The Agony of the "Da Teeth"

For the last couple of weeks, I spent a good deal of time watching the Olympic Trials with my mother and daughter.  Throughout the coverage we were treated to quite a few "fluff" segments (which I enjoy) that give insight into just how hard these athletes work to become the best at their sport.  I dare say 100% of them have, at some time or another, had to work through discomfort, pain, or injury.  It must be so hard to put in years of sacrifice and pain to know that there is a very real chance one might fail at achieving the ultimate goal of representing one's country at the Olympics.  At the Trials, some people realized their dream, but others did not.  Of course, most people seem to be good sports about it, congratulating the winner, but still, I'm sure many of them are experiencing what we have come to know as "the agony of defeat."

Two weeks ago, I went through my own brief suffering at the hands of my long-time, skilled dentist.  I had to have a rather large back molar filling replaced.  I've had a lot of dental work done over the past 40-ish years, and never have I experienced pain during the novocaine shots.  This time, it was like an electric shock ran through my entire tongue and it felt like he was stabbing it at the same time.  I got a few other shots, but they didn't seem so terrible.  I knew that in the end, the moments of discomfort would be worth it.  The filling replacement went fine.  I thought that was it.  Boy, was I wrong.

By end of the next day, I developed a facial bruise to the left side of my chin and it hurt.  I also couldn't open my mouth much at all.  The TMJ (jaw hinge) on that side of my mouth wouldn't permit me to open it much wider than one "finger width."  I had to put food in my mouth through an opening the size of a coin slot.

A week later, I went back to the dentist to show him what was happening.  The tooth felt fine... a little sensitive, but nothing unusual after a filling... but I still could only open my mouth about the width of two fingers (and only if I put them in my mouth and twisted my hand to make it open wider).  He told me to continue taking ibuprofen (anti-inflammatory), use hot compresses & ice, massage, and stretch the TMJ.  I left, figuring that all would be well in another week or so.

During the second week, I noticed I was needing to take ibuprofen a little more frequently to stay comfortable.  On the two-week "anniversary" of my dental work, I went to see my GP to rule out the possibility of an ear infection (ears are fine) and to get her thoughts on why I couldn't open my mouth normally yet.  She said there's probably a hematoma in there that just needs to heal, and to keep up the anti-flammatory medication, heat, ice, and stretching.  She called in a prescription for Ketolorac, which is a bit stronger than ibuprofen.

I left the doctor's office and stopped to pick up some sushi.  When I got home and tried to eat, suddenly I had horrible pain in the filled tooth.  I couldn't even touch it with my finger.  What the heck?  By bedtime, the pain was excruciating, throbbing all the time and sharp/stabbing if anything even brushed the top of the tooth.  I figured I needed to go back to the dentist ASAP.

I got a tiny bit of sleep and at 7:40 AM, went in to the dentist.  My mouth wouldn't open wide enough for the X-ray cheek contraption, so I had to hold the film in place with my finger.  It turns out I need a root canal.  He sent me off with a prescription for Penicillin and Hydrocodone (if I need it).  Hopefully the antibiotic will take care of the infection and thus, the worst of the pain.  We will see.  The root canal won't be until the 27th, but it probably couldn't be sooner anyway, considering I still can't open my mouth very wide.  

I am trying to think of the Olympic athletes and all the pain they endure.  Even after the agony of defeat or serious injury, many continue to train, so they can stay on top of their game and be a world class contender.  Surely I can deal with my agony of "da teeth."  Millions of other people do.

All this means I haven't practiced piano since Day 5 of learning Liszt's Forest Murmurs.  I may try to practice a little tonight if I'm feeling fairly decent.  I might now delay my next recording until I have 5 hours of practice since I'm sure I'll need a little extra time to remember what I learned on Wednesday.

I hope everyone is well.  Take care of your teeth.  Tell your younger loved ones to brush twice a day and floss once, even if they don't like doing it!  May they all have the Teeth of Champions!