9/16/09

Dental Distractions!

Apart from a Skywatch post later tomorrow, I may be a little quiet/absent for the next few days.

I have a busy day tomorrow,what with it being 'Picture Day' and parent/teacher conferences at school until 7pm. And then unfortunately at noon on Friday, I am having a rather critical tooth extracted and bone reconstruction done! This will be followed by an eventual implant in January, which I have to say I am not looking forward to.

Even more painful is the total cost, which from start to finish will be about $5,000, of which my insurance will cover 60%. That's still a pretty hefty bill to pay though and if it wasn't one of my front teeth, I wouldn't even consider it! So this has effectively curtailed any plans we might have had for spending or travel.

Having qualified as a Dental Assistant many years ago I have a good idea what to expect, and needless to say I'll be lying low this weekend with an ice-pack or three!

This is the 3rd tooth I have had to have extracted in the 3 years I have been here. To be fair, prior to my arrival they had all gone through not just root canal treatments, but also major oral surgery to save them. But I am beginning to think something in the water here does not agree with my dental health! I won't tempt fate by making any statements or predictions, but I am hopeful this is now the end of my bad dental run.

22 comments:

Lynn said...

Ouch. Best of luck with everything.

Gaelyn said...

Take care of yourself girl.

Sunny said...

Good luck.
Sunny :)

Kay said...

Hoo boy, Sarah! Thank goodness your dental insurance will cover 60% but that really is still a whole lot of money. Wow! I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for you.

Anonymous said...

Ouch! I had a similar experience - two, actually. When I emigrated to SA, the first three years seemed like nothing but dentist bills; coming back to the UK, I had another year of teeth problems. Maybe your water theory is correct. :) I'd never made the connection until now.

Thinking of you in a clenched buttock sort of way...all my sympathies!

A Brit in Tennessee said...

Ooh I wish you the best, sounds like a long drawn out procedure.
I went to the dentist this week also. but nothing so dramatic as an implant prep..
Take care of yourself !

Victoria - Florence and Mary said...

I'm getting braces in the next couple of weeks and will need a tooth extracted - I'm not looking forward to it!!!

Hope it goes well,

Victoria xx

karen said...

Good luck & will be thinking of you, poor thing! :)

Daryl said...

Ouch .. does your water have fluoride in it? I have no idea if there is truth to the water theory but I do know that most of the friends I have who are from UK have bad teeth which they claim is rampant in the UK ..

Iota said...

Good luck.

Sherri said...

Good luck Sarah. I hope it isn't painful for you! Take care!

Texas Travelers said...

Hope the pain gets better. Love the chicago photo.
Troy and Martha

Linda Jennings said...

Oh my! I went through dental surgery and implants from mid- October unil May. I'm glad to have it over!

Almost American said...

Sorry to hear you're off to the dentist on Friday. Hope it all goes smoothly. You're lucky the insurance covers at least part of such a big bill!

Anonymous said...

Sympathies for your dental issues. Not fun, but needs must. I'm sure the Hubster will take good care of you and you'll be right as rain soon enough.

Mare said...

I just did a crown that cost more than I wanted to spend, and I have no dental insurance. Good luck, and lay low.

pam said...

Yowza, ouch is right. I've always had rotten teeth so I feel your pain. But girlfriend, is there anything you haven't done? I didn't know this about the dental assisting!!! And get the nitrous, get the NITROUS ;)

Expat mum said...

As another Brit who has gone through major dental surgery since her arrival here - my thoughts are with you. Ugh!

Yogi♪♪♪ said...

Ohhh, good luck.

The Good Life in Virginia said...

take care sarah...will be thinking of you...

Jill of All Trades said...

Oh Sarah, sorry you have to go through this. Ick. I've only had wisdom teeth removed. Take care.

Girl Tornado said...

I am with you on the dental pain. Since I moved to KS last year I have experienced my fair share. And sometimes I wonder if there is something in particular in the U.S. that contributes to tooth decay. I got my first crown early this year, and I pray I never have to repeat that experience. Tomorrow is another dental appt - but just for routine cleaning. I hope... sometimes I swear they look for things wrong, esp with one's dental insurance is extremely good (ours is).

Hope you are feeling better by now!