The Inner Voice

Someday I will learn to listen to that little voice that says, "NO!"

Ala has made comments about having a bump on her lower jaw near her first molar, sometimes tender, sometimes not. Since this had been ongoing for several months, I called the dentist to have him take a look.

He diagnosed a fistula, and said we needed to do a root canal on her first molar. She went on antibiotics for a few days, and we made the appointment for the procedure.

At the appointment, La asked him to do a vitality test on the tooth in question. He did. It was inconclusive. He said to wait and watch.

A few weeks later, La said the spot was sore again. Called the dentist who made the appointment for the root canal. I'm not feeling warm fuzzies about all of this because: the tooth has never had a filling; there's been no trauma in the area; she's never had a toothache; the tooth is still vital.

Dr. Dentist said, "I'm confident that this tooth needs a root canal." I said, "This is illogical." He said, "We really need to get this done since it keeps bothering her."

Tuesday was the appointment. After four (count 'em: One, Two, Three, Four) injections of anesthetic in her jaw, she never got numb. Dr. Dentist said, "Let's see what we can get done." He started drilling, she winced in pain. He said, "You're going to have to see an endodontist. I can't do this since I can't get you numb." He put some filling material in the hole he made in her tooth, and away we went.

Today I took her to the endodontist. Dr. Endo did two separate tests on her teeth and announced, "She does not need a root canal." Dr. Endo said the bump is a little bony growth on her jaw. He said the tenderness may have been some soft tissue irritation, but the tooth is in good shape.

WTF!

I am royally put out with our dentist. I am angry with myself for allowing him to drill into a virgin tooth against my better judgement. I am furious that he would have destroyed a perfectly good tooth for no good reason. I think Alatariel has been the recipient of a little Divine intervention.

Root canals are the hysterectomies of the dental profession. Ka-Ching!