A Trip To The Dentist

If you will remember, I mentioned that I needed to have a tooth crowned.  Well, three weeks ago, I went and had the prep work done for the crown.  The procedure went smoothly even though I hate needles and shots.  And, even though I metabolize the pain medicine very quickly. 

When the procedure was done, I was fitted with a temporary.  Before the afternoon was over, the temporary fell off and I went to have it recemented in. 

Then next day, the temporary fell off again.  I called the Dentist office and inquired about what I should do.  The person I spoke with stated I could come back in to get it reglued or if the pain was not bad and I could tolerate the hot and the cold, I could leave the temporary off.  I opted for that solution since I could tolerate the hot and cold.

When I got to the Dentist today to have the permanent crown placed, I found out that my gums had grown around the stub of my tooth.  In order to seat the crown, they had to “trim” away some of my gums.  So, you can imagine my dismay at being told that I would have to be numbed again.

I reiterated that I had called the office to make sure what to do about the temporary.  I asked if I had worn the temporary, would I still have to have numbness and my gums trimmed.  The answer was no.  So, all because I was given not very good information, for which no one at the office would take credit, I had to brave the needle again.

I was given a shot.  They went away and came back to start.  They fired up the laser to trim my gums.  I felt it!  It hurt!  So, guess what, another shot….and another wait.  Then the laser again.  I felt it again. 

I am sure by this time the Dentist was as frustrated as I was.  But, he wasn’t the one having to have another shot…..  Which he gave me.  Two more actually.  And I still felt some of the trimming with the laser.

After they got the crown in place, my jaw throbbed, my heat hurt and half my face was totally numb.  The numbness is just now completely wearing off.  I went to the Dentist at 3:00 PM.  So, you do the math.

Now, my jaw is aching. 

They all apologized profusely.  They tried to be a gentle as they could.  But, I sitll had to endure an hour in the chair for something that should not have taken more than 15 minutes tops.

What was my consolation?  They gave me three gift cards.  That in no way made up for what I had to go through.  But, at least they tried….