Thursday, November 19, 2009

emergency dentist appointment

I would love for all of this drama with my mouth to be over.

As my teeth and gums are beginning to have feeling again, I noticed my back tooth on my upper left side has been especially sensitive. I've been ignoring it, as I figured it was all in the course of getting feeling back (just like my chin used to burn and have those weird shooting pains). Well... two weeks or so later, it's just getting worse and worse to the point of being unable to chew on that side so I called my dentist yesterday. They had me come in today (which worked out well because I was dropping the husband off at the airport for another round of military training)...

Two hours, four x-rays, 3 dentists opinions, and a lot of testing later they decided I needed to see an endodontist (which I had never even heard of) TODAY for my rear-most teeth on the top left. I drove straight to the endodontic office where they decided they were doing an emergency root canal - or, really, half of one. They cut open the tooth and pulled out all of the insides and stuck a cap over the top. They'll finish the root canal on December 28th.

It turns out that my roots are so shortened on those upper two teeth that it may have caused all of the sensitivity and pain. Since I can't feel the tooth in front of it, they think I might have to get another root canal on that tooth - since it's in the same boat. It sounded like I could have lost the tooth the roots were so short, and they're not even sure the tooth is completely viable.

Since I have such a limited opening, that was a terribly painful set of appointments. The endodontist prescribed me valium and percocet for the next appointment - I'm supposed to take one valium an hour before the appointment, and then another one a half hour before the appointment. I can also take a percocet. My jaw on the right side is now popping in a new way - almost like bone or cartliage rubbing against bone or cartliage, and it is INTENSE.

The GOOD thing about the appointment, though, was the numbing shots didn't hurt at ALL because I still have limited feeling in my gums/ upper palate. Whoo hoo!

I know this shouldn't upset me so much, but I spent the entire 35 minute drive from my dentist to my endodontist sobbing. Granted, part of that was the lack of sleep last night (helping Nick pack) and then my husband leaving for over a month during the holidays... but I'm pretty down about all of this. I am SO done with everything to do with my mouth.

10 comments:

chris k said...

Wow. No joke. Sometimes I wonder If it wouldn't be a better practice as a society if we all got our adult teeth knocked out and had full on implanted dentures right off the bat. Save us some trouble down the line.

Fi said...

You totally have permission to be as upset as you want and not feel guilty about it! You are going through heaps! All the best for everything, hope things improve soon :-)

Melinda Renee said...

I agree with Fi. And I want to say that I LOVE YOU! And you can sob as much as you want, you're entitled. Of course, it doesn't help your sinuses much... but it helps the soul sometimes, and that's more important than breathing, right?

K said...

Aw Steph, that really sucks! I can't even begin to understand how frustrated and probably every other emotion out there you feel over all of this. But it's good to cry, it gets everything out and then you pick yourself back up and keep moving forward! Hang in there!

Sean Butcher said...

Good thing you had your teeth checked! Sensitivity shouldn't just be ignored. Yes, a person can try recommended products such as toothpaste for sensitivity to seize the pain. But the effect of such products can just be temporary! See a dentist firsthand if you feel intense pain. Well, you did it back then! That's great! Now you don't have to worry about your teeth anymore, right?

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Susan said...

While reading your blog I felt like it could very well have been my story. I went through the same or almost the same drama recently. Honestly, never for a moment did I expect it to get out of hand so quickly. It started off with a minor tooth ache and very soon, it had escalated into a major drama. I remember thinking I’ve never been so glad to get a shot in my mouth- at least that pain was quick but it numbed the area and the other ongoing pain. I hope I never have to go through something like this again ever. Emergency Dental Appointment