Moaners

[Heather]

So, I'm eating my lunch on a bench in town today and I'm really enjoying it (baked potato with Bolognese, melted cheese and a little bit of salad on the side). I was thinking about the two weeks holiday that we're taking from work next week and the week after and planning where I wanted to go, a trip to London, maybe Dublin, Paris or Rome, when suddenly I felt something snap in my mouth. I carry on eating and I realise there is a hard bit in my mouth. I find the hard bit, take it out of my mouth and put it into the tray only to realise it is a bit of bone and not just any bit of bone, it is a piece of tooth. I feel round my mouth with my tongue and sure enough a piece of my tooth has snapped off, fortunately at the back where nobody can see.

So now, my holiday is completely stuffed as I'm going to have to try and find a dentist to do some emergency surgery, hopefully I can find someone who will be able to do it on a Saturday but I very much doubt it. I'm not in pain, but the tooth feels very odd and I'm having to be careful what I eat just in case it happens again.

It's my own stupid fault for neglecting them for many years, last time I went to the dentist I was eighteen. I have had bad experiences with dentists which is the main reason for me not going for so long. I've had a bit of trouble with my teeth over the years but any pain has always gone off. The last week though, the tooth in question has been a bit sensitive on and off and now I know why, it must have had a crack in it.

I think it's time to get them sorted. I suppose it's more important than a holiday after all.

[Low D]

I'm sure you could find a dentist in London, Dublin, Paris or Rome able to work on your mouth on short notice. Medical vacations are all the rage these days, you'd be all modern and stuff.

Good luck, though. The Mrs. has been through her share of dental troubles in recent years, and i don't envy you the pain (although if there's none right now it means you don't have an exposed nerve, which is a very good thing).

[Heather]

I'm sure you could find a dentist in London, Dublin, Paris or Rome able to work on your mouth on short notice. Medical vacations are all the rage these days, you'd be all modern and stuff.

Good luck, though. The Mrs. has been through her share of dental troubles in recent years, and i don't envy you the pain (although if there's none right now it means you don't have an exposed nerve, which is a very good thing).

If I get it done in London (or any of the other places I mentioned) I'll have to go to a private dentist which will cost more than if I go to an NHS dentist so the latter is preferable.

It just feels very odd at the moment, the weird thing is the 25 year old (or more) filling is still in place. I suspect that is the next thing to go so I need to get it sorted quickly. A diet of soup and soft food (tonight it was Weight Watcher's Shepherd's Pie) is not ideal.

[Heather]

So, I'm eating my lunch on a bench in town today and I'm really enjoying it (baked potato with Bolognese, melted cheese and a little bit of salad on the side). I was thinking about the two weeks holiday that we're taking from work next week and the week after and planning where I wanted to go, a trip to London, maybe Dublin, Paris or Rome, when suddenly I felt something snap in my mouth. I carry on eating and I realise there is a hard bit in my mouth. I find the hard bit, take it out of my mouth and put it into the tray only to realise it is a bit of bone and not just any bit of bone, it is a piece of tooth. I feel round my mouth with my tongue and sure enough a piece of my tooth has snapped off, fortunately at the back where nobody can see.

So now, my holiday is completely stuffed as I'm going to have to try and find a dentist to do some emergency surgery, hopefully I can find someone who will be able to do it on a Saturday but I very much doubt it. I'm not in pain, but the tooth feels very odd and I'm having to be careful what I eat just in case it happens again.

It's my own stupid fault for neglecting them for many years, last time I went to the dentist I was eighteen. I have had bad experiences with dentists which is the main reason for me not going for so long. I've had a bit of trouble with my teeth over the years but any pain has always gone off. The last week though, the tooth in question has been a bit sensitive on and off and now I know why, it must have had a crack in it.

I think it's time to get them sorted. I suppose it's more important than a holiday after all.

I managed to find a dentist not far from where I live that is open Saturday morning's so I went down and spoke to the receptionist. She was very helpful, but they cannot see me as an emergency unless I'm registered. She gave me the number of NHS Direct and I asked for a form to get myself registered with them but even then I won't get an appointment for three weeks.

I called the NHS Direct number, they gave me another number for someone who may be able to help me in my local area. They were about as useful as a chocolate oven. Meanwhile, I've been recommended a cosmetic dentist in Liverpool by a Twitter friend. They may be able to book me in for a free consultation on Monday they're going to check their diary and get back to me.

