The dental treatment has been taking up much more energy reserve than I originally anticipated.
Last Thursday (18 June) was the appointment to prepare for the dental bridge. I had no idea what would be involved, but I knew he had to drill two teeth in order to prepare for the bridge.
It was a morning appointment…, well 11:45 am, which is still too early for me.
When I settled onto the chair, he told me he was going to administer local anaesthetic again. I didn’t expect that he needs to numb my mouth again. The assistant explained that I would feel uncomfortable and would feel heat on gum. I assured them that I wasn’t complaining, but I prefer to know what would happen beforehand so that I can prepare my mind. The dentist suggested that he could do without anaesthetic, but he recommend to have it. I agreed. He also explained that he would numb me again when he finish the final work in two weeks.
He administered less anaesthetic than the week before, since he wasn’t pulling a tooth out today. When I was ready, it started.
He started on the first tooth. Since I didn’t feel anything, it wasn’t a problem. It took much longer than I imagined and I was feeling exhausted from keeping mouth open.
Then, he started on the second tooth. And the problem started. When he almost finished, he found a slight decay just starting to happen. And worse, he realised the gap between surface and pulp (whatever it is) was only the half of what x-ray showed. He drilled too much because the x-ray measure wasn’t accurate.
I felt his uncomfortableness… He gathered his courage together and explained.
First of all, he discovered the beginning stage of decay, which didn’t show up on x-ray. This would increase the chance of having the tooth needing treatment in the near future. Once the bridge is done, he will have to destroy the bridge to treat the tooth and I had to pay for the expensive bridge again… Naturally, it made me worry.
Second, the gap between the surface and the pulp is only the half of the x-ray. He had drilled too much, that means the tooth would be very sensitive and would have pain. It also could accelerate the progress of the decay.
I knew then, that this problem would cost me more and it made me feel uncomfortable.
At this stage, I was exhausted from keeping my mouth open for such a long period of time and my cognitive function started suffering as well.
He gave me two options. My preference was the option 3 that the problem didn’t occurred.
The first one is to treat the root and use the tooth for the bridge as original plan. This would delay the whole thing as I had to make another 1 and half hour appointment for the root treatment. It would cost me more than the other option. And the news I didn’t like was that the root treatment is not guaranteed to last, therefore, I would probably have to redo the bridge in about 5 years time.
The other option is to extract the tooth. And prepare the bridge base using the next tooth. It still costs a lot, but less than the other option. And there is no risk that I have to redo and pay the process in 5 years time.
He gave me another news. I had to make the decision now.
Based on the cost and long term outcome, I chose to extract the tooth. I was not happy, but it was just a bad luck. In a way, I was lucky that he discovered and told the problem now, so that I could avoid the future disappointment and problem.
He told me that he would have chosen the same option. He also admitted that I wouldn’t like the bridge if I saved the tooth and use it for bridge.
I didn’t like the idea of extracting another tooth, which is completely healthy. But I thought about the benefit of doing it.
He administered more anaesthetic to be ready for the extraction. The healthy tooth didn’t want to come out. It was a little scary that he was twisting and nudging and occasionally made click noise. I feared the pain, although I knew I wouldn’t feel any. The healthy tooth finally came out. He showed me the tooth and explained. My brain could no longer absorb any information then. And I felt I was spaced out from the exhaustion and anaesthetic.
Bleeding stopped quickly. And it was a pleasant surprise for the dentist as he didn’t have to wait around for the bleeding to stop.
He started working on the third tooth. He could not trust the x-ray now, he was extra careful just in case. I hoped that tooth is good enough for the bridge as I could not bear the idea of having another tooth extracted. If it was the case, the whole plan has to be changed completely.
The assistant applied Vaseline on my lips as they got too dry.
I felt dizzy even I was on horizontal position. Then, I had difficulty breathing. I felt as if I was drowning in a water. I kept gasping for the air, but I couldn’t get rid of the suffocating sensation. I tried not to panic. My left jaw kept clicking and I was having pain in jaw and ear. The dentist kept asking if I was okay.
