Teeth suck

[flea]

So, I got my 3 cavities filled. It cost $540, for those of you who have no idea what dental care costs (like me, until recently.) The drilling was HORRIBLE but I didn't freak out or anything. Now my teeth are sore (but I've taken Advil) and my face is still numb. And I am feeling very sorry for myself. And angry with myself, because flossing and fluoride rinse probably could have prevented this. It is perhaps a poor reflection on me that having bad teeth and having to pay to fix them is making me want to go out and spend money and eat candy to make myself feel better.

The worst part is she said I have deep decay on one of my wisdom teeth, and wrote me a referral to see an oral surgeon about getting it removed. And hey, while they're in there, why not take them all! I have all four wisdom teeth well in and not causing me any trouble, except for the danger of decay because they are hard to brush and harder to floss, since they are about 5 miles back in my enormous mouth. The lower left is the decayed one, and she noted it's in kinda crooked; the upper left she says is freakishly huge (okay, those were not her words, but she said, "Wow, that one is big!" twice). The right two are in straight and look okay, but she said it might be as well to get them out anyway. Apparently when I was in the prime wisdom teeth removal years, the trend was to leave them in if they weren't impacted, but now the trend is to take them all no matter what, given the strong likelihood of decay and gum disease and the connection of gum disease with heart disease and diabetes. At 35, I'm still in the zone where it makes more sense to take them (apparently after 40 the bone doesn't heal well.)

Lemme tell you, reading Wikipedia on wisdom tooth extraction does NOT give me a happy for having this done. Also, I fear the cost. Never mind when the hell am I supposed to find the time to recuperate what with my small children.

In closing, wah.

Comments

[jesseh.livejournal.com]

I believe that wisdom tooth extraction is horrible in proportion to how badly they are in. I mean, if they aren't impacted, getting them out should not be a huge deal. At least, it wasn't for me. I was definitely functioning the next day, and probably would have been able to deal day-of, if I had had to (like, if I had had kids).

Also, I got them out on a study, so it was not only free, I got paid -- maybe there's something like that you can find around the U.?

[casperflea.livejournal.com]

We don't have a dental school, unfortunately. Being paid to have it done - that would ease the pain some, I bet!

[jesseh.livejournal.com]

Yeah, this wasn't at a dental school, but I'm guessing it was in DC because of the Big Pharma nearby? It was a study of Tylenol for recovery, I think -- and actually, whatever OTC drugs they gave me were plenty (I don't know if I was getting tylenol or advil).

I dunno, you could keep your eye out in the student paper.

[sophiabrooks.livejournal.com]

I am 35, and I am now having my top wisdom teeth removed because of deep decay, because they are hard to brush and floss. My dentist seems to think, because they are in and not impacted, that I should be able to go to work the next day. He says they will "pop right out" Mine are costing me around $150, but I have insurance. Without, it would be more like $300.

[casperflea.livejournal.com]

This is very reassuring to me, on the pain and cost fronts. Good luck next week!

[veejane.livejournal.com]

One thing you might do is call up the Muzzey St. office and ask them a bit about it. I know they have a standard oral surgeon down the street who did mine (just the bottom two, although he tried to persuade me to do the top ones as well) and they can probably guesstimate cost.

I was functional the next day but a bit fragile and cranky. I was fine within 3-4 days.

[mearagrrl.livejournal.com]

Yeah, mine were impacted, and I had conscious sedation, but I was fine in 3-4 days, adn really quite functional (just annoyed at my mouth and food) after about two.

And I feel your pain on the cavities--literally, cause I had one done today. :)

[(Anonymous)]

Aye, caramba! That sucks. I had all of my wisdom teeth removed. Two when I was about 12, and the other two when I was 18. It wasn't fun but it was doable. When you get the bottom ones out, you have to spend time rinsing the sockets out with salt water after meals.

[hecubot.livejournal.com]

Not anonymous.

[forodwaith.livejournal.com]

Take note: if you're on chemical birth control, that doubles your risk of getting dry socket after extraction. (Of course, my dentist didn't think to tell me that.)