The story of dental transformation begins here.
At least the results were good... Right? No. The crown was a 2 millimeters longer than my other tooth. It was also several shades (like 10) darker than the remainder of my tooth. Yes, it WAS like bi-color corn. Oh, but not to worry the dead tooth would age and decay to match the crown.
Having never had my teeth cleaned before it shouldn't have surprised that major reconstruction would not convince anyone that proper dental care is necessary. I didn't see a dentist again until I was 15. I made the appointment, and paid for it. The appointment and bill were for a cleaning but the dentist only did an assessment. I didn't know the difference having never had my teeth cleaned and there were no YouTube to show me what to expect.
News from that dental visit, it is not possible (as in responsible or billable to insurance)for a permanent crown to be placed until the patient was at least 18 years of age and the teeth are fully grown. When at 19, I needed my wisdom teeth removed I asked about the crown. No, my teeth weren't fully grown yet.
Fast forward to age 23. The injured tooth is now darker and a millimeter shorter than my healthy front tooth. I am getting married and after years of having my smile be a source of conversation, ridicule and frustration I finally have insurance and a job. Off to the dentist I go. First real dental cleaning. Good news: No cavities. Bad news: I need a second root canal done by a specialist, possibly more work but definitely a specialist. There may be a major infection that could kill me suddenly. Surgery was too risky. Rounds of antibiotics... That was the course of action recommended by the newly minted dentist. It would take months and thousands of dollars beyond my insurance. Every penny I had was going towards the wedding, my tooth would have to wait. It was barely noticeable in photographs, I justified.
Marriage changes you in unexpected ways. Dental independence and responsibility, which I retained for a full 11 months, was a thing of the past. I didn't go back to panic inducing neophyte dentist. Instead I had babies. Four of them in less than 6 years. You can't have major dental work done while pregnant. Having four children and no dental insurance means no dentist. My gold tooth, as strangers referred to it, didn't hurt so it was left alone.
Finally twenty-four years after the accident, great dental insurance and my husband found a dentist that he liked. The tooth is now closer to the color of field corn, more brown than yellow. We took four children to get their teeth cleaned and had X-rays. Everyone except for me. I was pregnant again, with twins. Examination led the dentist to believe I needed several thousands dollars in restoration, before x-rays. Would I need a second root canal on that tooth? Was there an infection? Couldn't tell. I miscarried the twins and it was another year before we visited yet another dentist.
Twenty-five years passed, I was excited, instead of anxious about the dentist appointment. We had prepared financially with a medical expense account to cover the reconstruction and we really liked this dentist. I had a cleaning with x-rays. Found two cavities. One was visible in the my smile and one in a molar somewhere. Not bad for being 35!
Now about that restoration... Do I have an infection heading into my sinus cavities (source of many nightmare)? Will I need a second root canal? A specialist? Would the natural tooth be healthy enough or would an implant and several months be needed to complete treatment?
I waited anxiously for the x-rays to show the answers to all these questions and many more. The remainder of the tooth healed surprisingly well. There was no infection and no sign of bone loss due to infection. A good candidate for a crown! The process could be completed in the office. Scheduled at me convenience.
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