When the tooth was prepared, he made temporary crowns to protect the drilled teeth until the final work would be done. (He offered me to come back if the crown cause any trouble. I prefer not to come back even they cause pain or uncomfortableness, as I no longer had energy to afford the trip.) Then, he took another teeth impression. This time, he used different material. He had to make sure that my mouth is dry enough to avoid bubbles forming inside of the material, otherwise he had to try it again. It was very sticky and had hard time taking it off. I feared the impression would pull all of my teeth out. When the dentist removed cottons, it felt as if he peeled my skin off as they stuck on my skin from dryness.
I was feeling light-headed and off balance, not to mention the fatigue. The assistant complimented that I did well. She told me I kept my mouth open for 2 hours!
With the unforeseen problem, they were running very late for the next patient. So, everything was rushed at this stage. And all I wanted was to get back to my bed and rest.
When I got home, I was about to crash. As I was lying down, I received a phone call from the receptionist. She asked me to come back the following day about lunch time for 5 minutes as the dentist forgot to check the shade of my teeth.
The way I was, I didn’t know if I could go back the next day. I just told her that I would try. It doesn’t matter if it is only for 5 minutes. Just getting to his office still takes up lots of my energy, and I used more than I could afford already. I crashed.
That night, I was nauseous and had breathing problem through the night. The nausea lasted for a few days. I am assuming it is a combination of over exertion and overused anaesthetic.
Next day, I dragged my heavily fatigued body to the dentist’s office. The dentist gave me advice on choosing the right shade that I would be happy with.
I made the appointment for the final process. I felt relieved that I didn’t have to go back for another two weeks and hoped it would give me enough time to rest from all these.
In two months time, I will probably have to go through the same for other area, which has chronic infection.
And after that, I hope I will just have annual check up and no more procedures.
Posted in ME/CFS Tagged: Dentist
The dental treatment has been taking up much more energy reserve than I originally anticipated.
Last Thursday (18 June) was the appointment to prepare for the dental bridge. I had no idea what would be involved, but I knew he had to drill two teeth in order to prepare for the bridge.
It was a morning appointment…, well 11:45 am, which is still too early for me.
When I settled onto the chair, he told me he was going to administer local anaesthetic again. I didn’t expect that he needs to numb my mouth again. The assistant explained that I would feel uncomfortable and would feel heat on gum. I assured them that I wasn’t complaining, but I prefer to know what would happen beforehand so that I can prepare my mind. The dentist suggested that he could do without anaesthetic, but he recommend to have it. I agreed. He also explained that he would numb me again when he finish the final work in two weeks.
He administered less anaesthetic than the week before, since he wasn’t pulling a tooth out today. When I was ready, it started.
He started on the first tooth. Since I didn’t feel anything, it wasn’t a problem. It took much longer than I imagined and I was feeling exhausted from keeping mouth open.
Then, he started on the second tooth. And the problem started. When he almost finished, he found a slight decay just starting to happen. And worse, he realised the gap between surface and pulp (whatever it is) was only the half of what x-ray showed. He drilled too much because the x-ray measure wasn’t accurate.
I felt his uncomfortableness… He gathered his courage together and explained.
First of all, he discovered the beginning stage of decay, which didn’t show up on x-ray. This would increase the chance of having the tooth needing treatment in the near future. Once the bridge is done, he will have to destroy the bridge to treat the tooth and I had to pay for the expensive bridge again… Naturally, it made me worry.
Second, the gap between the surface and the pulp is only the half of the x-ray. He had drilled too much, that means the tooth would be very sensitive and would have pain. It also could accelerate the progress of the decay.
I knew then, that this problem would cost me more and it made me feel uncomfortable.
At this stage, I was exhausted from keeping my mouth open for such a long period of time and my cognitive function started suffering as well.
