The Tooth, The Hole Tooth, And Nothing...

I went to the dentist on Wednesday. It was all a million times better than I could have hoped. I like it when there is something to distract me as I sit in the chair, and there was a poster above me on the ceiling. Where's Wally/Waldo? That was very good, but unfortunately I spotted him the instant I looked up! My new dentist and his nurse were friendly and put me at my ease. During the first-appointment-X-rays, I distracted myself making anagrams of the certificates on the wall. My dentist's name is very close to an anagram of Rogan Josh. I started thinking about curry! After the initial check round my mouth, and the X rays, the dentist wanted to discuss three things

The Tooth;  this is my partial denture, which fills in the gap on the lower left. I have plenty of teeth, but when I refer to my tooth it is the false one I am talking about. How long have you had that? since my last baby tooth came out, when I was about 32, and I had one for about 17 years, and then it suddenly cracked. This is my second one - so I suspect it may be need replacing soon. I mentioned that I used a daily dab of Polygrip because my gums have shrunk a little. The dentist was amazed- "we haven't made them like that [on a metal base] for years. They have much more comfortable flexible plastic frames now. But we don't need to change it until it breaks" [Brownie points for not telling me it needed to be changed asap]

The Hole Tooth; The one where the filling came out two years ago, where I was expecting a crown. He looked at the 'temporary' filling and said "I cannot believe you kept this in for two whole years, we reckon on a few weeks at the most"

I said I had only chewed on the right side of my mouth, and avoided flossing the left upper jaw in case I dislodged it. He was of the opinion that I could have a proper permanent filling, and certainly did not need the huge expense of a crown. He said as I had no pain, there was clearly no infection in there. He could see me towards the end of February. "I'm sure you can manage to keep it in place for another 6 weeks, if you have managed two years!" Then he apologised that as it was a bigger filling, it would cost a little more. 

And Nothing; on the right upper jaw, I have a gap. "Why is there nothing filling this gap?" I said it has been there many years. I had to have a tooth out, and at that time I was not in a position [even under the NHS] to pay for a false one.

He said I could have a partial denture [new style] and that would give me a complete smile. Furthermore, I was clearly ok with my lower 'partial' so he was confident I'd quickly adapt. He quoted me the price. I was quite taken aback. "When I do the filling, we will make an appointment to get that sorted, if you want to go ahead"

The total cost of initial visit, the extra X ray of the Hole Tooth, the cost of the new filling, and a full clean plus the partial denture to fill the void...all that came to less than half the price I had been quoted elsewhere for a crown fitted privately.

On the way out, I made my next appointment for filling & cleaning. "Oh, we have just had a cancellation for Feb 2nd- can you come then?" said the receptionist [just 3 weeks to wait] She said that since they opened last July they had been inundated with patients and everyone was really happy with the two partners. They'd wanted to offer NHS services, but couldn't get a contract [it seems that the government doesn't want any new NHS practices, just private ones] As I walked back to my car, I stopped and bought a £1 pot of narcissus bulbs from a table in the front garden next door to the practice. The lady was outside and she said how lovely the dentist was "I'd not been for 25 years and he fixed my teeth so I can smile now"

All the little birds flew from my Etsy shop, and I can happily finance the treatment. After this long, long wait, it is all going to be sorted out promptly, and at a fair price. Thank you everybody who has sent me words of encouragement and support, or bought a bird. I cannot stop smiling whenever I think about it....Well, hallelujah, and isn't God good?