Latest dental saga...

I have never taken the time to write down the dental troubles I have had for a couple of reasons. One, it’s kinda really embarrassing. Two ,I have always thought it was all my fault. And three, it would just take too long! I now know that it was not my fault and I need to document lessons learned! This last experience was so traumatic it will be therapeutic to write about it.

First a little background: Every dentist I have ever been to has been in awe of my mouth and the amount of problems I have at my age. At a very young age I had too many cavities, I had 4 permanent teeth pulled to make room in my very small mouth for all my teeth, I’ve had retainers of all kind in my mouth, and 3 years of braces. I had my first implant when I was in High School. I got some crazy infection and had to lose a tooth.

During my pregnancy with Jacob I lost another tooth. Luckily it was in the back bottom corner of my mouth so no one could tell. We didn’t have the money at the time to do anything about it. Well with each pregnancy I have lost a tooth. Weird. Three kids, three teeth pulled…all in the same area.

When we moved up to D.C. we decided it was time to start doing something about my “RED-NECK” mouth. I started out two years ago at a periodontists, Dr. Zupnick. I asked for a quote on an implant and was ready to move forward. After studying my case Dr. Z told me his recommendation was to fix some major problems before doing something so permanent. Since then I have seen 4 difererent specialists: Dr. Farber, Orthodontis, Dr. Chmar, Periodontist/Prosthodontic EXPERT!, Dr. Tanenhause Endodontist, and Dr. Dzyak , Oral Surgeon.

I started out wearing orthodontic “buttons” and rubber bands for a couple of months. My bone wasn’t strong enough, or wide enough to support 3 implants so about 6 months ago I had to have a bone graft. OUCH!

And now we are up to date…

Friday was a day I have been looking forward to for 2 years!! We had come full circle and I was back at Dr. Z to put in the implants. Friday’s implant procedure was supposed to be a simple procedure. I called ahead to ask what the recovery would be like and if I needed anyone to drive me. Nope. I needed to eat before I came, plan on 2-3 hours and then I’d be fine to drive home and take care of my kids. HA!

My appointment was at 8am. When I showed up both Dr. Chmar and Dr. Z were there and ready to go. They were two excited old men!! It was an exciting day because I am a "special" case--my dental problems that is. Before numbing my mouth they took about 40 pictures of my mouth between their two cameras. Side note: Dr. Chmar, Dzyak , and Zupnick are renowned dentists in this area and teach/speak at conferences regularly. They have been using my case and Dr. Z had a conference he is speaking at next week in D.C. where he was planning to use my case.

I’m use to lots of digital pictures, xrays, moulds ect. But this morning I really wanted to just get this over with. After giving me 2 very painful shots I couldn’t feel my gums and they made the incision. Dr. Chmar made some comment about peeling it like a banana…really wish I hadn’t heard that! Then came more pictures. First Dr. Z needed to take out the screws that were left in from my bone graft. That is when the pain really began. Dr. Z was able to pull the first screw out easily however, I felt it!! YOWZERS! Dr. Z gave me another novacane shot, took more pictures and started in on the second screw. He couldn’t get it out. And I was NOT NUMB! My gums were numb in areas but my bone was not! I am not going to go into detail of how painful this was, how disgusting the smells were, the taste, the noises ect. It was just too much. I have never prayed so hard in my life! Ever! Not even in child birth! I wished Dan was at my side…someone at my side helping me. I began to cry, sob really. They stopped and gave me more shots. It didn’t work. They kept trying and it continued to be incredibly painful. Dr. Z was very determined to get the screw out and he really really wanted to do this procedure. He kept telling me he could see clearly where he needed to give me the shot and I that I shouldn't be feeling anything! He had given me all he could and yet I wasn’t numb. I was shaking uncontrollably at this point from what they told me was all the adrenaline that had been shot into my mouth. They discussed giving me valume to take the edge off but we still had a good 2 hours ahead of us. Dr. Z was pretty frustrated. He told me in all his years he has NEVER had a patient he couldn’t get numb. Dr. Z decided to abort and began to stitch me up.

The nerve by the bone graft was “hyper-sensitive” and wouldn’t go numb! I needed to be sedated. Dr. Chmar continually patted my leg and asked if I was okay. I hurt! Dr. Chmar called the oral surgeon to see if he could take me over right away and have him finish the procedure. THANK HEAVENS Dr. Dzyak said he would cancel everything he had that morning just for me! He told us to come right over! However, they were not going to be able to put me completely under since I had eaten a piece of toast and had some juice at 6am. Funny thing is I NEVER eat before any dentist appointments! not even to get my teeth cleaned because I am too nervous…I did this morning on dentist orders!

Since I was shaking so badly Dr. Chmar drove me in his car over to Dzyak’s office and stayed to help through the entire procedure. I called Dan and our babysitter on our drive over and told them things had changed. Dan was at Dr. Dzyak’s by the time I was done with the procedure and took me home. (He had to figure out how to get to the car I drove that was running out of metered time.)

So that is the long story. Recovery has not been bad. It was just a very traumatic morning! I am grateful to have the specialists I do who have worked so hard to fix the problems I continually have with my teeth. I cannot express how relieved I felt when Dr. Dzyak reassured me again and again that I would not feel a thing! Now we will have to wait and see if this nerve thing is permanent on that side of my mouth.

That night while Dan was getting Abby to bed Jake and Tess came in and sang me two songs to help me go to sleep; I love to see the temple and I am a child of God. Sweet kids!