[firehazard]

Much sympathy, Heather. I broke a tooth a few years ago on Christmas Eve, on a pizza crust. Survived through Christmas Day and Boxing Day on a diet of alcohol and analgesics (don't try this at home, kids), and finally rang the dentist's emergency line on the next day, which was a bank holiday. Lovely dentist agreed to see me if I could get to his surgery in half an hour, as long as I understood that all he was going to do was pull the whole thing out. Instant relief, though I've still got the gap there.

Next time I broke a tooth was on the first night of a holiday away, on a chip. That turned out to be far more complicated...

[Heather]

Much sympathy, Heather. I broke a tooth a few years ago on Christmas Eve, on a pizza crust. Survived through Christmas Day and Boxing Day on a diet of alcohol and analgesics (don't try this at home, kids), and finally rang the dentist's emergency line on the next day, which was a bank holiday. Lovely dentist agreed to see me if I could get to his surgery in half an hour, as long as I understood that all he was going to do was pull the whole thing out. Instant relief, though I've still got the gap there.

Next time I broke a tooth was on the first night of a holiday away, on a chip. That turned out to be far more complicated...

Thanks Firehazard. I have been speaking to a few other Medusans and it seems that they too are missing a few teeth. I think we should start a trend. The Shane MacGowan look.

It's looking likely that I'll get in with the cosmetic dentist I mentioned, if not it's a three day wait at Liverpool Dental Hospital.

[Sportin' Life]

I've been undergoing the painful procedures for gum problems of late. I always inform them of my general dislike of the dentistry profession and that I will be listening to my ipod for the duration of the procedure. They always accept and that allows me to check out. Needless to say I feel a bit buoyed by the songs that Shane sings.

[Frances]

Toss the little fucker over the side.

[Heather]

All week I have been in and out of the dentist, consultation Monday, x rays on Tuesday and today I had two appointments, one for hygiene and one for the build up to fit the crown that I need on my broken teeth (which gets fitted next Thursday just hours before we meet the Cadillac family for dinner in Liverpool). I am now in pain and the tooth in question feels weirder than before.

On the good side, I have discovered that my teeth aren't so bad for 25 years of neglect although I do have a broken tooth on the other side of my mouth and one of my wisdom teeth has a small hole in it, both of these aren't urgent and can be fixed at a later date. I also brush my teeth too hard and my gums are receding as a result.

My poor 80 year old mother, who has offered to pay for the treatment, is going to get a shock when she finds out how much it is going to cost her.

[Low D]

On the good side, I have discovered that my teeth aren't so bad for 25 years of neglect although I do have a broken tooth on the other side of my mouth and one of my wisdom teeth has a small hole in it, both of these aren't urgent and can be fixed at a later date. I also brush my teeth too hard and my gums are receding as a result.

You've probably already been told, but make sure you use a toothbrush with soft bristles. You would think that medium or hard would be better, and so you'd pick those ones... but you'd be wrong! Mrs. Me just had a "gum graft" last year, and our portion of it, after her medical plan paid most of it, was $600! For one tooth! She needs two more done, but that's all we could afford this year.

So yeah, look after those gums.

And another note, we're quite bitter about this concept of having universal health care, but not covering gums or teeth. Like, if her CHEEK had a problem, or the roof of her mouth, it would be covered. But gums? Nope, they're touching your teeth, they're extra. How the heck does that make any sense?

[Clash Cadillac]

I'm really missing Philip's presence here on the raft

[Heather]

I put my computer in for repair at a well known British PC store the weekend before last. They took it off me and said it would take about ten days. In the absence of a PC (I have been using my smartphone mainly and Jake has allowed me to loan his once a day), I have only managed to check on it a couple of times.

I went to check on it tonight to see if they're in the process of doing it or if it is ready to be returned to the store where I took it as it is supposed to be back there on Friday. They haven't even looked at it yet.

There is a message to say they have a query about my repair and can I call them on such and such a number and a certain amount per minute. They have my phone number why didn't they call me? I thought that was the whole idea of me leaving them my number. Not only that they haven't put down what times they are open so as I know what times I can call them.

I don't think I'll be using them again.

[lesh]

I'm really missing Philip's presence here on the raft

In that you are not alone.

[Frances]

In that you are not alone.

Precisely.

[Heather]

So, I have been suffering with a sore knee for three days, nothing serious that won't go away but it's still very painful. In the middle of last night, Jake coughs which wakes me up. I decide to get up and go to the toilet. I get out of bed and feeling slightly disorientated and I bang my sore knee on the bedside table. Ouch! Now it's going to last a little while longer.