I just got back from the pharmacy after my appointment with the endodontist. When I got there for the root canal, the technician took a 3 D image of that part of my mouth. The x-ray at my regular dentist wasn't 3 D. When the endodonist came in and looked at the 3 D image, she said that BOTH of my two front teeth needed root canals. Good grief! She recommended I get both done at the same time. I asked if there would be some price reduction getting both done on the same day, and they looked into it and reduced the price by $150 only. But that is better than no reduction. The price at the endodontist was $2900 total with the reduction. That doesn't include what I paid my regular dentist this morning, and what I'll need to pay him in January for him to put the "final" fillings in the holes in my two teeth.

The root canals were actually not that bad. Really, I've disliked simple dental cleanings even more. However, the Novocaine (or whatever she shot me with) is wearing off. I'm experiencing some major soreness right now. She prescribed antibiotics to take for a number of days. I've already taken the first dose. I also took some Tylenol for the soreness. I'm not supposed to chew anything much using my front teeth until the final fillings for the holes are in. That's sometime after January 4.

The likely cause of my need for root canals is years of clenching and grinding my teeth. Both my dentist said that, and the endodontist, too. The endodontist said that my two front teeth are so worn down for a person my age. She said I should really get the stupid mouth guard. This is of course maybe the fifth or sixth time that has been suggested. I mentioned to her, like to the others, that my problem is no so much clenching/grinding at night as doing so during the day because of stress, likely related to my mental illness.