It seems my no shows at the dentist finally paid off. I got a hole in one of the back molars which got a bit infected. Not only that, I need to have all four wisdom teeth removed

During the last couple of days in St. Louis I had a bitch of a tooth ache on the upper left. I knew there was a hole there, but the pain did not originate from that. It came from the back of the mouth. After a night full of Ibuprofen (gotta love it!) the pain was gone, but now had started on the right side of the mouth. Top and Bottom. So Mark and Jackie decided it was time for a little dentist visit because I was on the verge literally being sick from the pain.

Now, anyone who knows me, knows that I am almost deadly afraid of going to the dentist (not so much the people, but more the profession). I was so afraid and so shaking that Jackie had to fill out the rest of the stupid form. I got as far as my name and address I was staying at.

Then one of the assistants took me to one of the rooms (and I had asked Jackie to come with) and sat me down and asked me what was wrong. First I told her nothing because the other painkillers I took were finally kicking in, but before that it hurt like a bitch. She thought it would be best do to an X-ray of the side that was hurting now. She explained everything she was going to do and that was oddly calming my nerves, for 1%.

She showed the outcome to the attending Dentist and came back saying that there was a hole, but also a wisdom tooth putting pressure against it. Since the pain had also been on my left side they decided to do a full X-ray of all my teeth. And sure enough. I had a big hole on the right, the last molar on that side and a wisdom tooth that was pressing against it. Not to mention the other three wisdom teeth decided to play peek-a-boo as well.

He gave me two options for the hole in tooth problem. Take it out or undergo a root canal. I immediately opted for ‘take it out’ but he said ‘no no’. Apparently it is better to do the root canal then to just take it out.

End Decision: Root Canal on the tooth with the hole and have all four wisdom teeth extracted.

Gee, great, thanks for that.

First the dentist might be best to do the root canal the next day because there might be pressure problems on the plain which would have me doubling over in pain. In the end we decided not to ruin the rest of the vacation and that the pressure wouldn’t be bad since I had been flying with the damn tooth anyway).

The dentist prescribed me painkillers (Hydrocodone aka Vicodin 500mg) and an antibiotic (Penicillin VK 500mg) and gently ordered me to contact a dentist as soon as we got home.

I did… have an appointment this Thursday at 10:45. Am I scared to death. Oh yeah. Does it still need to be done. Oh yeah.

But let me tell ya. Vicodin and that Penicillin, Yowza that is some good stuff. First time I took it I got nauseated, but that’s just a side effect. After that stuff really started to kick in, I’d be ready for a nap. That stuff makes you so sleepy, but it works oh so good.

I have to say that the people from O’Fallon Dental Care were just the nicest. They made me feel so at ease I was even able to somewhat joke around. Their office is very clean, the people are super nice and super calming. If anyone needs a dentist in America and near the O’Fallon area, go there.

So this was just a tiny part of my America trip. I will type up some more stuff this weekend if I am not too tired. Just had my antibiotic pill. Am sleepy again.