Life In Australia

I haven’t posted for a couple of days as I’ve been feeling under the weather after having a wisdom tooth removed on Tuesday. I also had root canal treatment for the second time on another tooth where I have a persistent abscess - the infection still hasn’t completely gone away despite three courses of antibiotics and two root canal treatments!

Strangely enough, I didn’t have any real indication that anything was wrong with this tooth. I just had a few twinges here and there which went away again, so I really didn’t think that anything could be seriously wrong. I mean, if you don’t have toothache, there can’t be anything wrong, can there? Well, that’s what I thought but I was obviously wrong and the pain I’ve had from the tooth since the abscess appeared has been much worse than toothache.

I had also been putting off having the wisdom tooth removed. I knew that it needed removing about two years ago, but I guess I was scared of having a tooth pulled (I’ve never had an extraction before) and I delayed going to the dentist for many reasons - moving across the world, pregnancy, looking after a baby, having a waiting period on our health insurance for major dental work and so on….But, do you know what, having the wisdom tooth out was not as bad as I’d expected. I wouldn’t go so far as to say that it was a pleasant experience, but it wasn’t too bad and I’m very glad that I did it and it’s all over. The wisdom tooth area now seems to be healing very well. My jaw still hurts, so it’s still painful to chew and I’m getting fed up with a diet of milkshakes and soup, so I’m hoping that I’ll be back on ‘real’ food soon.

I wish I could say the same for the abscess - it now appears to have flared up again and the area is painful and swollen. My dentist won’t give me any more antibiotics as I’ve already had three courses, so we just have to wait for my body to fight it. Actually, I’m fine with this as I don’t like taking antibiotics. I just hope that it doesn’t take too much longer for the infection to go away, as I’m so fed up with it!!!

If, like me, you have been putting off going to the dentist for whatever reason, please make an appointment today. I wish I’d gone sooner, as I know that the problem wouldn’t have been as severe.

Do you know what the best part of going to the dentist here was? I got to watch a DVD on a TV screen suspended from the ceiling. I wouldn’t say I exactly enjoyed the experience but it does help to have something to focus your mind on while the dentist is doing his work!