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catscradle Feb. 21st, 2004 12:35 pm)
catscradle Feb. 21st, 2004 12:35 pm)Yesterday I had some wisdom teeth removed and a molar that never came in right. Total of four teeth. Funny though, because they told me I needed three teeth removed, my chart said I needed five and I ended up with four gone. How does that happen? This is why I hate this dentist. Actaully, I didn't have to see him, I only worked with the oral surgeon and his crew that came in to do the job. He was great, as was his staff. They were looking at the records and wondering what the hell too. One of the teeth that was marked to be removed I didn't have to begin with.
Anyway, I'm chatting with the crew and they say something like "So did you sign the papers to be put under during the proceedure?" And I'm all like, no, I'm just going with the lanocaine. The woman gives me this look of "You are either nuts or on serious drugs" - so she then pulls me over to the x-rays and shows me what they're going to do. Three of the teeth seem relatively easy. Been there, done that. But the fourth, the wisdom tooth in the lower left jaw has come in completely sideways and is the only one still completely under the gum. It's also touching one of the teeth I just had root canaled. She says, "That's going to be very difficult on you." Then she shows me the molar that's not come down right. "That one is rooted in the sinus cavity. If you have the sinus difficulty as listed in your chart, that can also be unpleasant."
So at this point I decided to ask again how much my insurance will pay for me to go to sleep. NONE OF IT! So I have to either cope with it - and let me tell you, the guy next door that was just on the lanocaine was seriously giving me second thoughts on my coping skills - or I have to cough up the money. So, not only do I now have a fourth tooth coming out that I hadn't planned on, I am now faced with full cost of the anastetic. Total - another $800. Same price as the root canals for a total of $1600 freaken bucks out of my own damn pocket book. But don't get me started on insurance. . . that's a whole new post.
But they let me break the payment up over three months, so I decided to be put out. The disclaimer I had to sign was a very fun read "May cause spontaneous decapitation in some instances." Well, I exagerate a little. Thank god I decided not to have breakfast before coming in though, is all I can say. But the oral surgeon was very nice and answered all my questions patiently and completely. He was also very hot. I liked him. And one of the assistants was also one of the more pleasant people I've encountered. She offered me her own walkman to use when we all still thought I was just going to use the local anastetic. She was very perky and dressed in hot pink scrubs.
So I went out for about 2 hours and coming to was just the oddest thing. I'm sure I was saying something to someone and that they answered me, but I have no clue what it was about now. I finally was allowed up and I was so groggy, it's hard to believe it was legal to let me stand and write out a check. I have the carbonated copy here and it looks like a pre-schooler wrote it with a crayon.
Going to the pharmacy was a trip. To the credit of the staff, they only passed me the tissue box when I walked up to the counter to drop off the perscription instead of calling security. I finally saw myself in the mirror at the sunglasses rack and Jesus. I'm sure they've seen wisdom teeth victims before though.
But, they were quick, which was all that mattered. So now I'm on vicodin and 800mgs of ibuprofin. I came back to the store about 5 hours later to pick up some mushy foods in the hot foods department - mashed potatoes, mac & cheese and some chocolate pudding. Considering how late it was in the day, it's probably a good thing I couldn't really taste it. But it did the trick. I was starving by then.
So I was laying in bed this morning in a drug induced stupor thinking of all the foods I want to make and eat today which are officially off the menu. I have an absolute craving for various tempura battered meats and veggies for some reason. This sucks.
So this is the last of my teeth trama stories - let us hope.
Anyway, I'm chatting with the crew and they say something like "So did you sign the papers to be put under during the proceedure?" And I'm all like, no, I'm just going with the lanocaine. The woman gives me this look of "You are either nuts or on serious drugs" - so she then pulls me over to the x-rays and shows me what they're going to do. Three of the teeth seem relatively easy. Been there, done that. But the fourth, the wisdom tooth in the lower left jaw has come in completely sideways and is the only one still completely under the gum. It's also touching one of the teeth I just had root canaled. She says, "That's going to be very difficult on you." Then she shows me the molar that's not come down right. "That one is rooted in the sinus cavity. If you have the sinus difficulty as listed in your chart, that can also be unpleasant."
So at this point I decided to ask again how much my insurance will pay for me to go to sleep. NONE OF IT! So I have to either cope with it - and let me tell you, the guy next door that was just on the lanocaine was seriously giving me second thoughts on my coping skills - or I have to cough up the money. So, not only do I now have a fourth tooth coming out that I hadn't planned on, I am now faced with full cost of the anastetic. Total - another $800. Same price as the root canals for a total of $1600 freaken bucks out of my own damn pocket book. But don't get me started on insurance. . . that's a whole new post.
But they let me break the payment up over three months, so I decided to be put out. The disclaimer I had to sign was a very fun read "May cause spontaneous decapitation in some instances." Well, I exagerate a little. Thank god I decided not to have breakfast before coming in though, is all I can say. But the oral surgeon was very nice and answered all my questions patiently and completely. He was also very hot. I liked him. And one of the assistants was also one of the more pleasant people I've encountered. She offered me her own walkman to use when we all still thought I was just going to use the local anastetic. She was very perky and dressed in hot pink scrubs.
So I went out for about 2 hours and coming to was just the oddest thing. I'm sure I was saying something to someone and that they answered me, but I have no clue what it was about now. I finally was allowed up and I was so groggy, it's hard to believe it was legal to let me stand and write out a check. I have the carbonated copy here and it looks like a pre-schooler wrote it with a crayon.
Going to the pharmacy was a trip. To the credit of the staff, they only passed me the tissue box when I walked up to the counter to drop off the perscription instead of calling security. I finally saw myself in the mirror at the sunglasses rack and Jesus. I'm sure they've seen wisdom teeth victims before though.
But, they were quick, which was all that mattered. So now I'm on vicodin and 800mgs of ibuprofin. I came back to the store about 5 hours later to pick up some mushy foods in the hot foods department - mashed potatoes, mac & cheese and some chocolate pudding. Considering how late it was in the day, it's probably a good thing I couldn't really taste it. But it did the trick. I was starving by then.
So I was laying in bed this morning in a drug induced stupor thinking of all the foods I want to make and eat today which are officially off the menu. I have an absolute craving for various tempura battered meats and veggies for some reason. This sucks.
So this is the last of my teeth trama stories - let us hope.
