I still hate dentists, but...

[aearwen2]

My day was going well - I'd written about 400 new words on the latest chapter of IDD, and I had plans to practice the piano for a minimum of 2 hrs (more on that later) - when, out of the blue, I got a call from the endodontist's office. They'd had a cancelation, could I come in, like, NOW?

Now mind you, my van is currently in the shop getting the master brake cylinder replaced. So, no wheels. The good news was that the endodontist's office is about 1/2 mile away, just up the street. Sooooo... I went in.

The appointment was for an "evaluation". Nobody told me an "evaluation" involved getting half my lower mouth numbed into submission and my bad tooth (the one with the Grand Canyon growing in it) drilled on. She would see if the lower part of the tooth was fractured, she said; and if so, pack it up and send me on to an oral surgeon to have it pulled. Well, I still own a tooth, so I guess I've had half of a root canal process done on me.

Actually, considering everything, it wasn't so bad. She was about as gentle as anybody I've ever had work on my mouth in doing the numbing shots, and did enough numbing shots that I suspect that I won't feel anything until morning. Nice lady. I almost wish she were a dentist, rather than an endodontist. I'd go to her. Ah well. The dentist that referred me to her was also gentle, so I'm hoping I may finally start feeling capable of dealing with getting my teeth cared for on a more regular basis.

And at least, at the end of all this, I will still be able to chew real food. Lemme tell ya, chewing at the front of my mouth has been no picnic; and facing a future of having to either do that or spend a mint on partials was very depressing!

As for the piano, I'm playing for the service at the Theosophical Temple on Sunday, and I need to work up some Mendelssohn. Doing a couple of Caprices and a Kinderstück, as well as a fun (but difficult) piece called "Duet". Need to play for about 15 to 20 minutes before the service. Haven't practiced much lately, so was really banking on putting in a couple of hours today and tomorrow and Saturday so I won't sound like crap on Sunday.

Practicing at home, now that my piano's unencumbered from all the crud and other furniture in front of it during the renovations, means teaching my cat to leave me alone. There's absolutely nothing more disruptive to the concentration process than jealous kitty sinking a claw into the back of my arm to tell me, "It's time to pay attention to me, Mom."

We'll see how well I feel a little later, because I really do want to practice. But at the moment, I'm feeling sorry for myself with my lower right lip feeling like it's dragging on the floor, the right half of my tongue feeling like a huge wad of something else, and my jaw downright aching from that bite brick they put in my mouth to keep it open.

Such fun.

Comments

[engarian.livejournal.com]

I am so relieved that the first step was OK and that you survived in good shape. Apparently you got through to them about your need for more novacaine, and you survived to write about it. I'm happy that you at least got looked at since you have two teeth that need examination, not one. Now be good to yourself (and put the cat into another room with a door between you if he/she cannot learn to let you practice).

- Erulisse (one L)

[randy-o.livejournal.com]

Took me a while to understand -- but, I infer that the tooth was not fractured and you can now go ahead with the rest of the endodontia?

Trust me (as one who used to work in this field) it's worth it. Endodontia and a crown is better than a bridge. And a bridge would be better than a removable partial. And partials are better than full dentures. Anything you can do to stay as close as possible to what Nature gave you.

[aearwen2.livejournal.com]

Yea. I really wasn't looking forward to pricing either a bridge or a partial. I'll take very good care of my one matching set of molars from now on, believe me!

And yes, the tooth was found not to be fractured. Hurts like hell today - but surprisingly, ibuprofen IS handling the pain. I was ready to kill for some vicoden this morning at about 2AM, however... :-p

I go ack to get tooth finished up on the 8th, and then off to the dentist (after I pay off the endodontist) for the crown. And other dental care (maybe, depending on how expensive is the crown.)

My avoidance program is having expensive side-effects. :-p

[jkahane.livejournal.com]

Glad to hear all went well at the endodontist, Mar.

Let us know how things go in this regard. Be well. :)