Patience is not a virtue, at least when it comes to tooth decay.
That day, I was battling the recurring pain in my teeth for the umpteenth time.
I knew it; the cavity in my molar that I had been ignoring was getting worse.
However, I didn't want to spare the time to go to the dentist. There was no way I could book an appointment and have the treatment finished on the same day in this state. Based on my past experience, it would take a month and a half or two months of visiting every week or every other week to fully recover.
In the past, as a result of enduring it to the limit like that, my cavities had reached a miserable state that left the dentist dumbfounded. I wondered if it was the same situation this time, too.
At that moment, I must have clenched my teeth at the wrong time, because I heard a dull snapping sound and my tooth broke. When I took the tooth out, it had snapped cleanly from the root. Then, a sharp pain shot through my exposed gum.
Since it had come to this, I had no choice but to go to the dentist. Come to think of it, the dental clinic about five minutes from my house seemed to have changed management recently. My family had visited it last week and said it was very good, and when I searched for reviews online, there were many positive comments. I called immediately, and after they warned me, 'We prioritize those with appointments, so you may have to wait a little,' they managed to fit me in that same day.
The clinic's system for booking appointments and the flow of treatment were very systematic, with clear roles for the receptionist, dental hygienist, and dentist, so I didn't feel like I was waiting at all. After examining all my teeth with X-rays and carefully checking the inside of my mouth, it turned out there were other teeth with past dental work that were also concerning.
The doctor suggested, 'It will take time, but why don't we treat everything thoroughly while we're at it?' Of course, I gladly accepted the proposal. I never wanted to experience a tooth breaking from the root again.
By the way, he refers to cavities as 'Mr. Cavity.' I'm not sure why he adds the 'Mr.' honorific. He doesn't seem like the type to call them 'Mr. Cavity' either. The fact that he dared to say it that way was humorous, and I felt like the unpleasant sound and vibration of the drill were softened a little.
From then on, for about a year and a half, I went to the clinic every other week. I had the old silver crowns removed, the cavities underneath treated, and new crowns made. A total of about 10 teeth were treated. It cost a fair amount, but since I was able to have natural-colored crowns that matched my teeth covered by insurance, I'm happy that the color of my mouth looks natural now. They also neatly fixed the teeth that had developed gaps due to aging.
Before I knew it, the habit of my mouth twisting when I spoke had improved. Since a crush in my student days pointed out that my silver fillings would shine when I laughed, I had become self-conscious and stopped opening my mouth wide, so my mouth had been my biggest complex. Perhaps thanks to having my bite adjusted, symptoms like temporomandibular joint disorder also improved.
Actually, during the treatment, another illness was discovered. I thought it was a cavity because my head and teeth hurt, but it turned out to be sinusitis, and I had surgery for it. Although the dental treatment was interrupted during that time, I'm happy that, as a result, I was freed from the terrible headaches, which brought an even better outcome than the dental treatment alone.
Now, the dental treatment is finished, and I have my teeth checked once every three months. I receive guidance from the dental hygienist on how to brush using floss and interdental brushes, and they clean the areas I can't brush well on my own. With regular checkups, the time and cost are not much of a burden. I wish I had realized this sooner. No, perhaps I was only able to get this far because I met a dentist who explains things carefully and treats them thoroughly. I want to be grateful that I met them at this time.
Since I've developed the habit of protecting my dental health in my 50s, it's probably not too late. I've also heard that dental treatment helps prevent other diseases. Above all, I can be confident in my smile. I can also enjoy my meals. It's all good things.
From now on, I want to continue regular checkups and brushing with floss and interdental brushes for the sake of good teeth. And to those reading this now, enduring pain is not a virtue, so I recommend that you see a doctor immediately.
#ForGoodTeeth
