I waited ALMOST the full FOUR MONTHS to get in at quarter to 8 in the morning to see one of only 3 periodontists in our whole area. A week before the appt in Dec, I injured my arm and KNEW I wouldn't be able to work for quite some time. I cancelled the apt, I couldn't afford it (or whatever grandly expensive procedures he was going to come up with)
I just struggled along on my own.....my stress level was OFF the charts, both from being injured and in pain every day for months (fierce tendonitis in my right arm) being VERY cold (farmhouse with only a woodstove that I wasn't getting on with very well) and faltering job possibilities from the injury, my DISTANCE from everything with gas prices soaring, and winter weather even here. I have since moved, too.
Lots of excuses, eh?
My four lower front teeth became more and more and more loose. Frighteningly so. I was beginning to eat more slowly and carefully for having banged a very loose lower on one of my uppers more than once and just seeing STARS from the pain and horror. Because I was no longer USING those front teeth (I'd use my right canines to bite things) those teeth kept GROWING and would, at times, hit the roof of my mouth. I was becoming truly miserable.
It got so unbearable, I was so dreading eating at all, that I finally went to a denture place for a free consult. I was HORRIFIED at the entire concept. Completely and utterly HORRIFIED.
That was Wednesday. They explained they could extract the teeth and put in a temporary (3 month) flexible bridge IMMEDIATELY and they helped arrange a 5-year payment plan at 12% interest. The next day I went in for impressions (with TERRORS that pulling out the putty would also pull out the teeth, that's how LOOSE they'd become).
Today I had the teeth OUT.
DOING it was nowhere near as horrifying as imagining it. It literally took less than one minute to pop them all out. (fussing with the Novocaine took lots longer) I honestly felt relief. I did NOT have the bridge put in immediately as they need TWO days to create the bridge from the impressions and we have a weekend going here. I COULD have had the impressions done on Wednesday, but I had an Herb Class to teach on Thursday and my horror at losing a tooth in the impressions had me postponing. Then schedules were jammed for them and the only way we could get this project GOING was to do the impressions on Thursday anyway. So I have the weekend (and a dance class to give) WITHOUT them.
But that feels right. I need to get USED to me.
This is what, Break and EXIT?......a sub-step of six?
Zillions of folks have bridges and dentures and I'm not aware of who they are, so it must be DOABLE. I realize that this may seem like a very NON WISE WOMAN approach. But as Susun points out in the Six Steps of Healing, you give each step a logical amount of time before you go on to the next one. These teeth were just too far gone. This chapter is part of my story. (as is a hysterectomy 11 years ago when I could no longer manage life-threatening hemorrhages from massive fibroids)
Wise Woman Ways kicked right in for healing from the extractions. Arnica beads IN WATER and administered with a dropper - made a HUGE difference in the trauma of it all. St J's OIL rubbed on the outside of my face to calm the nerves. Comfrey decoction/syrup by the spoonful to heal the gums, and a new way to use Slippery Elm -- just touching the dry powder to any sore spot (like on the tongue). It's quite amazing. It stays put and the relief is nearly instant.
There are lots of theories as to WHY these teeth gave out. One dentist noted that SOME folks have salivary glands that just squirt acid right onto the backs of THESE teeth and the calculus build-up is just ENDLESS. I read that the severe anemia I suffered before the hysterectomy can contribute to such things as I'm sure many years of an inflammatory disease like Lyme disease did too. Yeah, LOTS of excuses and NOT getting a proper, professional cleaning every six months.
Then there's genetics.
One of the best parts of this was moaning to my 85 year old aunt about all this and having her laugh and say that my Great Grandmother used to pop her false teeth out all the time. I asked her if it was funny, or HORRIFYING and she reached back all those years and said it was HILARIOUS. She'd do it just to make the grandkids laugh. Guess I have something to live up to.
I do feel SO much better. This dentist said that with the teeth goes the infection. What the gums and bones are doing is a RESPONSE to the infection that lives ON the teeth. Now I feel like I can take care of the rest of my teeth better. My jaw was also getting all out of line trying to keep the too-tall teeth from hitting my upper teeth and the roof of my mouth. My head feels more balanced with my jaw straight.
So take care of your teeth, people! This was not the most fun I've had on a Friday and I'm going to be in debt for a good, long time, but it was the right choice for me right now.
LadyB
keepin' her mouth CLOSED this weekend
as a varia in your diet ... Smoothies? 
