Holy Molar - - Part 3

HOLY MOLAR- part 3

School is about to start; haircuts are to be had; school clothes and supplies to be bought; routines to begin once again. The long REALLY HOT summer is supposed to be cooling down. I guess it is. The weatherperson said 100 degree temps over for now and only in 90’s for next two weeks. Micah and Logan have dental appointments. They, previously, were on Medicaid and now we have private dental insurance, so we have to find a new dentist for the little fellas. I heard of a pediatric dentist my co-worker took her son to, and then stories of having to sell your house to pay for her services, so I select another one my dentist’s office refers me to.

We walk into the office and I think, ah oh, we may be in trouble. There are televisions, games, colored walls like rainbows, expensive everything around the room, plants, movies, you name it they have it. It’s a kid haven! Micah and Logan are so busy looking around at everything, even televisions in the ceiling while they are being examined that they don’t know this is a place that drills for gold! RUN, SANDY, RUN!

I complete the paperwork, my bladder is starting to bulge, and my pocketbook is starting to heat up. I’m getting scared and they are not working on me. I’m thinking of the money tree that dried up in the back yard with the work on my molar and wondering what this is going to cost me. I then calm myself because I can feel a stroke coming on, blood pressure is on the rise, but then again, this is only for cleanings. How much could two routine cleanings cost - - you know--a routine visit for “baby teeth”.

The nice lady comes to the door and chimes “Logan and Micah” we (like sheep) follow her down the hall. There next to our nice chairs is a computer (to tally up the bill) a television for the patient to watch while sitting up and one in the ceiling while they are getting their little baby teeth cleaned. We are directed to sit down and watch a film about two darling little dogs going to the dentist, explaining every step of the way for cleaning and what each instrument is for. Looks like fun, but remember, I’ve just been drilled for gold? I, in my recent encounter, am thinking this must be the way the devils office would be - - a nice chair, soft music that lulls you to sleep, then the bill! Dentists do charge the hell out of you for services! Both boys do well through the cleaning as they watch television in the ceiling. .

They are given little “gift” bags of fluoride, toothbrush, floss, and toothpaste. Then Micah is led into another room for panoramic x-rays. I think of Niagara Falls when I think panoramic. This is mine, Chick and the boys’ vacation! It was sort of the same when I got the news he had 3 cavities in his baby teeth and it would cost a few dollars less than $1,000 to get them taken care of. They want to do a new procedure I had never heard of called a pulpmotomy or something of that sort. A what! After all (says the greedy dentist) the molar should last Micah until he is 10 years old or 11 and this is the way we need to go to keep this tooth. Today’s bill for cleaning these little bitty baby teeth is $600. GIVE ME THE NOVACAINE PLEASE, NOW, AND MAKE IT A DOUBLE!!!!!

Holy Molar - - part 2

HOLY MOLAR - - part 2

Okay, I’ve meditated, ready for my next appointment at the endodonist. Surely this is it! Surely this won’t take long! I’m prepared. I didn’t drink anything on the way down and I’m dry as a bone - - no Depends. I know I can make it through this session!

Back into the dentist chair! Goggles on, mouth open, rubber dam on the tooth, two heads in front of my view so hold on to your x-rays and seatbelts - - here we go again. (Dear God, why couldn’t I have been blessed with good teeth?) I’m calm, they’re smiling and now it’s down to business. The drill comes on and the pain begins again. This time we make some head-way after the doctor stops everything and tells me he might break the cap or go through the tooth and that would be all she wrote - - either have to pull the tooth ($1500 down the drain or get a new cap $1500 more dollars). I begin to pray. I, of course, can’t talk, only comprehend this news is not good. Two hours later he hits the gold. His assistant told me I was a challenge. Why does this not make me feel good? I am tired of hearing I am a challenge for dentists. I don’t want to be the Poster Child for bad teeth, though it seems to run in our family. I made it through, the canal has been found, success, lift-off - - to the bathroom again, but calmly. Mouth is numb! One more appointment and I’m through with this tooth for now. More exciting molar stories to come…stay tuned!

