wpe2.gif (4999 bytes)
July 6, 1999 If you belong to the notify list, you would have been privy to some very embarrassing information about myself. I had not been to the dentist in ages, and I felt like my teeth were falling out because a "chip" came off my tooth. I really have nice teeth and my mother harped on me all the time about going to get them cleaned when she was alive. All weekend I would stay awake at night, feeling the jagged hole with my tongue, believing that soon I would have no teeth at all. I must have brushed my teeth dozens of times, everytime thinking it might be the last time I brushed my own teeth.

Today I went in to the dentist that my husband uses. I was too embarrassed to call my dentist, one I had been seeing since I was four. The appointment was to see what kind of shape my teeth were actually in and if after a cleaning I would have to go to a gum specialist.

I was pretty nervous in the waiting area. My mind was racing with all sorts of thoughts. I had no excuse about how my teeth ended up in this terrible condition. It was going to be my own fault that they were going to have to be all pulled out and that I would have to wear false teeth. The thoughts were racing through my head. I was twenty-five and I was going to have false teeth.

"Kim," called the hygienist.

"That's me." I said with a half smile. I was going to hear my fate, I was going to hear that my teeth were rotten and that I had gum disease. My heart was racing.

"So why are you here?" she asked as I sat down in the chair. "My name is Donna and we are going to see what is going on inside of that mouth if yours."

"I think my teeth are falling out, there is a giant hole in the back of my teeth, I've been stupid and haven't had a cleaning in years, " I was starting to ramble and talking really fast.

"Do your teeth feel loose at all? Pain? Inflammation?"

"No ma'am."

"Well let me take a look and we will see what is going on in there."

I opened my mouth and she kinda laughed. "You do not have a hole in your teeth, that's where tarter has built up and chipped off."

Relief. My teeth aren't crumbling after all.

"But it looks like you may have some gum disease, we will have to clean your teeth and take x-rays to be for sure."

Damn. My teeth may fall out after all.

"My appointment canceled for this time slot, we can clean your teeth right now and Dr. Adams can look at you."

"Sure, might as well get this over with and hear the verdict." I was sarcastic, but in a funny way, she was laughing as she left the room.

I stared at the walls. Posters on root canals, cavities, and gum disease were plastered everywhere. I felt sick to my stomach. Goddess, I prayed, if I walk out of here and get to keep my teeth, I swear I will take better care of them.

After my cleaning and x-rays, Dr. Adams came in.

"Kim," he said.

Here it comes, here it comes, he's going to tell me I have gum disease and I'm going to loose my teeth just like the poster on the wall says!

"You really have beautiful teeth, in fact you are the only person I have ever come across who has had their wisdom teeth come in and it not cause them any problems or crowding."

Okay, so I have a big mouth, that's not news.

"You don't have any tooth decay or cavities," he paused,"but I wouldn't take any more chances if I was you. Get your teeth cleaned every six months and floss to avoid getting gum disease."

"So I'm not going to loose my teeth?"

He chuckled, "No, not unless someone knocks them out."

Relief. I already made my next cleaning appointment for January 17, at 10am.

 

Back to Journey and Destination

Yesterday
Tomorrow

 

Since we have decided to keep the dog, we are having her spayed today. She starts obedience school July 18.
I did a walk through of the new house today with a building agent, we discovered that the kitchen floor was severely scratched as well. It looks as if all the floors are going to have to be replaced.
Update on my friend A----, she had an ultrasound today because she had never started bleeding, the embryo was reabsorbed. The doctor thinks it was not a normal pregnancy since her levels of HCG were so high and then plummeted so suddenly. She is feeling better and will try again in two more cycles. To cheer her up on her birthday, her husband bought her a brand new fully loaded Camry.
Join the notify list!