OK....here's my dentist update for anyone who cares!

After nearly 2 hours on the dental chair and at least 7 shots of novocaine, I still experienced pain. The dentist called in his associate and I received yet ANOTHER shot of novocaine...and still pain when the dentist blasted it with air. The conclusion was that I must have an odd bone structure at the area of this tooth and therefore the numbing would not get through to the nerve. Though, thankfully, all around the tooth was quite numb!!

My dentist's recommendation was that I go to a specialist who would be able to reach the BONE with novocaine, a procedure that is not done in my dentist's office. Added to the $1500.00 for the pending root canal AND the price of a crown on top of that, would be another $300.00 for services for the specialist! Anyone guess what my next question was???? You guessed it!!! I asked the dentist, "What about PULLING THE TOOTH"??

Obviously, that was not a scenario that my dentist wanted to do, but he realized that my finances can only go so far. I refuse to become deeply indebted with bills that I can not keep up with and that would quickly get over my head. Because I knew I would already be needing a temporary partial for a few other missing lower teeth, I opted to have the molar (today's problem) pulled and simply added to the lower partial. And.....did you know this? That when you get a partial...it doesn't matter HOW MANY teeth are included in it, the price is the same! So...I will soon become the proud (?) owner of a few FAKE lower teeth!

What is someone to do? You know? My dental insurance ran out in May and I don't see any type of good dental insurance in my future, unless I give up the job I really enjoy and go back to the work force where I would no longer be self-employed..so I was forced to make a choice today. It may not have been the optimum choice of many people, but finding myself in the pinch (literally!) that I was in today...I decided that I will simply have to adjust to life with a few fake teeth!

I must say, through the entire, 2 1/2 hour ordeal, God faithfully kept me calm and at ease. As I got up from the dental chair, I said to the dentist, "God is good, and so were you"! :) (He liked that!)

My employer ended up taking the kids to the beach this afternoon to meet a friend and she INSISTED I go home to recouperate! How nice! I finished up a few tasks while the kids were all away and by 4:45 pm I left for home. The evening has been quiet and I just finished my supper....a little cup of pudding!

Has anyone else ever had a tooth pulled on the dentist's chair? I'm getting pretty good at it and am always AMAZED how really simple and quick the procedure is! (And THAT is coming from a major 'dental-phobic')

Well, here's hoping we all sleep well tonight and have a blessed and PAIN-FREE Saturday!