The canal to the root of my pain

Last year at about this time I was enjoying some ice cream cake in honor of Chris's birthday. And one of the bites that had some of the chocolatey chips in it hit the wrong spot on a tooth. Immense, blinding pain for about two seconds followed by days of aching (enough to wake me up) and not being able to chew on the right side of my mouth.

I caved and went to the dentist where I was told the dreaded words "root canal" and I was referred to an endodontist. The endodontist said that it appeared that the problem was actually some cracks in my tooth and a possible infection. I was told that I can avoid the root canal but possibly get a crown to hold my poor tooth together.

At this point I switched to a tooth paste that contained baking soda and that helped to clear the problem up pretty quickly. So, no pain = no crown and no root canal. I went merrily on my way.

Until April of this year, almost a year later. I was sitting there, enjoying my Raisan Bran and one little grain goes to the wrong area and I get the whammy again. Fortunately, it disappaited by nightfall. But over the next week it is definitely not doing well. So I was off to see the dentist again and was referred to the endodontist again.

As a sidenote, the dentist, endodontist and dental hygentists are all very concerned and helpful when you come in seven months pregnant. Not that they haven't been nice in the past. But if you want an extra pillow and less x-rays, you should consider getting dental work done when pregnant. I don't know what to tell the guys, you'll still have to suck it up and act manly.

So I get the root canal. It wasn't horrible or even bad. It helped that I kept my eyes shut for most of the time and didn't try to ask what the buzzing noise was or what the pincushion of needles was for. I went home an hour later with a lopsided grin and was told to be careful because there were still the cracks in the tooth.

But my tooth hurt for almost another week! My youngest brother was all like "I didn't have any pain after my root canal" so I hit him and asked if that hurt. Me, I was popping Tylenol. And the worse part is that I guess I clench my teeth when I roll over at night and when I sneeze because it would hurt. Then a week later I realized I didn't need any Tylenol. No pain! Huzzah!

The next day I was enjoying a bowl of Capt'n Crunch when I felt a weird sensation that reminded me of my youth. It reminded me of the time I was eating ice cream (or the time with the bubble gum) where I realized that my tooth was loose and about to come out. So I paused mid-chew and experimentally touched the tooth. And the front quarter of it fell off. Yeah, part of my tooth fell off.

I freaked a little, but no one was around to witness so I'm going to say I calmly called the dentist to find out what to do. Since there is still no pain, they kindly moved up the date to get a crown put on. Ok. Well then. No need to panic.

Every once in a while I look in the mirror at the tooth, all the way in the back, and can see a cross section of a filling, temporary filling and the rest of the tooth. I can't wait to get it fixed.