Thursday, February 5, 2009

The Getting of Wisdom

Someone please hand me a rusk.

I've always been bad at teething. Swollen glands and the whole bit. I feel sorry for small children because they have no way of telling anyone about their feelings, so they just need to get fretful, chew on anything that comes to hand (or mouth) and drool in a manner reminiscent of a St Bernard.

You'll be glad to know that I've chosen not to drool, but would quite like to chew if I had anything chewy in the house. (Who thought that Operation Skinny Cow was a good idea? Not a Minty in sight!)

Once or twice a year my wisdom teeth decide that they really ought to do something about making an appearance. They've been grumbling on and off since I was about 16. They decided that today was a good day. I was sitting here trying to work out why I had a headache (when I've actually been wearing my glasses for a change) then realised that it is actually the grinding push of all my teeth trying to make a little more room at the back.

Not having had my psyche scarred for life by orthodonture I don't panic about the fact that my teeth are a tiny little bit more concertinaed than they used to be. But I'm not keen on pain.

If you're about to comment that I could get the wretched things removed and not have the pain ever again I think you're forgetting that the removal would cause HUGE pain. Well worth avoiding by putting up with this grind a couple of times a year. The whole fact that my dentist told me that if they hadn't come through by the time I was 25 might mean that they'd need to come out has driven me from his hallowed halls ever since.

Okay, that and the fact that he retired.

And the fact that he used to charge about $20 for a check-up, and I think it might cost a little more than that these days.

And the fact that in town here it takes about 6 months to get an appointment if you have a regular dentist. Obviously making an appointment now is a bit of a waste - my teeth won't be sore in another 6 months!

Having said that, I do see a dentist regularly. One comes to my church most weeks.

So for the purposes of discussions with any local dental practitioners, how much pain are my teeth giving me?

... Approximately None... Really.

8 comments:

Hippomanic Jen said...

Oh, bother! I just remembered that my Mum reads my Blog. Now I'm going to HAVE to go to the dentist.

Givinya De Elba said...

Well Done Jen!

Swift Jan said...

HAHA thats funny Jen, you WILL have to go now!
I was going to say that you sound like my husband. He needs his out. SOON,the dentist told him asap. That was about 3 or so months ago. He is still putting it off. (and we now have enough money to do it so he cant use that excuse anymore!)

Jen said...

Teething suck! Or at least that is my take on it from how the babies act.

Anonymous said...

I've had all my wisdoms out now, I was panicking over the last one, thinking it would hurt, but it didnt... just a bit uncomfortable while healing the gum... six months is a long wait!

Anonymous said...

I'm with you Jen - have been avoiding the issue of my wisdom teeth ever since Uni. Even found a dentist who said if they weren't causing problems we wouldn't worry about them. Unfortunately, today I had the other dentist in the practice who was horrified that they are still in existence & has written the referral to the oral surgeon! My husband now also knows so I think that I'm going to have to face my fears (although the dentist said that it wasn't urgent....). Dani

Hippomanic Jen said...

Not urgent - like in the next 20 years or so?

Allegro ma non troppo said...

My dentist pushed me into removing all 4 when one of them was giving me a tiny bit of trouble. I did not enjoy the surgery experience at all.

And the scars on my gums sometimes get itchy and sore just like the teeth used to, so am I better off?

He didn't even keep them in a jar like I asked him to. Scumbag dentist.