Oh, My Aching Tooth

No sooner did I revive my computer than I felt a slight pang in the tooth that had a root canal about 8 years ago. Surely this can't be right, the nerves are supposed to be dead?

By Saturday it was an annoying ache, by Sunday it was a throbbing nightmare. Naturally, I had to wait until Monday morning to call a dentist and have him look at me.

Since I had no intentions of returning to the crook who took me to the cleaners last summer, I called a dentist that several of my co-workers recommended. They said they could see me at 9:30 that morning. I was grateful that I wouldn't have to suffer long.

I arrived at the dentist's office and took a seat. I was presented with a lovely tote bag as a special gift for new patients. This would certainly help me forget all about the thousands and thousands of dollars I've invested in dental treatment over the past decade.

After a while I was called into the room. They sat me down and put on my bib. I gagged. Then they told me to hold a little gizmo wrapped in a plastic bag up to my tooth so they can take a digital x-ray. I gagged again, but managed to keep it in place long enough for them to get the x-ray. The dentist looked at the image and instantly recognized the problem.

"This root canal is short."

It seems the quack that performed the procedure all those years ago short changed me and failed to fill the canals as far as he should. I swear, if I ever see that guy on the street I'm going to knee cap him and stomp him like a NARC at a biker rally.

The dentist pulled out a small metal object.

"Open wide, please".

He struck the tooth to the left of the crown.

"How's that feel?" he asked.

"Fine," I said.

He hit the tooth on the other side of the crown.

"And that?" he asked.

"Fine," I said.

Then he struck the piece of metal to the crown.

"Sweet bastard!" I cried.

"Yep, that's the one," the dentist remarked.

The dentist explained that the root canal would have to be redone. He would send me to an endodontist, a man who specializes in root canal treatment. With a copy of the x-ray, a letter of referral, and a prescription for antibiotics, I was sent on my way.

I wasted no time getting the pills (Clindamycin). The inflammation was out of control and the constant, maddening throb made me want to lay down in the street and die. Then I went home and got on the phone. I called the endodontist .

They said they could see me the next day, so I agreed. No sense in beating around the bush. The following day I woke up and looked in the mirror. The gums around the crown were now discolored and swollen. I tasted the presence of pus. A day's worth of antibiotics and this is all I have to show for it?

I got dressed and went over to the endodontists office at 9 a.m. After a few minutes of waiting a lady called me in. She sat me in the dental chair and took another x-ray. She handed me the plastic object which I was to hold in my mouth. I gagged again, but we got the x-ray. She too said it was clear that the root canal did not go far enough up into the roots. Then she left and I waited patiently for the doctor.

The doctor came in. He looked at the x-ray and made the same prognosis as the others. A poorly done root canal was the culprit. He went on to say that it was likely the canals were sealed off and he would be unable to reach the roots by burrowing through the crown. He instead suggested cutting a flap in the gums and removing the inflamed roots that way. It would be an hour long procedure, require stitches, and cost between $1300-1600.

Considering the pain I am in, it seems I have no choice. I signed up to have the procedure done in early January after the holidays. In the meantime, I must continue to take the antibiotics, rinse my mouth with salt water, and eat soup and pudding gingerly until the pain subsides and I start to feel normal again.

Just another speed-bump in the road of life.