My 'appliances' treatment will not commence until August, but I thought I might as well begin documenting my journey now, as it has already taken some unexpected turns. Mainly, in the direction of gum treatment and extractions.
Two of the orthos I visited during my discovery phase referred me to a perio, quoting gum recession and bone loss. I visited that perio this morning.
Nice, clean office. Quiet, sterile. I was greeted, initiated and primed by the most lovely young lady I'd met in a decade. After a brief, fifteen minute courtship and just as I was about to propose, the evil doctor came in. I could tell by the look on his face that his sole mission in life was to hand out bad news. With a smile. For a fee.
I'm quite disappointed that I still have only two eyes to see with. I should have grown at least a third one with all the X-Rays I've had taken over the past two months. More X-Rays at the perio today. Pretty neat ones this time, though - digitised. Zappedy zap and voila! The image is ready for staring at on the computer screen.
Not having any luck with a third eye, I began to extend hope for a few new mutant teeth from today's zapping session. My 'Hope' channel must need fine tuning, because the doctor went in exactly the opposite direction and suggested (more like ordered. with a smile. for a fee) that I get my remaining two wisdom teeth extracted as they are only serving to encourage my gum problems.
Pending a review of the estimate by my miserly insurance company, I am now to have two wisdom teeth extracted, followed by some deep, anesthetised gum cleaning, followed by gum surgery, followed by one or two root canals, as one root on one lower second molar is abscessed and its sister on the opposite side is apparently on her way to the same fate.
So, yay! What started off as a simple de-crookedification of a meek and tender beast's mug is quickly turning into a mega makeover. I wonder if I can work a new, sexy rump into the package...
So here then are the parts which I don't entirely understand.
1. The extractions. These were prescribed because apparently the gum recession is the most severe on my rear most teeth and the wisdom teeth supposedly do not allow for proper cleaning and only create deeper pockets for bacteria to collect in.
My question is, if the teeth are extracted, won't that in turn create even bigger pockets for food and bacteria to collect in? I know I'm seeing this wrong, but the way I look at it is the wisdom teeth fit snug against the adjacent molars and if they are removed, then those molars are left exposed to attack by food and bacteria. The doctor told me different, but I'm not convinced yet. Goats are stubborn, you know.
2. The gum surgery. The way it was explained to me, the gumline at those rear teeth with the worst recession is going to be lowered. This, as was explained, will decrease the depth of the pockets between the teeth and gums there and will help prevent bad stuff from collecting there.
My question is, if we're trying to repair recession, why are we doing so by recreating recession? Does one recession cancel the other one out?
If our knowledgeable posters could help me see the light here, I will forever like you... for the next three months. I promise.
For now, I am mentally exhausted from these surprises. And likely broke too.
I promise pictures later in the show, when the 'appliance' treatment begins.
