Dentist, round 3?

Since my tooth became unbearable (it's really been bothering me since I was pregnant with Miranda!), and I had a root canal in April, the dentist finally got around to getting the crown going. Two weeks ago they drilled and drilled and dug another huge hole in my (THANKFULLY) numb tooth. They left a little filled stump there in my mouth that my tongue could NOT get used to. And, they said, "Don't chew on your left side".

Now, I'd gotten used to not drinking cold things on that side (three years of not being able to tolerate anything cold on a tooth is good for reinforcing habits), but NOT CHEW!??!

Maybe it's a blessing in disguise, because as they reminded me today, at my second of three appointments with the dentist (not including the initial evaluation followed a few pain-blurred days later by a visit to the endodontist for the root canal), the final crown won't be ready for three weeks.

Ummmm, I'm going to be in Utah in three weeks... can we speed that up? Well, it might be ready in two. I schedule the appointment, hoping the lab that they send the molds to that make the crown will do a perfect job shaping and forming the tooth, and that it will arrive in time for my appointment (two days before I leave for Utah) and I won't have to worry about a temporary crown.

A temporary crown that is as rough as sandpaper, that bulges into my buccal mucosa (or inside cheek), that is VERY tender right now (cuz they had to shoot the gums full of lidocaine so they could wrap a tight band around the still-inflammed (and bleeding!) gum to get a good impression mold for the final crown), that cracked three times while the assistant was trying to make the temporary. Not very reassuring that the assistant spent half the time talking (while trying to make the temporary) about how the temp crown falls out all the time, but don't worry, here's a little package of cement, and just squeeze some of that on the inside of the tooth and pop it right back in there... oh and if the cement leaks out around the tooth, don't worry, it'll flake off. And there's enough here in this packet to glue it in six times.

WHAT!??! I have to deal with THAT for possibly the next six weeks? AARGH! Although, in consideration, maybe it's better to deal with a temporary crown I can pop back on with some cement than to be in Utah and have something happen to a shoddily made permanent crown that cracks or breaks off.

Anyway, the last three weeks have been good training for not chewing on that side. I might just keep it that way for the next six. Maybe I could just not get the final crown... but I've paid for it (OUCH!) and this temporary crown is not very smooth, comfortable, etc. (see above complaints)

I really hate going to the dentist...

Sidenote: While at the dentist, I overheard a young women (apparently in her 20s) who called her mom practically in tears. She had fallen on the stairs while at work and completely cracked her front tooth- almost at the gumline! She said it was throbbing, and apparently the tooth was bleeding (so much for patient confidentiality- I got most of this information from the assistant making my temp crown). I understand the young woman was immediately referred to an endodontist and was to have a root canal that afternoon. Of course, I was jealous about the immediate referral (I had to wait FOUR DAYS in a pain-induced and drug-induced haze since I couldn't take ibuprofen since I was pregnant!), but sad that she had her front tooth to deal with. And, I could feel her pain (both literally and figuratively) over the cost, the TIME, and the cosmetic aspect. Poor lady!
I almost laughed when I heard her cry in anguish to her mom, "I hate the dentist!!!"
My sentiments, exactly.