Today I had to venture to Cody for a dentist appointment. I hate going to the dentist. I really do. I stress about it, I get nervous, I hate shots, and I hate the humongous bill that follows.
Today's visit was a consultation visit to see about getting a tooth implant.
You see, when I was young, I developed a ginormous cavity resulting in the need for a root canal. At that time, my favorite movie was Little Shop of Horrors. You know, the movie about the giant plant that eats people. For those of you familiar with this movie, you may remember that Steve Martin's character was a dentist...a mean, mean dentist...and in the movie he gives someone (Bill Murray) a root canal...a L-O-N-G - - S-L-O-W root canal.
Just look how mean this dentist is:
No wonder I was so frightened about going to the dentist.
So, because of this, I begged my family not to make me get a root canal. And guess what? They didn't make me. And then guess what happened? I lost the tooth. And now...I wish they would have forced me...driven me right to the dentist and said "you're gettin' a root canal whether you like it or not."
So, now years later, I am trying to do something about this gap in the back of my mouth. Thus, the consultation visit today.
Things didn't start off well. After the hour and a half drive to Cody, I ended up sitting in the waiting room for over TWO HOURS. Finally, I see the doc and things only get worse. Before they can even do the implant, I have to get a bone graft. YUCK. Not just a simple routine bone graft either...a more advanced bone graft (due to the amount of bone that I've lost as a result of my tooth being gone) that has to be done in Billings, MT. They have to take a piece of bone from my hip and fuse it to the bone in my jaw. I know, scary (and kind of gross). Then, they can do the stupid tooth implant. How much is this going to cost me? Oh, just a measly $6000 buckaroos. Outrageous, I tell you. I would so much rather spend that kind of money on a different kind of implant (or two). I'm going to have one expensive smile when this is all done.
I was so incredibly bummed after my appointment. To help cheer me up, I ate lunch at Quiznos and bought me a Lady Antebellum CD to listen to on the drive home. It helped a little bit.
To help cheer me up more, I'm going to watch my most favorite scene ever from the Little Shop of Horrors. When I was a kid, I would watch this scene, then rewind it and watch it again, and sometime even rewind it and watch it a third time.
That was quite the kiss at the end there, wasn't it?
I say don't get the implant at all. Ugh, that's crazy! $6000!!
ReplyDeleteI totally feel for you Jen! I need two implants in my mouth too and it is so expensive! I don't know what to do either.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry Jen. That sounds unbelievably painful (physically and financially).
ReplyDeleteIs this something that HAS to be done, or just something you want done so you don't have a hole in the back of your mouth? That sounds more than miserable!
ReplyDeleteMan that totally sucks, I would way rather do the other type of implant to look more like Audrey :) I also, love this movie! Thanks for reminding me how great it is. I LOVE her voice.
ReplyDeleteGet all 3 implants, throw caution to the wind :)
ReplyDeleteGeez, that's expensive. I've had to get 2 root canals (I have bad teeth from not flossing when I was younger and I AGREE--I wish my mom would've forced me to floss every night) and it's costly! I have an expensive mouth full o' teeth, too!!
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