Years ago when I was still married, I would periodically go on a diet. It was on the programs which cost the most money where I experienced the best losses, oddly enough. Or, as expected, whichever applies. It's been awhile since I've been on such a program, my last attempt being LA Weight Loss. On that program I lost about 20 pounds before I quit. I couldn't eat all the food they wanted to eat in the course of the day. Today, I paid over $500 to have one tooth removed...what a weight loss program THIS is!
A few weeks ago, my dentist friend, Peggy, discovered something amiss with my gum along the back tooth of my bridge. She couldn't find anything that looked compromised. Then I was referred to a specialist in Mandarin who looked at my teeth using a microscope, not finding anything either. No charge for his services, this gracious man. He referred me back to Peggy who connected me with an oral surgeon to have him look at it. That was the day I had 5 sets of xrays taken in one sitting, or, standing, as the case might be. He didn't really say, "Oh, there's the problem" or "That doesn't look right...". He just determined the back tooth was coming out and that's it.
Tuesday was the day set for me to have the bridge detached, saving the crowned tooth on the front of the bridge. Peggy was able to do that for me, and then I'd go immediately to the oral surgeon for the rest of the procedure. Sounds good to me! Only, come Tuesday morning, I got a call from the oral surgeon's office reporting for the first time in 15 years, the surgeon was sick. Oh, oh! I took that as a negative omen...I still kept the first appointment with Peggy (no charge again) to remove the bridge and polish up the remaining tooth. I love her!
So, today was my rescheduled appointment with the oral surgeon. First I went to Bible study and then made my way back to OP. I stopped at McDonald's for a burger and a Diet Coke, thinking I should have food in my stomach before having the nitrous oxide, plus, I was early. After I ate the burger, I went into the office to have my procedure. They didn't take me back right away but did have me pay the charge right away so I didn't have to do it post op. Makes sense...The dental assistant numbed me up with a topical ointment, and then she paced around until the doctor came in. He did the injections, warning me that some of them were going to be 'rough', but they weren't that bad. After about 10 minutes or so he came back, made sure it was numb, and away he went. It did hurt a bit where he had to dig around and he said, "I'm surprised you didn't have more trouble with this tooth..." He let the assistant show it to me, once it was wiped off. It went so quickly once he got started, amazingly so.
I had been given my post-op instructions beforehand, but it wasn't until I was leaving that she told me "no carbonated beverages" for 24 hours. WHAT??? She said that's the reaction she always gets and I said, "I've got it bad..." She asked, "Diet Coke, right?" I nodded and she said, "I used to be same way with Diet Coke, but now it's coffee." I asked about the soda being flat and she said that would be fine, so that's what I am doing. I started with the one I had in my car from McDonald's and have let two more cans-worth go flat for me to enjoy. Thus far all is going well post op, but I have the pain pills from the doctor ready to go if I need them.
Justin picked up food from Ming Moon, treating me to plain lo-mien and egg drop soup. He got the fun stuff but I was happy with my soft diet, as recommended for the first couple of days. He cancelled Will and Beth's dinner with us for tomorrow night, and did so happily, because he wanted to make sure I could enjoy what he had planned. We are good now for next Tuesday instead. What a guy he is! In the morning he is making me a scrambled egg with cheese in it, which will be delicious. Have to grow the bone back where the damage occurred. It seems that old root canal failed but we just couldn't see that on the x-ray, causing the bone damage. I'll have to take his word for it and hope the healing is swift. It will be if Justin has anything to say about it!
