If there was ever any advice I never expected to vigorously shove in people’s face, it would be the advice to brush your teeth twice daily. Please and please, never let Laziness get in the way of your oral hygiene, as the consequences might be dire.
Now is a good time to establish the fact that Medical doctors (physicians) who tend to the “whole body” are quite different from Dentists, who could also be referred to as “doctors of the mouth.”
Yes, Dentists hold doctoral degrees and therefore are considered “doctors”. But they generally do not tend to anything which isn’t remotely tooth related.
There are however, some types of dental specialists like oral surgeons who undergo extensive and rigid training and are regarded as “dental physicians”
Just like Dentists, Medical doctors (physicians) who tend to the body holistically, also know close to nothing about the management of tooth related morbidities. My dear, if you ask me what I learnt from Med school about the tooth, illd probably tell you, it was to brush my teeth twice daily and avoid sugary foods to prevent cavities. I mean that’s all o. I know not, matters concerning the tooth.
When you say this to an average person in my country, they would think you are messing with them or joking, however it is the absolute truth. Though we had shared classes together in our first and second years at the university, we went our separate ways immediately we approached 400 level. They went ahead to dental school while we continued with Medicine.
Now, why all this talk?
It is so you understand my plight when I narrate how this tooth extraction nightmare commenced.
Story time
About 18 months prior to my tooth extraction, I had noticed a cavity in one of my premolars, and another in my molar at the opposite side. You would logically ask……….how come it got to the cavity level?
Well, I had been too careless with my oral health and didn’t go for regular dental checks. However, following the development of cavities, I tried to do better. I got fillings in both cavities, and all seemed well. That was until my premolar started to show signs of something being wrong. I am talking occasional pain (though mild), and sensitivity.
Now to be on the safe side, I decided to check in with the free dental clinic ; the one which had been generously provided by my work place. The dentist I met on duty that day was a nice and cool headed guy. I realized we had both finished from the same institution years back though we were graduates from two different sets.
He took a look at my premolar, and almost dismissed my worries as nothing, until he had an X ray done. The xray came with an unpleasant revelation. My filling had failed and I had an infection at the pulp level which had to be treated urgently. The Dentist called the procedure to be done a root canal. Word I had gotten about the procedure said it was everything scary and more. I cried and I ‘crewd’.
I tried to evade the procedure, knowing fully well as a medic that I needed to sort it out. Somehow, I had a false sense of faith that the infection would magically disappear with oral antibiotics. Well I was wrong, the infection got worse. I eventually got referred for the root canal procedure by the dentist I met at the staff dental clinic. I was informed, that this root canal procedure is an expensive one that could not be done at the staff clinic.
As frightened as I was, I showed up for the root canal. Yes , it was uncomfortable and unpleasant, but I took it in good faith. I even got a permanent crown on said tooth after being advised to get one.
Immediately after the procedure, I made a resolution to do better with my oral health ; that resolution fizzled out once again.
Months after the root canal proceedure, the nightmare started to play out. Something wasn’t right with that premolar. It was sore, and my lymph nodes were enlarged. I felt really sick. This was during the festive season by the way. I knew there was a problem but still remained hopeful.
With a heavy heart, I paid a visit to another dental clinic. I had heard so much about this particular one online. On getting there, I narrated my ordeal to the first dentist I met. She told me there was most likely nothing to worry about. Unfortunately, this was a false sense of relief.
You see that dental xray ehn! It has the potential to change your seemingly good news/ hope to something else. Lo and behold, my root canal had failed. And this time, an extraction of said tooth was proposed. Retreatment just wasn’t an option as it was most likely to fail.
The extraction process
I hope you remember that I already got a crown for this tooth? My mindset at the time was……. “na only me waka come ni?” As per why me? Why did my filling, and now root canal fail?
In life though, things happen beyond our control, and all we can do is trust God to help us sort them out. I got booked for the extraction at a very exorbitant, out of pocket price and this was during the festive season!
It was a horrific experience. Long and short of the story, my tooth to be extracted broke during the extraction, leaving behind a tiny fraction. I panicked. The dentist and nurse had weird facial expressions, these expressions told a glaring story that something wasn’t right. Although, that tiny tooth fraction was eventually removed, it was a world of torture and pulling. I was told that it broke because my tooth was now fragile and also because I had initially gotten a crown for said tooth.
Oh, I forgot to mention, this proceedure was done under anesthesia, so I really wasn’t feeling the pain at the time. I only had an unpleasant heavy feel in my mouth. This is not to go without saying that I felt the intense pull from the dentist.
Fast forward to hours after my extraction, the pain began to set in. It was something I couldn’t really explain, even while on pain meds. I wasn’t able to eat anything solid for a few days, and had to do a super annoying and tedious salt and warm water rinse before and after every meal of the day…. I did this about 6-8 times a day.
Thankfully, all is well now, but my oral care and hygiene have changed tremendously!
I can never be caught sleeping without first brushing my teeth anymore. I have also stopped indulging in late night chocolates, sweets and other liable culprits.
In conclusion guys, please take your oral health very seriously. Brush your teeth twice daily, and set up a dental appointment at least twice a year (every 6 months). And oh, I forgot, remember to floss as well. It would save you from a world of tooth ache and regrets. Ciao .
