In my quick recap of the weekend, I intentionally left out the (boring bit) about a toothache that started while I was up in NY. The left side of my face has been throbbing for the better part of 3 days. Most of the time it is the lower left molar area but sometimes both upper and lower.
So today I have called the dentist, explained my deal and made an appointment to get my teeth cleaned and they said the hygienist would take a look at it.
But here's the thing. I am, so fucked.
Let me explain.
I went to get my teeth cleaned about a year-year and a half ago (not obscenely overdue but a little off-track). This was around the time I got my root canal, too, which also involved getting that tooth capped. When they did the cleaning they found a few cavities. And by "a few" I mean closer to, um, ...four. Yeah, I don't know how they found four, especially considering that I already have SO much metal in my teeth I find it really hard to believe that there is any available cavity real estate to be had. Subsequently, in the back of my mind a year ago I felt that this was a sort of "get rich" marketing scam on part of the the dentist office. Mind you, not *completely* unfounded on my part as I had heard of other dentists doing unnecessary fillings on people I know (hi, Anne!). Plus, all they had done to determine that I had them was taken x-rays, not the take the picky things, dig into your teeth, find a hole, pull your body out of the chair,"ah, we found one!" under the rouse that they were "counting your teeth"-technique that I have been used to for the past 30 years.
Yeah, I never got those cavities filled.
But now....heh...but now I am beginning to wonder if they were, like, um, ...not screwing with me. I have been living on Advil for 3 days straight.
I am thinking this trip to the dentist might be not so good. I am hoping and praying that it's my wisdom teeth shifting and pressing on a nerve or something and oh, that the cavities are miraculously gone now. But I think this trip is not going to go that way. Just a hunch. Another hunch? The reaming of, "you didn't take care of this A YEAR AGO? And you have insurance? And you are...how old??" I know, I know, take my grown-up card away from me. I am such a baby - and a paranoid one at that.
Have the appointment this afternoon. Pray for me.
Welcome to my world. See my column about this:
http://bfree001.tripod.com/Bfree00/dentalplan.html
Remember: You are the client, the dentist WORKS FOR YOU. Be strong.
Posted by: Tim | July 06, 2005 at 01:57 PM