Monday, September 14, 2009

Adventures at the dentist

Friday when I went to the dentist I was referred to an endodontist. Now, I had no idea what an endodontist was and was too embarrassed to ask and figured I probably didn't want to know right at that second.

Here is a definition found at Answers.com

n. (used with a sing. verb)
The branch of dentistry that deals with diseases of the tooth root, dental pulp, and surrounding tissue.

[ENDO– + (ORTHO)DONTICS.]

endodontic en'do·don'tic adj.
endodontist en'do·don'tist n.

So... basically a specialist in root canals. I have only had two cavities my entire life and the largest amount of work done in my mouth was braces when I was 12 and 13, which was a nightmare alone for me. I was petrified.

Technically, my appointment was supposed to be tomorrow morning but in the wee early morning hours today my tooth took a turn for the worse and I basically thought I was going to die. I have never felt pain like that before. It was continuous, throbbing, aggravating pain. I was going through bags of ice and I think it was making it worse, yet the only thing making it feel better. If that makes any sense at all. Which, I am aware it doesn't.

I called one of my assistants and she immediately told me not to worry about work and go back to bed. (By the way, this is the assistant I was having troubles with awhile back, she's doing amazingly better. I'm so proud of her). Then I called the endodontist to see if I could get squeezed in today. I think the receptionist could tell I was in quite a bit of pain by my, uhhhh, pathetic teary voice and she got another doctor to agree to see me over the lunch hour. Thank gooooodness!

So, at 12:15 I was sitting in the lobby waiting with my big glass of ice, ice pack pressed against my face, pajamas's (I at least changed my shirt), no makeup and greasy hair. I'm sure I was a sight, but you know what? I didn't care. You just don't care about that stuff when you're feeling some of the worst pain of your life.

The dentist immediately seemed to know what was wrong and guess what! I didn't need a root canal! Although, I think what I got done was pretty similar or maybe I'm just giving myself too much credit!

When I had a bad cavity last year (that I let go for waaaay too long) I had to get a crown to cover it. When they put the crown on I guess they didn't get all the bacteria out of the tooth. How that happens? I have no idea. Don't they basically drill that tooth down to practically nothing and then cover it? Anyway, moving on. They did a filling through the crown! I was so relieved that they didn't need to remove the entire crown and start over. That would have been awful and expensive!

I'm so grateful he could get me in today, I'm sure I would be feeling like death warmed over right about now if I hadn't gone in today. I'm so lucky my staff took care of things for me and I don't have a thing to worry about! Also, since I haven't used any of my 40 hours of paid sick leave I'm taking tomorrow too. So tomorrow will be my fourth day in a row of laying around doing nothing. Ha! I'm so lazy. :)

Thank you to everyone that has sent me messages asking how I was or hoping my tooth gets better soon! You made me smile! :)

So, I'm curious. Are you afraid of the dentist? Have you had an major work done?

8 comments:

Amber said...

Ugh! That SUCKS, but I'm so glad you're feeling way better now!!

I actually haven't had a filling since I got all my adult teeth - so in like 10ish years? I know, I'm incredibly lucky I think. The worst thing I've ever had done with my mouth/teeth was getting my wisdom teeth removed. I had all four of them removed at once and had to be put under. It was an ordeal. My wisdom teeth used to give me SOOO much pain, though!

Amber @ A Little Pink in the Cornfields said...

I have actually never had my wisdom teeth out, and they haven't bothered me! (knocking on wood now...)

Crazy Shenanigans-JMO said...

Oh girl! I had a crown down last summer and it was a nightmare! Mine's been giving me problems so now I think your experience has scared the crap out of me!!! EKK

I'm glad you're doing much better now though!

Sam said...

I actually LOVE going to the dentist. I know, I'm the only one in existence that does. But I just love how fresh and clean my teeth feel when leaving. I had braces for 6 years. Yes, 6! Isn't that crazy? Also, I have 2 baby teeth that don't have adult teeth underneath. So I've had one of them pulled and had a fake tooth put in it's place. Not one of those creepy ones you can take out, but a permanent one. Which meant they had to drill (literally drill) into my gum with a screw to screw on the tooth. I was awake during it, too... It has been the worst pain I've ever experienced. So I guess for me, a little visit to the dentist just to get my teeth polished seems like a treat. Ha!

Shoshanah said...

Growing up I had cavities all the time. Which means now I'm more likely to have cavities since if there's already a filling its easier or something. I actually have a dentist appointment tomorrow to get a few fillings. Yuck. And I'm glad your appointment didn't wind up going as bad as you had feared

d.a.r. said...

Ahhh!!! I broke a tooth this last winter because I grind my teeth so badly at night. I had to get a root canal after my (crack job) (ex-)dentist tried to drill into it twice. OMG pain. The root canal was actually pretty painless, the crown hurt worse!!

Glad things ended up okay for you. I've spent well over $6000 at the dentist in the last year, so I understand horrible dental experiences!!!

The Many Thoughts of a Reader said...

HATE THE DENTIST. I have super sensitive teeth. I haven't been to the dentist since 2004. Yikes, and I need to go again soon, but I DONT LIKE IT. IT HURTS...

marisol said...

I am terrified when I go to the dentist even if it's just a cleaning. I seriously dislike it so much. But I recently found a new dentist and she is great. She makes me feel at ease so that really helps my nerves.