A Young Wife’s Tale

My jaw hurts. Worse than it has hurt in over a year. I had a filling replaced. It was only two years old. I guess clenching and grinding your teeth wears fillings out pretty fast.

I set up the appointment one week ago, on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. I had a little trouble with my voicemail over the holiday, but I didn’t worry about it, since it was a holiday. Today, I got my voicemail working again, and I had multiple messages from the dental office trying to confirm my appointment. The last message said that they were canceling my appointment since I hadn’t confirmed.

TMJ Disorder is a very broad diagnosis. Dr. Bender has actually diagnosed me more specifically with a sleep disorder and facial pain and some other medical jargon that I can’t remember now. For more information about TMJ Disorder, check out The TMJ Association website.With our current health insurance, we do not get to select our own dentist. The new dentist actually asked me, “Why do you think you have TMJ Disorder?” After I explained my situation to him, he tried to sell me orthodonics to correct my open bite and “infantile swallow” which he said would cure me. I explained that I’ve had two sets of braces, a bite guard, multiple retainers and a recent consultation with an orthodonist who confirmed that it was not in fact anything orthodonically causing my TMJ Disorder.I’ve noticed recently that it’s becoming harder and harder to whistle. It’s not such a horrible thing. I don’t need to whistle. It’s just an example of how my jaw and mouth isn’t working properly. Also, I’ve been having trouble enunciating the past week or so. I’m sure it’s just because David has been in such bad shape and I’m stressed. I just don’t want anyone to think I’m slurring my words ’cause I’m drunk.

***Warning. Do not read this post if you need to have your wisdom teeth pulled!***

My surgery was scheduled for five o’clock in the afternoon. I wasn’t allowed to eat anything after mid-night the night before. I now know how ridiculous that is. Ten or twelve hours fasting would have been plenty. The surgery was performed in my regular dentist’s office.

As I walked back with the oral surgeon I asked him, “How do you become an oral surgeon? Do you become a dentist and then go to medical school?” His reply, “Well, I’m not actually an oral surgeon. I’m a dentist that specializes in extracting wisdom teeth.”

That’s right. He wasn’t an oral surgeon. He was going to knock me out, and he hadn’t even gone to medical school. Don’t worry, it gets worse.

I seem to get food poisoning at least once a year. I have a very serious problem with TMJ Disorder. I was sick for six weeks after I had my wisdom teeth pulled. More about that later.

Right now let’s talking about playing games in swimming pools. Never let your child close their eyes and walk around in the pool. It’s not safe. This is what will happen.

Are you ready?

It’s pretty graphic.

I’m warning you.