So I’m A Jack-o-Lantern Now – Perfect Timing
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I hate dentists. I’m one of those adults who had a butcher for a dentist as a kid and I’ve not been able to get over it. I do what I have to – wisdom teeth out, bridge in because of missing adult tooth, etc., but I don’t do routine checkups. Yes, I brush with an electric toothbrush and floss obsessively (3-4 times a day), so I have no plaque, but I know I should go for checkups, I just haven’t.
Last night I enjoyed some soft vegetarian licorice and was shocked when a crown came out. Oops! I went to the dentist today and it turns out that I’m lucky it doesn’t hurt, as I broke the tooth off and it didn’t previously have a root canal. And my obsessive flossing helped the tooth fall out – I was sawing instead of going up and down. Silly me, I thought keeping the little bit of real tooth that was showing underneath the crown clean I was doing something good, in fact, I actually had damaged the tooth.
So, I learned an expensive lesson – floss up and down only and get regular checkups. He would have caught what I was doing and it would have required a $700 new crown. Instead, I have to choose between a bridge and an implant. My cost with insurance? $3000. 
Add to that that I’ll be without the tooth for about 3 months total. Thankfully, it’s on the side, but you can be sure I won’t be taking any family photos for a few months.
Oh, and the last time I was there? FIVE years ago. I swear it was just yesterday. The one silver lining? My costume is set for Halloween. Call me Connie-Jack-O-Lantern.
Now I just have to decided – implant or bridge. Any suggestions?
