Extract!

Cherry

By Rhiannonw

Thu, 11 Jul 2024
  • 584 reads
15 comments
 

Little (molar) tooth so ragged,
broken now just small and jagged:
need to take out what remains,
anaesthetising likely pains,
but the roots are odd and strong
and they want to stay, belong
in the gum which they have gripped
long before the tooth got chipped
so badly,
Dentist struggles on and on, patient
(patient patient too)
pushing, pulling, heaving
for no bits must he be leaving.
Then at last the gum releases –
now displayed are odd-shaped pieces.
He and mouth and I can rest,
loss of these was for the best.
Not the pleasantest adventure
– wait addition to my denture!

Certificate U
Poem
Families
Autobiography

Comments

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Ouch! That sounds so painful. I'm so sorry to hear of your ordeal. Your description reminds me of when I had an abscess, and the dentist had to pull a back tooth out, it took two injections to release it, but this was back in the early 1970s, they wouldn't do that anymore.

I do hope you recover soon and feel better.

Take care Rhiannon.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thank you, Jenny. It hasn't been too bad since anyway. In the past I've had easier extractions, but trouble afterwards. I think I mishandled how to look after things afterwards possibly. You do always have to have injections I think. Our dentist used to see me very regularly, but when he (and another since I think), retired, they haven't been able to replace and those on their lists could only have emergency treatmet. They have just employed a private dentist and I decided I'd better have a proper check up after 3 years or so. And the needs proved quite extensive. He actually said aboiut these extractions that at my age he expected it to be easy, but they proved harder than with a 20 year old I think! awkward roots. The teeth had been cracking up, but the roots seemed strong! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by airyfairy on

Thank you for this Rhiannon - I have been having exactly the same experience! Like you, I couldn't get access to an NHS dentist for a while and when I finally went to a private one recommended to me, I needed a lot of work doing. Extractions, fillings, a new version of the partial plate I've had to wear since a road accident decades ago. Just coming up to the end of it all now. Lots of sympathy and fellow-feeling for you!

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thank you, and good to be able to sympathise! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thank you for the cherries to ease the discomfort! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

Rhiannon, that sounds horrible! Remember you writing about tooth trouble in Covid, too. Though your poem is fun to read and makes light of what must have been a very grim experience, really glad you are pain free now!

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thank you, Di. Yes, it seems to be settling down quite well thank you. It wasn't too bad I suppose but was a bit difficult, and longer than he or I expected! I do have other type of pain problems, but at least that one is over now. Just a couple more fillings and fitting the altered denture in about a fortnight! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

Ouch! You made me wince sympathetically just reading it. No NHS dentists here at all - not in the whole county, and beyond. It's an absolutely horrible state of affairs!

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thank you! It is a bit frutsrating that those on the one or two remaining dentists in the practice who are still NHS have the normal checkups ets, while the rest of us can only have emergency treatment. I don't thinkwe valued it well when things were better! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Turlough on

I'm really sorry to hear about your dental ordeal but pleased that you weren't so traumatised that you were unable to write your poem about it.

For future reference a bottle of rough whiskey, a piece of string and a door handle is a much swifter method... not that I'd ever agree to going that way myself.

Well done Rhiannon, for the extraction and the description of.

Turlough

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thanks. Though from the small jagged bits that were left 'above gound' and the difficulties he had in loosening the awkwardly shaped roots, I don't think string could have been attached to the remants, nor the door-slam extraction work! I'm glad I didn't try''! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by marandina on

"..but the roots are odd and strong
and they want to stay, belong.."

One of my least favourite things - visiting the dentist.

You have my sympathies and hopefully you are on the mend and fully recovered, Rhiannon. Yes, affordable dental care is a huge issue these days with so few offering NHS services. You...erm...extracted a lovely poem from your ordeal (sorry about the pun)

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thank you, Paul. Yes, I don't think we appreciated the dental services we used to have. No-one's favourite visit! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Tom Brown on

You have all my sympathy too Rhiannon what you descrbe is spot on, had one extracted friday it's nightmare. I think he must have forgot of the local anaesthetic. Not nice At All.

Youth beware, enjoy your days before the pain and of suffering of age. They say it's the gold and silver years, your hair goes silver and your teeth gold. The days of spectacles and pills.

"pushing, pulling, heaving" tell you what, well as luck has it I won't ever have to produce a baby.

See You! Tom

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Well, I suppose suffering can come at any age, Tom, but our bodies do grow weaker in various ways. I don't think I have any gold showing in my mouth, though I think some may have been used for the inside post of a full crown once! I think far back  fillings are grey, and more forward ones, like the teeth on a denture are made to match how off-white the nearby teeth are! Labour of birth is certainly a difficult time, though usually forgotten if it goes well and brings the joy of a well newborn. Rhiannon