Sunday, June 01, 2008

a rock and a hard place

My jaw has been hurting for a week now. Half my mouth is close to useless as every bite hurts like hell. My teeth -yes, teeth- burn with pain, especially while I'm eating.

I went to our neighborhood dentist for a check-up. I don't have a problem with tooth decay, although some of my teeth are in need of a little fixing. No cavities in the problem area too. So what's the problem?

Wisdom teeth.

The little buggers are pushing hard against all my other teeth, causing me a lot of pain and grief.

The dentist gave me two options: one, I have the wisdom teeth removed through surgery, or two, I let them be and just keep taking pain medications.

Surgery costs about 5000 pesos, and I have to sit through it while I'm wide awake. At least after having my gums cut open I get to eat normally again. After a few days of excruciating pain, that is.

Not doing anything save for taking mefenamic acid now and then seems a more attractive option, as it precludes having a scalpel anywhere near my mouth. However, I risk getting liver problems from all the drugs, not to mention further exacerbating the problem with my teeth.

I love my life.

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