Dental interlude: I’m a little late posting today…
…because I spent part of the morning and early afternoon at the dentist’s.
This was my third visit in ten days. I had had an old crown replaced because it was trapping food and causing decay. The permanent crown arrived, I had it fitted, and it just wasn’t right. I kept biting my tongue, over and over and over. So I returned to the dentist, who shaved the crown down a bit (isn’t this fascinating?) and I went home.
But although the problem had improved as a result, it persisted. So back I went today, and because he’d squeezed me into the schedule I had to wait quite a while. He shaved it down some more, and I started to leave. But then, as I was walking out the door, my exploratory tongue encountered a tiny little rough spot on the tooth, a spot I knew my tongue would not be able to resist engaging now and then just to see if it’s still there.
What is it about the exquisite sensitivity of the mouth to any change? A tiny strawberry seed caught in some molar’s indentation can feel like Everest; a little spot of roughness can be perceived as rough sandpaper.
So back I went, and now I think it’s basically okay.
When I got home I had some lunch and noticed, to my shock, that a slight bite imbalance that had made it somewhat uncomfortable to chew on that side for about the last 15 years now seems to be much much better. Serendipity!
I’m really not a dental wimp, although I might sound like it. I’ve had more than the average amount of dental work because of a host of congenital dental anomalies too numerous and tedious to mention. Let’s just say that my mouth is a demo of various dental techniques, and over the years I may have personally financed a few dentists’ vehicles.
Now, back to work.
I only changed two things to quit helping my dentist buy new vehicles. I still only brush twice a day and floss irregularly though.
I brush about twice as long each time. And I try to make sure I’m not eating or drinking anything for at least a half-hour, not water, nothing afterwards. That’s for the fluoride to sit on the teeth.
That’s it.
groundhog:
I take such good care of my teeth that I regularly get compliments on them from hygienists and dentists.
My problems are mostly congenital, plus the fact that my fillings and crowns are old and sometimes they give up the ghost and have to be replaced.
You have my sympathy for the ongoing discomfort and frustration. Glad for your serendipitous improvement. I am thankful for my good teeth and my own wonderful, nurturing dentist. I see her next week for a checkup.
Whereas my hygienist says she still finds plenty of plaque, but it just scrapes of with no underlying effect.
I swear, it’s fluoride soaking, not the cleaning that made the difference. I don’t lose old fillings anymore. My teeth don’t wear out so nothing comes loose.
Well, I’m convinced, if nobody else is. : )
I’ve had so much dental technique — that I have a permanent invite at the local dental college.
It takes the trainees 25 minutes to describe all of the work.
Horrific childhood chickenpox did me in.
Sympathy Neo. I am also in the process of getting another crown; got the temp today.
A bit of advice to all.. If you are an ice chewer, break the habit. Not easy. Easier, I think, to quit smoking.
Actually the Dentist, perhaps to make me feel better, suggested that it is more likely age related. That, and back in my youth I was a soft drink (RC Cola in the south) junkie, and have a mouth full of fillings, surrounded by fragile tooth material.
Happily, cavities are ancient history.
Oldflyer Says:
August 3rd, 2017 at 9:24 pm
Sympathy Neo. I am also in the process of getting another crown; got the temp today.
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Must be a fad – got my temporary crown fitted yesterday.