He gave me two options. My preference was the option 3 that the problem didn’t occurred.
The first one is to treat the root and use the tooth for the bridge as original plan. This would delay the whole thing as I had to make another 1 and half hour appointment for the root treatment. It would cost me more than the other option. And the news I didn’t like was that the root treatment is not guaranteed to last, therefore, I would probably have to redo the bridge in about 5 years time.
The other option is to extract the tooth. And prepare the bridge base using the next tooth. It still costs a lot, but less than the other option. And there is no risk that I have to redo and pay the process in 5 years time.
He gave me another news. I had to make the decision now.
Based on the cost and long term outcome, I chose to extract the tooth. I was not happy, but it was just a bad luck. In a way, I was lucky that he discovered and told the problem now, so that I could avoid the future disappointment and problem.
He told me that he would have chosen the same option. He also admitted that I wouldn’t like the bridge if I saved the tooth and use it for bridge.
I didn’t like the idea of extracting another tooth, which is completely healthy. But I thought about the benefit of doing it.
He administered more anaesthetic to be ready for the extraction. The healthy tooth didn’t want to come out. It was a little scary that he was twisting and nudging and occasionally made click noise. I feared the pain, although I knew I wouldn’t feel any. The healthy tooth finally came out. He showed me the tooth and explained. My brain could no longer absorb any information then. And I felt I was spaced out from the exhaustion and anaesthetic.
Bleeding stopped quickly. And it was a pleasant surprise for the dentist as he didn’t have to wait around for the bleeding to stop.
He started working on the third tooth. He could not trust the x-ray now, he was extra careful just in case. I hoped that tooth is good enough for the bridge as I could not bear the idea of having another tooth extracted. If it was the case, the whole plan has to be changed completely.
The assistant applied Vaseline on my lips as they got too dry.
I felt dizzy even I was on horizontal position. Then, I had difficulty breathing. I felt as if I was drowning in a water. I kept gasping for the air, but I couldn’t get rid of the suffocating sensation. I tried not to panic. My left jaw kept clicking and I was having pain in jaw and ear. The dentist kept asking if I was okay.
When the tooth was prepared, he made temporary crowns to protect the drilled teeth until the final work would be done. (He offered me to come back if the crown cause any trouble. I prefer not to come back even they cause pain or uncomfortableness, as I no longer had energy to afford the trip.) Then, he took another teeth impression. This time, he used different material. He had to make sure that my mouth is dry enough to avoid bubbles forming inside of the material, otherwise he had to try it again. It was very sticky and had hard time taking it off. I feared the impression would pull all of my teeth out. When the dentist removed cottons, it felt as if he peeled my skin off as they stuck on my skin from dryness.
I was feeling light-headed and off balance, not to mention the fatigue. The assistant complimented that I did well. She told me I kept my mouth open for 2 hours!
With the unforeseen problem, they were running very late for the next patient. So, everything was rushed at this stage. And all I wanted was to get back to my bed and rest.
When I got home, I was about to crash. As I was lying down, I received a phone call from the receptionist. She asked me to come back the following day about lunch time for 5 minutes as the dentist forgot to check the shade of my teeth.
The way I was, I didn’t know if I could go back the next day. I just told her that I would try. It doesn’t matter if it is only for 5 minutes. Just getting to his office still takes up lots of my energy, and I used more than I could afford already. I crashed.
That night, I was nauseous and had breathing problem through the night. The nausea lasted for a few days. I am assuming it is a combination of over exertion and overused anaesthetic.
Next day, I dragged my heavily fatigued body to the dentist’s office. The dentist gave me advice on choosing the right shade that I would be happy with.
I made the appointment for the final process. I felt relieved that I didn’t have to go back for another two weeks and hoped it would give me enough time to rest from all these.
In two months time, I will probably have to go through the same for other area, which has chronic infection.
And after that, I hope I will just have annual check up and no more procedures.
Posted in ME/CFS Tagged: Dentist