I was down in the mouth for most of the year 2020’s pandemic.
A crown on my lower back molar dislodged during the summer. When COVID protocols allowed medical offices to reopen, my first stop in September was for a cleaning and consult from my dentist of more than 20 years.
Dr. Monsoon (not his actual name) recommended we keep an eye on the tooth, since it was cracked and at risk for further damage. He added that I should speak to the receptionist about scheduling a followup in the near-future. I missed the subtlety of the wording “near-future” and headed out the door with a wave to the desk staff.
Mid-December, I bit into something hard and half the cracked molar split off. There was no blast of sudden pain – just the sharpness of exposed new edges of enamel and a twinge of discomfort as cold air rushed through my mouth when I sucked in a breath.
By sheer stupid luck, it was 4:30 pm on a Friday afternoon. The dental practice was still open, and I made an emergency appointment for early Saturday morning. I found a small plastic baggie and stored the partial molar next to my keys, so I wouldn’t misplace or forget to bring it with me.
I didn’t expect to sleep well, from both the sensitivity and a cut in my tongue, a result of moving it laterally to check the new space. However my dental guard helped prevent…
