My mouth bump hasn’t gone away. After seeing my dentist about it the first time, he told me to come back if it didn’t heal. I waited a week, it didn’t get better, and I went back to him. He wasn’t sure what it was, so he sent me to a periodontist. Do you know what a periodontist is? An oral surgeon. *jibblie* *jibblie*
Here’s his office:
The periodontist said my gum is swollen because it’s being irritated by my bottom tooth when I close my mouth. Why it hasn’t happened before now, he didn’t know. How I could make it go away, he seemed only to be guessing. (He didn’t really inspire confidence in me.)
He said there were two treatments: an injection of antibiotic, or surgery. I’ve already been taking antibiotics, so he said all that was left was to cut away the swollen gum. Then he proceeded to detail the surgery while I got more and more concerned. He would kind of cut behind all my top teeth and lift the flap of skin and cut out any puffiness, and sew the flap back down. *jibblie* *jibblie*
He led me to the reception area, where they looked at my insurance. The insurance company has to approve the procedure. The reception desk woman said it would take two or three weeks. The periodontist didn’t blink an eye. He said good-bye, and went on to another patient.
So I’m supposed to stay like this for two or three weeks? I don’t like that. He said if I could stop irritating the gum, it would get better. Here’s my plan:
Liquid diet for the next three days. (No chewing, no irritation.)
Take ibuprofen.
Continue taking antibiotics.
Swish with warm salt water.
Avoid surgery if at all possible.
Consider breaking another molar. (New crowns always alter the way my mouth closes.)
Consider filing down the tooth that rubs against the puffy gum. (Maybe my dentist will do this for me.)
Try not to have nightmares about oral surgery.
File down that tooth.
Take sleeping pills so these next weeks will just fly by.
Take up drinking.
Drink heavily.
Oh, this is so sad. 🙁 I will pray that the swelling goes down and there will be no more irritation. In the meantime, I will mail you a Dremel.
Well, you know what I always say… If you’re going to have surgery, you might as well have something bionic put in there while you’re already opened up.
I like the way your mind works, sir. Why waste a perfectly good invasive procedure, eh?
This is unarguably (undeniably?) lousy. Your plan of attack seems comprehensive, though, and I should hope our insurance company would validate your efforts to avoid surgery at all costs (to them) should you indeed actually and eventually still need some.
You failed to list this option, however:
Irritate the heck out of some professional fighter until all your teeth are knocked out by him.
That should remove any irritations from lower teeth you no longer have, no?
Yikes! And so sorry!
1. So did the puffiness start because of the other tooth or is the other tooth just preventing it from healing because it’s irritating it?
2. I’d call your insurance company yourself & see if they will cover the cost. They should be able to tell you right away. I can’t imagine that they wouldn’t cover it.
3. And I’d get a 2nd opinion if you can. Either another dentist or oral surgeon. I always liked the Mitcherling brothers. They’re oral surgeons & they’re twins. I can guarantee you you wouldn’t have to wait 3 weeks. Tell them how long you’ve been in pain. They have an office right there on Northern Pkwy.
4. Do you know if you’re a teeth grinder? Maybe at night you’re grinding, irritating the lump. Could you sleep if you wore a mouth guard?
5. I’m not trying to be bossy, I’ve just had alot of dental experience.
6. I like making lists.
7. EXCELLENT title of post!
If you can, I would get a 2nd opinion.
1. No one knows how this started. And I have doubts about this periodontist’s idea that it’s simple tooth-on-gum irritation, but I’m willing to go with it.
2. I don’t want to do the surgery. It scares me. I’m glad I have to wait.
3. I’m going to go back to my dentist and ask what he thinks. I trust him. I think surgeons just naturally want to do surgery. My regular dentist may just grind my tooth down. He doesn’t work on Fridays or weekends though, so I have to wait until Monday. By then, I should know if it’s irritation beacuse I will have not eaten anything solid for three days.
4. I don’t think I grind my teeth at night, but I do think I suck on them.
5. I appreciate the opinions. That’s part of the reason I posted about it.
6. If it’s lots of questions, I like lists too… It’s easier to respond.
7. Thank you. I thought about it a lot before deciding on that one.
Oops. I guess I didn’t read closely enough. I thought the surgery was a sure deal. Never mind. (but if it doesn’t go away…..)
Serious suggestion: would a mouthguard at night help any? You know, like hockey players wear? Just wondering…