Visit to the Dentist
A little storm in my otherwise tranquil existence.
A worrying realisation that I needed a dentist – my last visit being pre-Covid – so four or five years ago. So, I suppose I’m lucky to have got away with it for so long.
my main issue – a molar right at the rear of my bottom set – turned out to probably be a wisdom tooth – which had appeared to be leaning in – almost horizontal, with pressure from top set – so no bite on the right side and increasingly uncomfortable.
Bit the bullet – no choice really – tried the last dentist my wife and I used, which we knew where very professional, and had received some literature that they were open for business. Checked their website and up and running.
They were still in Bolton – I now live near Bury – but only 10 – 15 minutes in a taxi.
Rang them – they still had my records and got a consultation booked for the following week.
Got there the following Tuesday -same dentist and mostly same staff. private of course – first appointment – £75
First of what will be – two appointments – so first – a dental health check -don’t like the power hose clean and scraping – but basically a ‘clean bill -‘ for my age’ – he felt obliged to add!
small aside – Talking to the taxi driver on the way – he had found an NHS dentist willing to take him on – which is increasingly different – after three months he got a letter saying that -‘as he had not attended for three months – he had been removed from their panel.
He rang to say he had not needed a visit – they just said he had to find another dentist.
Second appointment – got me in the day after – for an extraction of the molar – no alternative – well, maybe a £2,000 implant.
So I am back next day – now Wednesday –
First a small filling on the front of top set – I am brushing too hard! no drilling so- no problem.
Then the extraction – I won’t bore you with the details – but wisdom teeth have deep roots – but at least, he didn’t put both feet on my shoulders.
As write this – it is early afternoon, Thursday 24th – and it stopped bleeding about an hour ago – after a mouth full of absorbent gauze for 30 minutes – twice.
Anyway – all is well – no pain now and no blood and I can eat properly – and signed up to monthly plan including two Dental Health reviews per year and discounts for treatments – and still got, nearly all my teeth.
It’s all progress.