Thursday, July 23, 2009

Dental Hygiene

Today I had a dentist appointment. Up until fairly recently I didn't go to the dentist. As a kid my back teeth were tilted funny so no matter how diligent I was I got cavities. My gums were pricked and my teeth drilled almost every time I went to the dentist for several years so when I got to college and didn't have dental insurance anymore (or a mother who lived nearby to make me go) I just stopped going. Even when I became a responsible adult I didn't go. I had such an aversion to the dentist it was just easier not going. That was until about 3 years ago when I cracked a back tooth on a piece of bread at a dinner function for work. I spent the night and next school day in pain, swallowing aspirin by the handful, avoiding a visit to the dentist. I don't know if you've ever had a tooth ache, but it is not something so easily ignored. I asked for some dentist referrals and finally made an appointment for that day after school. Terrified, I clung to the office chair having a full exam and then finally some pain medication for the cracked tooth. The next day I went in for a root canal. For the next three years, after thousands of dollars (both insurance $$ and my $$) my neglected teeth were slowly but surely repaired and made healthy again. I had DEEP cleanings, a couple more root canals, some new cavities filled, some old cavities redone with pretty new white fillings, and regular cleanings. During my last appointment, about 6 months ago, I had what I hoped were my last 3 refillings to bring my teeth back to tip top shape.

Today I had an appointment for a cleaning. I did not realize that it was time for my x-rays and check up as well. Although my dentists have been wonderful and all the work has been virtually pain free, I still have quite a bit of anxiety going, even for cleanings. So having to go through an exam and them possibly finding something else I had to have done (and pay for) increased my blood pressure to say the least.

"Everything looks good," the dentist said after looking at my x-rays and sticking his fingers into my mouth. "Yay!" I gurgled out loud. This is the first time in the last three years that I didn't walk out of the dentist office having just paid a bill or having made an appointment for more work to be done. I did make my next appointment for a cleaning, but that's it. It was a proud, proud day.

9 comments:

  1. Uh, exactly what kind of bread was it that cracked your tooth?

    PS I hate my teeth, but I love going to the dentist and it is firday afternoon and I thinking of a manhattan and what was i saying?

    ReplyDelete
  2. High five girl!!

    Can you believe Jessie is HOH again? ugh

    ReplyDelete
  3. My Kimmy's all grown up! Now you get to live the leaisurely life of cleaning every six months and that's all!

    I just went to the dentist this week, too. No cavities!

    ReplyDelete
  4. It's been awhile now, but when I finally went to the dentist after a long break, the cleaning was brutal. I never want to do that again. Now it's every 6 months . . . A little pain to avoid a lot of pain. Way to go!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I hate going to the dentist too! Congrats on the good visit!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Keep it up. No one likes a yuck mouth. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  7. First, as per your comment, my favorite coffee is Pumpkin Delight, not Crazy and Pathetic LOL.

    Oh no. Little shop of horrors. I mean..GREAT you are keeping up with dental care!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Way to go Pumpkin. The dentist scares me too. But we have the nicest one ever. Oh. My. Gosh. I just love him : )

    ReplyDelete
  9. Well, I guess it ends well, with your teeth fully restored. I once also shared equal anxiety because of this childhood dental phobia I had. Eventually, the dentist (Hixson is where his office is) took excellent care of me and treated my gum inflammation. The good dentist in Hixson I believe truly cares for his patients and checks on their oral health truthfully.

    Keep it up with the dental hygiene, Kim!

    ReplyDelete