Toothy McTooth
 

I think I mentioned that a couple of months ago I cracked one of my molars, knocked off a few corners or something. Anyway I stopped by my dentist on the way to OH. As luck would have it, he's also a really good friend. He ground off the broken porcelain overlay and set a temp crown. On the return trip from OH he'll put the for real one on. Yeah for awesome dentist friends!

Good move, some of my worst experiences were being far from home and having a dental crisis. One was having a finished root canal blow up on a plane heading for a 12 week assignment in Oregon. Even swearing didn't help much.;)

I once broke a crown lose while working in Ca. Eating jerky and doing takilya shots.
After trying to get it glued back and the bull shit, They wanted to x-ray to see why it came off. See above jerky. I put it in a snuff can and waited till I got home. $ 35 bucks.

I've been favoring the other side but you don't realize how much you chew on a side until you can't.

You people and your luxury dentistry. 4 broken teeth and one missing, partly due to our old dentist friend and partly due to refusing over a certain amount of charity.

Just arrived in DC for a 5-day Board Review course and I've lost a big filling and cracked the molar. Painful enough that sleep is unlikely. I had pain all day today in clinic and felt like carp and clearly this is why. Luckily I have my traveling stash of a few days' antibiotics in case of cellulitis in my bad arm, so have started that - but what I wouldn't give tonight for some pain relief. :(

Five days here in class 10 hours/day with an exposed dentine nerve. Good times.

No wonder you feel like carp. Probably one thats been caught and hit over the head with a blunt object. ;)

Holy hell. That's worse than a week of the yellow shitstorms.

Robert Tigani, if you can find time to schedule an appointment

Luke 4:23 :lol:

In addition to the OTC drug of choice for dental pain, Ibuprofen, pick up some OTC 20% Benzocaine gel in tubes as an adjunct during waking hours. Apply some Ambesol (or generic equivalent), a little dab will do ya, as recommended if these aren't contraindicated for you. Use clove oil in a pinch; but, watch the toxicity.

Sorry for your pain. If I was there I'd help as I can do temporary fillings. I travel with Zinc Oxide & Eugenol in my first aid kit, something you might consider for future travel.

:D

Thank you very much, glatt and sexobon. I'll see if I can get an emergency appointment while here, but this weekend will pick up the Anbesol etc.

And yes, I'll put Zinc oxide and eugenol in my travel pack in future. I had no idea they were so inexpensive and useful in this way ... have to get one of my son's friends (a dental student) to give me a lesson in making temporary fillings.

ortho - they sell emergency dental kits at pharmacies, wal-greens, walmart, etc. for only a few dollars.

the best solution is to get a big hammer or a brick. hold it in your hand. then smash your big toe as hard as you can. it magically makes the toothache disappear

Hahaha owwww ... think I'll try the Anbesol first. And the emergency kit. I wonder if those have zinc oxide and eugenol?

yes. a real solution is to score some cocaine and put in your tooth. then super glue is used to seal it.

Somehow I suspect that would get me fired. Not cool for the MRO to have benzoylecgonine showing up.

Just tell 'em you drank the water.

Lots and lots of water.

Also, Re:benzoylecgonine;

Stop making me learn stuff.

But now you know what's (possibly) in the water. Just think what you could do with that at parties.

I don't drink water because fish fuck in it.

Toothache/jaw ache is worse, and facial pain/headache have joined the party.

Appointment with Robert Tigani at 0800 tomorrow. Thank you, glatt!!!

Glad you got an appointment. The whole family has been going to him forever. He doesn't push unnecessary work. But does a good job when you need work done. Much better than the other few dentists I tried years ago.

I hope he brings you relief!

Coincidentally, Mr. Clod is having a root canal on Thursday. Anyone know whether this involves enough anesthesia that he'll need a ride?

I'd say it depends on Mr. Clod and on what the dentist is comfortable doing in the office in the way of sedation. If heavy sedation is available, he'll need a ride. Maybe a call tomorrow to check on what to expect?

I've never looked forward so much to having needles stuck into my gums. If Dr. Tigani has nitrous oxide, I'll take that too. The whole right side of my face and jaw is one wave of pain after another. Not expecting to sleep tonight, and tomorrow's lectures are a loss. I just hope to be functional by Thursday, because the clinic is double-booked. :(

eta - just tried some eugenol on a cotton pledget with some relief. Down to something bearable. Yes!!

Clod,

The procedure requires only parenteral anesthesia. Local infiltration for maxillary teeth, mandibular block for all mandibular teeth on the side of the injection (possibly just a long buccal block if it's the molar area). These won't impair his ability to drive.

If he opts for general anesthesia; or, sedation - he should have a ride. Some dentists won't begin the procedure unless he acknowledges that it's been arranged.

I've administered the aforementioned nerve blocks and local infiltration and I've been the recipient of them, all without sedation. My first day in dental rotation during clinicals I performed 17 simple extractions while my supervising dentist was in another treatment room bifurcating molars. (I'm not qualified to drill).

True story: During a subsequent annual dental sustainment training period, I was assisting my supervising dentist in a four hand procedure when from the next treatment room I heard WHACKA ... WHACKA ... WHACKA! I looked at the dentist and he said That's the dentist from Jordan who's unit is here training with us. He went to dental school in the US and knows how to drill; but, he doesn't have drills back home so he's using a mallet and chisel. He said he doesn't want his troops to get used to the drills.

I keep a dental mallet and chisel (along with various tooth forceps, periosteal elevators, excavators ... etc.) in my field dental kit to this day. We don't need no stinkin' drills. :D

It'll be painful enough he'll need a ride. [/three root canal girl]

Of course, my dental history could fill a book. So maybe it won't be so bad for him. Hope all goes well!

Had eight root canals and drove home every time. Only totaled three cars. :haha:

New crown Wednesday, king for a day.

It's not often I see a field dental instrument kit like mine come on the market (Link); but sure enough, there's one on eBay for another 6 days or until it sells - whichever comes first. It's listed as "used" because it's surplus; however, it's described as being in like new condition. It costs twice as much as mine did new back in the day but what can you do ... you might see it on the market only once a decade.

It's designed to be readily transportable. The upper tray holds probes, scalers, excavators and even a spatula for mixing temporary filling material. The base tray holds maxillary and mandibular universal forceps, periosteal elevator, mirror handle and a couple of detachable mirrors. I adjusted my own kit to include a different style elevator and a dental aspirating syringe with extra harpoon (Link).

Get it while it's there to be got:

Attachment 49156
Attachment 49157
Attachment 49158

ETA: The clips on the inside walls of the base tray will hold scalpel handles and the compartment with the mirrors will hold blades. I don't recall if the scalpels came with mine or if I added them. The mirror handle is seen between the forceps.