The Whole Tooth and Nothing But the Tooth!

Sorry, I couldn’t resist. A few people have asked how my dentist appointment went after my post The Cracked Tooth as a Metaphor.

I was going in with the attitude that if all my teeth are going to crack and fall apart, I would rather get dentures and not worry anymore about them. As my pain and fatigue increase, I find it harder sometimes to hold my toothbrush up to do a good job. That isn’t all the time, but I have to admit that I even just plain forget to brush my teeth after a meal or on going to bed (my bedtimes are all over the place).

I have mentioned that my dentist and his hygienist wife were close friends long before I became their patient. They watched as my mental health stabilized and my physical health deteriorated. So, there is my wonderful dentist standing in the room with a roll pillow and towel for my neck while his assistant is placing the shaped pillow I brought under my leg.

This all helped in the discussion regarding what to do about my crumbling teeth. When I mentioned dentures, my dentist wouldn’t agree. He showed me that most of the teeth are fairly good – some need fillings replaced, others need building up and the two that have been giving me problems do have to come out. How to replace them became the topic of the two-hour appointment. Our consensus is they get pulled and then when time and our dental plan allow, I will get a partial plate on my uppers. After all of this work is done and I have had the partial for awhile, we may do a partial to replace the two bottom teeth (one on each side) I have been missing for awhile now.

I was there for two hours, and while the only work he did was poking around checking gums and teeth, he did make sure that nothing more will chip off the two that will be pulled in a month. My mouth is a little sore but nothing a couple of Tylenol can’t cure.

Hubby and I are happy with this outcome. It will take awhile to get to the end, but at least we know what is happening, and if the truth be told, I don’t think I am ready to give up my teeth to full dentures just yet.

Lydia!

PS, Today has been a good day. I got a lot accomplished this morning, the dentist appointment went well, I drove there and back alone and was totally at ease (it is about a half hour each way, and I was crossing rush hour traffic a few times. I happened to watch the Voice tonight with Pharrell Williams as one of the coaches so of course this song comes to mind!