Rant #1,650: Pulled Into Submission

Heaven knows I have had a lot of dental problems over the last 10 years or so.

In fact, I am having one as we speak.

I broke a tooth on Sunday afternoon as I ate a soft pretzel.

Somehow, I bit down, and a divot was taken out of my tooth.

I went to the dentist yesterday morning from work, and he has to do a procedure on me, and I will have to take off from work on Tuesday of next week, so I am already telling you that there will be no column a week from today on Tuesday.

But whatever the case, even though I am in some discomfort as I wait for my tooth to be repaired, it is nothing like the discomfort an Indiana man is going through.

This poor guy was rushed to the hospital after a five-hour dental procedure that he did not know was going to happen.

He had come to the doctor to have four teeth removed, but the dentist, after supposed close inspection of his situation, decided, for whatever reason, to pull all of the man's teeth, supposedly to stem the threat of infection.

The procedure was done so well that the man was covered in blood and was in such a state that he had to be rushed to the hospital, where he is recovering.

But he needs an oxygen mask to breath, is subject to blood clots, and yes, he and his wife have secured an attorney.

The dentist says the extreme procedure was a necessary one, and points to the man's signature on consent forms to justify his decision to pull all of his teeth.

I don't know, but it seems to me that like they say with Lay's Potato Chips, you can't eat just one; here with this dentist from hell, once one tooth is pulled, you can't pull just one.

Happily, I don't have this dentist from hell, and I do have a competent dentist to fix my teeth, but I have to wonder why this is happening to me as I get older?

I think the key is that I am getting older, and my teeth are aging with me. And my mouth appears to be breaking down, falling apart, and not keeping up with the times.

I do brush them at least twice a day, I also rinse them with a mouthwash, but they still break down on me.

I am at my wits end about this, because not only are they breaking down, but they are breaking down my wallet, too, because even with dental insurance, these procedures cost big bucks, and I have to borrow from Peter to pay Paul to pay for all of this.

It really has become ridiculous, but what can I do about it?

Not much, just keep doing what I am doing, and hope that my teeth hold up.

Right now, my mouth is full of crowns, root canals and numerous fillings, and it is really taking a bite out of my money and my sense of well being.

And that's the tooth.

(I know, but I could not resist.)