My Dental Hell

The young girl in medical uniform invited me to the dental room. Faithfully I explained what was wrong with my teeth (yes, teeth, multiple!) She did the usual dental thing and examined me with the big lamp, gently poking and knocking around in my mouth. Then she said with an apologetic expression, ‘Unfortunately we don’t fill the last molars.’

‘Why?’ I asked in disbelief.

‘We consider it a waste since they are not useful to you and they will be the first to come out anyway,’ she explained candidly.

The reason I had come here in the first place was because I was in serious pain from one of my molars and two others needed a refill (by now you’re wondering what’s up with my teeth. I don’t understand it either.)

‘So what now?’ I ventured.

‘I recommend extraction,’ the lady continued.

‘On all those teeth?’

‘Those teeth are useless to you,’ she carried on with medical confidence.

I weighed my options. Lose all those teeth? No way! I was sure there were dentists who would indulge me (for a fortune, of course) and work to save my teeth for a few more years, by which time I should be rich enough to afford permanent implants. Coz, trust me, I ain’t putting dentures at this age… that would quickly kill romance!

So I hurriedly said my thank yous and goodbyes and bolted out of the dentist’s chair. Driving back home I couldn’t help but feel cheated at the long journey I had made to this hospital hoping to get good service for less bucks. Now my fuel was spent for nothing, never mind the pain in my tooth was still drilling holes through my jaw (I think a toothache has tools, and satanic rhythm. Those who’ve been there know what I mean, not to mention it delights to torment at night, when you should otherwise be asleep…)

The following day I dragged myself to my trusted dentist. I explained my situation and she did the usual poking and X-rays, then delivered the verdict. Two to be filled, one definite extraction. Oh well, much better than the other place, though I dreaded the mention of the word extraction. I will do anything to avoid an extraction.

I knew I had to agree. And so started the process, one day per week for three weeks, of repairing my molars. The fillings went fine, no drama there. Then the day came for the extraction.

My heart beat like a drum the whole time I was in the waiting area, then reached a crescendo when my name was called. Try as I did I could not relax. The young lady (this one was young too) did her best to calm me down but nothing doing. She would just have to put up with my heaving chest and grimacing face.

You see, this is one of the teeth I had tried to hang onto successfully for the last 7 years. The same dentists had done a root canal but over time the tooth had become useless and now had to go. So I anticipated trouble in its extraction. And it did not disappoint.

The lady must have spent thirty minutes working on that tooth. Trauma, the internet guys call it. A traumatic extraction. Which led to a dry socket which led to pain as I’ve never before experienced in my life three days after extraction. I had to go back for follow-up and pain killers as I just couldn’t go on this way. Well, the dentist said the X-ray showed my tooth was healing fine and just did whatever it is they do for a dry socket.

I did a lot of internet research and found many who had gone through the same hell. Indeed one suggested I stay away from sodas for a while and another said to have painkillers always as there would be flare-ups. Which must be what I’m experiencing now as I gorged myself on coke last Sunday believing to be completely healed only for the silly tooth to flare up again. And now I am on painkillers again as the pain almost feels like another toothache. One internet dentist cautions the bone could take months to heal even after the gum has healed. I totally believe them now and I’m staying away from anything corrosive until the bone talks to me and says, ‘hey, I’m healed!’

Maybe the first dentist was right, but no way was I going to lose three teeth just yet. However I learnt every extraction is unique and the fact that one tooth came out within seconds and healed pain-free is no guarantee that everything would always go that smooth. If I didn’t have earlier and better experience with my dentist, I would never have gone back there for what I suffered this time round.

Oh well, this world of never-ending pain!…..