How is a tooth like a toilet?

[bethlakshmi]

The answer: sometimes you just have to give up on them and get a new one.

The good news: No root canal
The bad news: Probably a full-out implant instead


Apparently, because of the fact that this tooth is transplanted, it's also all messed up. It has roots that are too short, and remainders of the previous occupant's roots still around. There's no space, apparently, to make a "canal", as in "root canal".

So... instead, I need to see an oral surgeon and he'll remove the tooth, put in an implant or do some other wacky thing. The consult is on Monday. They advise me not to fly, if possible as that may disturb the infection and make the not-currently-painful tooth, painful. So I'm trying to get a move on on it, because:
- why prolong the agony of wondering how painful this will be?
- to get the "bad stuff" out of my mouth hopefully before I fly to anywhere. Which may or may not be in two weeks or more than that.
- to have the whole mess done before Pennsic.

I'm scared. I admit it. new_man tells me to buck up, "it's not like you have brain cancer". Well.. yes.. that's true. Many, many, many things are better than brain cancer - even scrapping both a toilet and a tooth in one week are better than brain cancer - even scrapping a toilet, a tooth, your home and your car in one week are better than brain cancer (house and car are fine - thank god). But I have been to oral surgeons twice now - once for the transplant, once for wisdom teeth. Both times were pretty horrible. The knock-you-out-drugs sucked - left me weak and fucked up for two days, the mouth hurt, even on painkillers, and I couldn't eat anything for a week. For two days, I didn't want to eat, and for about a month or more, it was sore to eat on the side they messed with.

And I'm frustrated and angry. I was a "good do-bee". I went to the orthodontist. I had every conceivable peice of orthodontic equipment. I did what I was told. Never even got a cavity. I went to the oral surgeon to get my impacted 13-year molar taken care of. And he tried this funky new transplant thing. Ran right out, and got my wisdom teeth pulled before they caused problems, took care of them to avoid abcesses. It was all supposed to be OK.

But it isn't OK. 15 years later, they tell me they can't even do a root canal, because of the screwy transplant. I ask if anything could have been done to prevent this situation. They tell me that I should have had a root canal right after the tranplant was done. They don't know why it wasn't done back then. It would have saved the tooth (sorta). Well... it was a new fangled, super-neato concept... transplanting teeth. I don't think any of my doctors knew the best thing would be to do a root canal... But this just sucks. I thought I went through all sorts of orthodontic crap to *avoid* serious dental surgery at 29. Not to *cause* it! Why did I go through the first round of pain and suffering if it wasn't to "save me from pain and suffering later on".

This supports my belief that I shouldn't breed. I don't want to wish this mouth on my kids. I really don't. If I do breed, I need to mate with a man that has a humungous jaw. The general problem in my face is more teeth than mouth...

Comments

[oakleaf-mirror.livejournal.com]

You have my sympathies. I was shocked last year to learn I had a cavity - my first, ever. It took me a while to get used to that idea, and that's rather less of a hassle than what you're facing. And there are just so many darn nerves in the mouth and face, that work there always seems extra traumatic. When my wisdom teeth were removed when I was a teen, I suggested that it was a darn good thing they took all four at once, since I was in enough pain that I wasn't likely to give them a second shot at it.

[ladysprite.livejournal.com]

Oof - you have my sympathies. I remember having my wisdom teeth out, and going through anesthesia is one of the least pleasant experiences I can imagine.

If there's anything I can do to help, let me know - that includes providing mindless movies and a steady supply of milkshakes in the aftermath.... :)

dental woes

[wren13.livejournal.com]

Hmmm, I'd rather have to redo the entire house than deal with a tooth - I'm with you on this one (and more than a little dental phobic, myself). Many zen hugs in your direction.
Hey, if you tell your bosses about the tooth issue, will they let you out of the probably trip out west?

[lakshmi-amman.livejournal.com]

Thank you guys. It eased my frustration and fear quite a lot to come in and see all the support. And I will take any who offer up on milkshakes and soup. I'm crossing my fingers that they might have come up with some new fangled dental innovations in the 9 years since I last saw an oral surgeon... but I'm not overly hopeful.

Maybe with thoughts of good videos/DVDs, coloring books, frozen soup from the Soup Factory and a hoard of ice cream for shakes, the out of work time will feel more like a really sucky vacation, and less like Lakshmi-Torture.