the dental nightmare

Please let me wake up tomorrow and have it be all over!

I had a bad root canal done about 4 years ago.  I immediately knew it was bad and started having trouble but no pain.  My dentist insisted it was fine.  I switched dentists and he said the constant infection had eaten away all the bone in the back of my jaw - not a good thing.  Before I could get back in, I started having major pain (most likely the cleaning opened the infection).  My dentist sent me to an endodontist but he couldn't get me in for a few days so I experienced quite a bit of pain.

Tuesday the endodontist started re-doing the bad root canal.  Opening and draining the infection just caused more pain but he'd given me a prescription for Lortab.  I took it and got really, really nauseous. 

Wednesday I was back to my dentist for what was supposed to be a routine filling and a possible extraction.  The extraction possibility turned into reality.  Unfortunately, one of the three roots refused to leave its place of existence.  After 3 hours, several bent instruments, and one chipped tooth the dentist gave up sending me home with sincere apologies, lots of gauze to soak up the blood, and an appointment with an oral surgeon for the next day.  Oh yeah - and more pain!  This time on the opposite side of my mouth.  Both sides are competing for the title of "most painful".

In a couple of hours I will see an oral surgeon to have that last root tip removed.

The nightmare doesn't really end there, though.  I still need to keep hoping the antibiotics clear up the infection, still have to have the root canal finished next week, still need a couple of cavities filled, and still have to have a dental implant done.

What fun! ('tis the season to be jolly)