Plague 2021 #12 Broken Tooth + Sinus Infection

[geowench]

Teeth seem to be the theme just now ... the last two posts in my reading feed are from two different friends posting about dental woes.  And I broke a tooth last night.  Got in to see my dentist for a quick look today and she says it's broken beneath the gum, but she *thinks* she can save it with a crown, though I will likely need a root canal sometime down the line ... unless I want to just do the root canal now?  No thank you, I'll take my chances with the crown for now.  But she can't get me in until the 25th.  So three weeks of being super careful and only chewing on my R side, I guess.  

I've been rather sick the last week or so, even missed two days of work.  I basically had a sinus infection.  I didn't go the the dr. and I didn't get tested for COVID, though perhaps I should have, since I'm now reading that delta infections are common in the fully vaccinated and present more like cold symptoms.  But I'm basically over it now, so I'm going with "summer cold/sinus infection."  

Holy moly, I used to be much more interesting person.  At least I think/hope that I was.

Comments

[old_black]

Oh no! As might be aware, I can relate to this. My teeth are a perennial problem. I reckon for our generation [yes, I know you're half a generation younger than me :-) ] teeth are a significant issue in our later years. My teeth are not going to last the distance unless my life is cut short by my heart or cancer. I hate having crowns and root canals - and extractions. And the cost is crippling. I have a great dentist, but there's only so much they can do to save a crumbling structure, isn't there?

But death from COVID-19 would be worse. Most of Australia is locked down to try to slow the spread of the delta variant. People are dying here, but nearly all the deaths are in people who are unvaccinated. Your vaccination should dramatically reduce any impact if you do catch it. Anyway, best wishes in getting over whatever illness it is.

[geowench]

Hey Michael, I seem to have missed comments from this post. I know what you mean, my teeth are just falling out of my damn head. On the plus side, I have no tartar? I'm tempted to get the lot pulled and get a head full of implants (I have two already and they've given me exactly zero problems).

[mrs_redboots]

I do hope your mouth isn't too sore. I had two extractions yesterday, and am absolutely fine today, although I've been told to take it easy and, frankly, I need to! Hopefully will be getting my new teeth (dentures, not implants) in about a month. Looking forward to it, although hating the prospects of yet more moulds next week! I hate having moulds taken.

[geowench]

Hi Annabel,I seem to have missed the comments on this post! 2 extractions is a lot! Hope your dentures work well for you.

[mrs_redboots]

So do I! Should be getting them on Wednesday - posted a picture of the trial version the other day. Can't wait. Why is it only Monday??? The extractions were fine (except financially); the teeth in question were very loose anyway, and the sockets have healed up fine, with no problems at all.

[geowench]

Is dental not included in your national health care???

[mrs_redboots]

To a certain extent, yes; but I have never had good experiences with NHS dentists (which are often impossible to find, anyway), and have bitten the bullet and gone private this time. Given that the last NHS dentist I saw said nothing could be done about my missing teeth and I'd have to be a toothless old crone forever..... I wish I hadn't believed him! Mind you, NHS dentures are horrid, often unnaturally straight and white, and would have looked odd - these are yellow enough and crooked enough that they probably won't show too badly!

[geowench]

Interesting.  I was curious because I'd read something recently saying that the reason dental insurance is separate from medical insurance (in the US) is because you can go to work just fine with crappy teeth (or no teeth) so there is no incentive for the gvt or corporations to include dental.  Also the dentists themselves want it separate b/c $$.

[mrs_redboots]

Dental insurance can be a thing here, but I don't think many people have it. You do have to pay a certain amount on the NHS, unless you are under 18 or pregnant, but the cost of a biannual checkup is fairly nominal. I like the way eye care is done - you are entitled to a free test if you are under 18 or over 60, but the range of spectacles available is pretty limited, so mostly you buy your frames and lenses.... it all seems to work out in the end. I keep getting texts from the optician telling me I'm overdue for an eye test, but one part of my face at once, I think!

[fineplan]

Oh no. Am I cursed to tooth issues now that I've read the post? The blog version of The Ring?

[geowench]

I seem to have missed the comments on this post! Are you having dental problems now too???

[fineplan]

Oh I always have something going on with my teeth. I think they messed up a crown last time and it changed my bite, but maybe I'm just being paranoid because I had to see a different dentist and he gave me this scary spiel about why I should have braces. :P