I don’t like dentists. I know that regular dental check-ups are important. I know that they are key to having a healthy mouth. But I don’t like them. I have a bad gag reflex and some really bad memories of having a cast made of my teeth when I was younger. So when we moved I never really bothered looking into getting signed up with a dentist. This was a bad idea…

So I had another trip to the dentist today that did not go well.

Just over a week ago, I managed to break one of my wisdom teeth. My wisdom teeth have always been a bit awkward - they don’t fit well and are at an awkward angle (this is important later). After chasing around for an emergency dentist appointment (if you have an NHS dentist, do anything they ask to stay on their books!) I was seen via 111 and given some antibiotics and told (paraphrased)

Yup, that tooth is fucked. It will need to come out but I can’t do it right now. Take these antibiotics and see your regular dentist

Unfortunately I didn’t have a dentist at the time and literally nobody in Colchester is accepting new adult NHS patients. I did however find a local dentist with really good reviews from both friends and online who took me on as a private patient. Thankfully on a plan that is only about 10-20% above NHS rates. While I was waiting for my initial check-up and assessment with them, my tooth deteriorated further (read literally fell apart in my mouth) and I had to update my initial assessment to a full on extraction - which brings us to today.

Today I went in and spent a lovely half hour having a nice man stabbing my gums with needles and yanking on teeth with pliers. But because of the way my tooth had grown and broken, he wasn’t able to extract it. So I have come away with another round of antibiotics and a hospital referral to have the tooth surgically removed.

And now my mouth hurts.