx?xid=nl_EverydayHealthHeartHealth_20100526

Brush and floss and repeat!

Shootin' Buddy

Anonymous said...

Nitrous oxide. My dentist suggested it and I'm glad that he did.

Roberta X said...

SB: preachin' to the choir, you are.

As for nitrous oxide, I am terrifyling....reacgtive.

I was 19 the only time I was given it. There's a gap in my memory; I went from laying back in the chair, breathing deeply and relaxing, to at the door of the oral surgeon's office, with him and an assistant trying to stop me. I had hold of doorframe and I'd broken a nail. My heart was pounding and they were yelling.

I am told than when I got my first deep breath of the gas, I went into overdrive, tearing off the mask and throwing it, then dashed out the door. I have no memory of so doing.

There's a big note on my file with every doctor and dentist that says, "Do nor administer nitrous oxide." New ones always ask why.

Weirdest part? When I told my Dad, he said, "Hunh. That happened to me both times they tried to give me laughing gas, too."

Guess we're just not that easy to chemically amuse.

Roberta X said...

John B: Teeth: if you ignore them, they'll go away. I have a mouthful of fillings thanks to poor habits 'til I was 17 or 18. Didn't have great teeth to start with but I did 'em no favors.

rickn8or said...

With ya Roberta; Tuesday I get a 13 year-old crown replaced.

The note in MY dental record says "Treat as typical whiny 5 year-old".

JC said...

That's why I own a Dremel
WV - wateve Do I really have to explain it?

Roberta X said...

Rickn8: Oh, dear! But even the state of the art in crowning has improved; the old nasty all-metal temporary ones have been replaced by quick-setting plastic that looks like a real tooth (and feels that way to your tongue) and holds up well for the entire week or two it takes for permanent one to be made.

rickn8or said...

Roberta--
The CROWN is fine, just has a pocket in the remaining natural tooth that is going to be a problem.

This is being done to keep me from needing a crown AND a root canal at the same time someday.

"Pay me now or pay me later."

Fortunately, I can have the giggle gas, so it's not such a big deal for the whiny five year-old crybaby candya$$ after all.

HTRN said...

Roberta - they've come even farther than that - Micro CNC mills to machine the porceline are available now, so they can make the crown in the dentist's office in about an hour, using the scan of your teeth with the new Xray machines as a base design. You get a replacement that perfectly matches your old tooth exactly. See here