April 2013
3 posts
Prepping for the permanent!
It’s now April 2013. My most recent visit was a “twofer”.
I was first scheduled to visit the ceramics lab that will make my permanent. (I’d made the same visit in 2009 when I was having other cosmetic work done.) Per the coloring of my teeth, the teeth around #7, and because the tooth is so visible, my visit to the lab means they can take their own photos and plan for the...
Temp time!
In March 2013 I was finally completely done with periodontist Dr. V and now under the care of only my cosmetic dentist, Dr. F. YEAH! I laid out my proposed timeline and as usual, she was happy to work with me in scheduling specific joint efforts on the same day so I would have fewer 2 hour round-trip drives to make.
In early March 2013 we had impressions made for my temporary crown. About a week...
The actual implant
Very sorry for the extended delay, but the setback from Aug. put me in a long-term bad mood about this entire topic.
After speaking with my cosmetic dentist (Dr. F.) and considering periodontist, Dr. V., already knew my mouth inside and out (literally), I decided to stick with him for the remainder of the procedure.
In early December 2012 I was back in his office, again completely sedated with...
August 2012
3 posts
#7 - My Breaking Point
The morning of Thursday, Aug. 9, 2012, I proceeded to Dr. V’s office for the insertion of the implant post - or so I thought. Per the sedations (Halcion & Versed), I was left with a memory blackout of 6 hours. I remember the traffic on 465 and then nothing until I awoke in BFF’s guest room at 3pm - and considering my memory - that is saying something.
I awoke to learn there was no...
#7 - Prepping for the actual implant
This week (Thurs., Aug. 9, 2012), I go in for my next procedure: the insertion of the actual implant post. After setting aside the flipper, an incision will be made and the implant post will be placed in my newly-grown jaw bone. Dr. V will then stitch it up for healing. I will go home for the same post-op as with the previous extraction and bone graft - icepacks, Vicodin, antibiotics, and Rx...
#7 - Extraction & bone graft
Ugh. It’s been 4 months since my first procedure. My lack of writing stems from not wanting to re-live this situation.
That Wednesday morning I took my two Halcion as directed. Remarkably, I didn’t really feel an effect, which is odd, since I’m usually sensitive to meds. The perio, Dr. V, asked if I wanted more meds. Duh - Yes Please! He gave me an injection of Versed and within...
April 2012
4 posts
(Un)Lucky #7 - Time to say goodbye
At my consultation with Dr. F, we confirmed the implant option and I made sure I’d get the same Dr. F “perfectionism” as I received with my cosmetic work. We walked through all of the steps and I was realizing the implant would like a number of procedures and much more time than I anticipated.
Dr. F made my referral to a periodontist she knows quite well, Dr. V. Luckily, Dr....
(Un)Lucky #7 - The Beginning
Soon after the start of 2012 I noticed a bump above #7, located where the gum connects to the lip. Actually, it looked very much like a pimple. It didn’t hurt, so I didn’t think much about it. Also, I never have gotten canker sores, so I definitely didn’t know what it was. Perhaps I’d gotten some salt under the gum that had annoyed it? So anyway I went about my life.
And...
Treatment Plan - The World of Cosmetic Dentistry
An individualized treatment was developed by Dr. F. (This was far better than the treatment plan from my prior dentist, Dr. A, who proposed 8 crowns for more than $7000!) My summer of 2009 was scheduled around these four post-root canal treatments.
July 8, 2009 - 4 hrs planned (over 5 hours in reality)
Two custom glazes (custom color for crowns)
#6 - resin filling (1 surface)
#7 - crown prep...
March 2012
12 posts
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Out of the Dark & Into the Light - The World of...
It was approximately 3 years ago I decided to investigate options to address the “darkening” of #7 & #10 post-root canal. I was regularly bothered by their color and made quite self-conscious about smiling.
At that time I had been living in my current city for 4 years, but still wasn’t completely happy with my dentist. Within those 4 years I was on my 4th dentist. My changes...
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Wisdom Teeth
It was August in late high school/early college that I was informed my wisdom teeth (all four) would have to be removed. Why? Instead of vertically breaking through the gum and appearing, it seems my wisdom teeth were horizontal and actually growing toward all of my other teeth. If they were not extracted, I would experience pain, as well as buckling of my teeth, which would definitely ruin all of...
Retainers
After having my braces removed, likely my first full set of impressions were made in order to create retainers. Having impressions made is kinda weird, it’s like biting straight into a container of Silly Putty or Play-Doh. Ewww. (The worst part is when they are overfilled to the point it makes you choke.)
Since I was still in high school and my back molars, as well as wisdom teeth, were...
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Braces
In junior high I, like a large number of American adolescents, was introduced to braces. I was actually excited. As an only child I was interested in anything to get attention. In preparation I’d undo and curve a metal paperclip and place it over my teeth.
At the time there were really no options on braces; if you had them, they were on the facial (front) side of the teeth and silver metal....
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“When I look in the mirror I see the girl I was when I was growing up, with...”
– Heather Locklear
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Welcome!
Greetings all! My name is Gayle and per my lifetime adventures with dental procedures I felt it might be therapeutic for me and helpful to others to create a blog about it.
In the coming weeks you can expect a lot of background, back story, and tales of previous adventures. Then I’ll get down to business with the current situation that will likely take months to tell (& heal).
As for...
