View From the Tenth Level

Tuesday, January 06, 2009

So, I was told months ago that I would have to have a root canal. One of my teeth has been overly sensitive to pressure for probably over three years - to a point where I couldn't really chew on that side of my mouth any more. I asked around about the cost of getting a root canal, and nearly choked when I found out. And then I heard all of the horror stories regarding broken and lost crowns, badly done root canals that had to be re-done, etc - and didn't THAT put me off getting it done even more.

And then one day, it happened. The pain swelled and my cheek swelled and I began to look like my dead hamster's half sister, with a golf ball stashed in one cheek. I couldn't stand it. The pain kept me up all night and I had to face facts... I was going to have to get a root canal done.

It took about a week for the swelling to subside and I finally began to speak normally again (and not like The Godfather.) And then I noticed, a couple of days ago, the gums around my sensitive tooth swelling again. "Oh no, I thought. Here we go again. Another sleepless night."

But it was not to be. A veritable volcano erupted in my mouth. A volcano of pus. Apparently, there'd been a low grade infection in my jaw for years, irritating the nerve of my tooth. I'd even had it x-rayed and all the x-ray showed was an inflamed nerve and no abscess nor decay. I didn't have gum disease or anything else obvious. So much for that! There is now an angry red spot in my mouth, oozing pus as I type - but miracle of miracles, my tooth is no longer sore and sensitive! Apparently, the pressure caused by the infection was what was irritating my tooth. I can even chew on that side of my mouth again. I expect it will all be cleared up within a couple of days.

In the words of Popeye, "Well, blow me down!"

(Just thought you'd like to know.)

posted by Melanie O. at 8:36 PM -

5 Comments:

At 12:41 PM, David said…

Well it sounds (I think?) like a positive development!
At 2:38 AM, Karen said…

Eek! At least you're feeling better.
At 9:45 AM, Melanie O. said…

I suspect it was a little raspberry seed that was the culprit. At least it's still draining and chewing is getting back to normal. *sigh of relief*
At 5:48 PM, Kanani said…

So... did you get antibiotics?
Anyhoo...make sure you rinse your mouth with salt water or at least Listerine.

Glad you're feeling better. Sorry you had to go through this!
At 8:08 PM, Melanie O. said…

Kanani and gardenbug - I did get the antibiotics, and I have to have a specialist check out the scans because I may have osteomyelitis. Bummer! I certainly wasn't expecting that.