Holy Molar

The past month has been another scorcher for all of us, but the biggest scorcher of all was on my pocketbook.

I started having some pain in my jaw recently that would not go away. I couldn’t tell if it was in my sinuses, my left ear or a tooth. Because popcorn hulls have been known to crawl down and rest way under the gum and tooth I thought perhaps if I flossed enough the culprit would appear and all pain would be over. NOT!

I called my dentist who was in Honduras on a mission trip. So I saw his associate who had my left lower jaw x-rayed. No problem seen in the x-ray! I thought about having my ear cut off next, because if not the tooth it must be the ear causing the pain. Another appointment could be made if I needed one the receptionist said. Okay, I’ll wait since it was suggested the pain might be from a bruise from chomping my jaws too much on food. This pain went on for some sleepless nights and restless days, when I called my dentist once again and told them “Pain, pain, I’ve got pain!” Another visit to the dentist’s office, another check on the tooth - - another appointment, antibiotics and back home to suffer. About a week later, back to the dentists office (He’s back from Honduras), says root canal, but he can’t do it. Roots too small - - specialist needed! Now I head for the Endodonist one week later, and more x-rays (put me to sleep please) for now I’ve learned it is going to cost $1500 on a tooth that has already cost me more than the cost of 5 months of groceries--it’s a capped tooth. I asked if I get to keep my cap. The answer is yes if they don’t crack it during the drilling.

The digging for gold begins! Three, I say 3 hours later I’m squirming in the chair. Bladder is full, mouth is full and jaw is throbbing, toes are curling and spit is flying! I can’t talk. Do I just act like I pass out and pee in the chair or just act like I had heavy sweats from the drilling and pain? What signals do I give that I’m about to burst. Yikes, the nerve has been hit - - gold has been found, they see I’m about to die from SOMETHING so they temporarily fill the tooth and send me packing until next week when we will dig for gold again., I jumped up out of the chair and said “Are we taking a bathroom break?” Neither one of them are squirming. They are cool as cucumbers. They point the way to the room I want more than anything else in the world at this time. I head in that direction nearly running. A little girl runs in and closes the door just before I leap through the door. She apparently is having a stomach ache - - she is staying for a while. I stand on one foot and then the other. My hand nearly goes between my legs as I did as a little girl to hold back the yellow river. Finally, the door unlatches, I nearly run over her getting into that room to sit on that wonderful cold throne, and save myself from further embarrassment. Ahhhhhh, relief. Next week I’ll wear a Depends or do without liquids for a couple of days before my appointment. More to come…

Gone to the dogs or dawg!!!!!!

We love Molly, but dogs are another form of torture aren't they? Last night I went to bed and she got up there and stared at me. I said, "Go to bed Molly", she stared. She looked like "Well you fool don't you see I'm trying to tell you something?" Okay, okay, so Molly "What the hey do you want girl?" She said, "Come with me and I'll show you". I did!

She went running to the back door - - oh no, not the convenient front door. I let her out thinking she had to poop. Nope! She wanted to find out what was behind the junk in our garage. I was afraid it might be a snake. Heck, as messy as that garage is it could have been a Coyote or elephant. Okay, Molly, enough of the games I said. She looked, ohhhhhh so disappointed. Okay, back to bed. Pat, pat, pat, the bed for Molly to come hither, but she looks like, "I told you something is wrong and you are still insisting on bed" Okay, what could it be Molly? I pulled her down beside me and started petting her and rubbing her fat belly. (Who would have ever thought I would have gone to the dogs like I have?). This little tummy started gurgling and I thought oh no, here she goes. Molly the farting dog! I got up and she followed and I gave her 1/2 of a little pink Pepto Bismol and she looked at me with a smile on her face and said, "Hey woman, you finally read my mind" - - back to bed we went.