A few weeks ago I began
sensing a difference in one of my molars. This tooth, crowned years ago, had
never offered a twinge of complaint. Suddenly, I became aware of the tooth.
Just a consciousness of its presence in my mouth. I don’t cringe with hot or
cold foods. Searing pain doesn’t shoot through my mouth and jaw into my ear. I
simply have this sensation that something is amiss. Over the weekend, discomfort
entered into the picture. Not pain. Just a low level throb that came and went.
Fearing that this throb is a precursor for excruciating pain, I scheduled an
appointment with the dentist who had treated the tooth all those eons ago. A
quick x-ray and a little more poking and prodding made her refer me to an
endodontist.
This morning, I endured
more x-rays. I learned more about the roots of my teeth, the possibility of
saving my crown (and money) and the promise of less discomfort down the road.
Begging for the first available appointment since my sister’s here for a week,
I hit my first disappointment—nothing open on his schedule until the first week
of March. On that visit, the endodontist will drill into the tooth through the
crown and check to see if the crown is letting bacteria into the tooth. He’ll
pack the molar with antibiotics that will “cook” for a week to ten days. At
that point, he’ll continue with the root canal and let me know if my crown can
stay in place.
I respect the medical
and dental professionals, but I really don’t understand the high costs for
their services. I know that this man will try his best to heal my tooth. But a
part of me keeps zooming back on the expense of this procedure. I wonder if it’s
worth the money, but feel like I have no choice in the matter. It’s like
getting the brakes fixed on your car. A terrible expense that cannot be avoided.
Copyright 2012 Elizabeth Abrams Chapman
Well, at least you already have a spare toothbrush and toothpaste so you won't have to buy another once the bristles are worn out. So are you already scheduled for your possible tooth "coronation"?
ReplyDeleteEddie,
ReplyDeleteI go back in two weeks for the first part of treatment. Will find out after that if I get to keep the crown I have or have to get a replacement. Guess there's a Part Two to this story!