(no subject)

[lizzybennet]

I had a dental appointment today to have my teeth cleaned. I haven't had them cleaned in over 8 years. Gross, I know. But somehow, everyday life happens and thus it is. The hygenist spent a long time scraping my teeth. I guess I had a build up of "calculus" (that's what she kept calling it, but I'm sure it's not spelled like the math.) I now have gaps in my teeth that weren't there before. I had no idea such a build up could happen. I can't keep my tongue off my teeth. I keep running it over, feeling how clean my mouth is. Another bit of good news: I had a tiny discolored spot on the front of one of my canines and it is now gone. I guess it was also calculus. I only have three cavities. I say "only" because I thought the damage would be much worse after the neglect my teeth have had.

I got an early birthday present tonight: The Jane Austen Cookbook. I have the most awesome hubby ever. He knows me inside and out.

Comments

[ouwxgirl.livejournal.com]

I haven't had my teeth cleaned since my insurance ran out in 2002. I always liked getting my teeth cleaned because it was like a massage for my mouth even though I have sensitive gums and it kinda hurts, I still like the feeling walking out of there.

I wish I could go see a dentist. And a local chiropractor. And a dermatologist. And a local phychiatrist. And a regular doctor. LOL.

[mysteena.livejournal.com]

It is so hard being a full time student and having no insurance. The catch 22 for us is that since we're so broke, we qualify for state-paid insurance (in AZ its called ACCHS, in some states Medicaid).

Just day dream about the day you finally finish school, and are a hot shot meterologist. You'll be making the big bucks then and paying for medical care will be no big deal. As people are always telling us, you won't be a student forever :)

[heidial.livejournal.com]

Good for you! It makes me so happy to see you taking care of yourself. I always liked to brag that you'd never had a cavity when you were a child.

[texastea.livejournal.com]

Girlfriend, I know what you mean! I'm much worse; I have denta-phobia, or whatever, so I didn't go until last year - since Katie was two! That would be 22 years! They have to give me valium before the hygienist works on me so I don't pop her one.

I love the feeling of clean teeth! Plus, new studies have shown that healthy teeth/gums and plaque buildup *there* means a lessened likelihood of such buildups in your blood vessels.

Do you smile live a movie star now?

[mysteena.livejournal.com]

I don't have a fear of cleaning, but drilling is a whole different story. I never had any cavities growing up, so I didn't have my first experience with drilling until I was about 26. Scary!!

Yup, movie star smile, that's me! I'll be at a stop light, and I'll flip the mirror down to smile at myself for a moment, lol! Love those pearly whites :)

[-bella-luna.livejournal.com]

I am soooooo terrified to go. Terrified of the noise, the gagging, the scraping, and worse, the bill. I think I'm just as scared of the bill as I am the work that will need to be done.

[mysteena.livejournal.com]

Our dentist is also a member of our church. He gave me such a sweet deal. I had x-rays (including the panoramic kind. Talk about claustrophobic!) and a very thorough cleaning. I only paid $122. He knows that we don't have insurance. I hope I can be so generous someday, to help repay all the kindnesses that people show us.

And remember how we were telling each other that we had a greyish spot on our gums? Mine is gone. It went away with the cleaning. I don't know how, or why. I certainly didn't feel her doing anything painful to my gums. But that spot is back to its normal color.

[-bella-luna.livejournal.com]

No way! So maybe my gray is just all that guck built up? I wish you lived here so you could go with me and hold my hand. I would go with you and hold yours!

[texastea.livejournal.com]

I didn't have any cavities growing up, either. I got one after Jake was born, but before Katie, and it went awry. I tried to tell the dentist that it was a botched job, but he wouldn't listen. It hurt. It ended up needing a root canal while I was pregnant with Katie, but I couldn't get it done since I couldn't be x-rayed. I lost that tooth! The entire thing was painful and made me gun-shy of dentistry.

I have panic and anxiety disorders, and even with my good pal, Prozac, I can't handle sitting in the chair for the hour-and-a-half that the anal-retentive hygienist required when she was doing that scaling thingy-jigger. I had no warning when fight-or-flight set in, and I had to get up or knock her out. So now, they let me take one valium an hour before they "go in." And drilling? Fuggedaboudit! No can do without a lot of moral support and reassurance, and the valium.

[mysteena.livejournal.com]

Pregnancy does seem to wreck havoc on our teeth. I've lost a tooth to, and I have another that *may* need a root canal. We'll cross that bridge when we come to it.

Ack. Dentists. Teeth. Too much to deal with.