The Root of the Problem

So the tooth that started it all – the one that needed the root canal procedure all the way back on Sept 4, 2009… For those of you who don’t know, that root canal procedure led to a severe heart episode that eventually led to my diagnosis with IST. I had symptoms of IST before the tooth problem, but they were very mild by comparison and had been brushed off by myself and doctors alike as asthma and respiratory infections. But even though the tooth didn’t really cause my IST, it is very much the cause of my diagnosis and the current worsening of my symptoms.

It is, in my mind at least, the root of all my problems. I was supposed to have the permanent crown placed this coming week, but it turns out that the crack runs deeper than expected and the tooth is still pretty painful with the temporary crown in place. Which means a permanent crown won’t make things better. The tooth has got to go.

So basically, this one tooth has cost me over $2,000 for the original root canal. $460 for my portion of the initial work on the crown. My good health. My career. My volunteer work. My ability to drive a car. And on my current meds, the reliability of my memory and my ability to concentrate. Now it’ll cost me several hundred dollars for the extraction, and another ~$800 for a replacement tooth implant. And that’s with pretty good dental insurance.

Despite all that, I’m sort of looking forward to having it over with. Wish me luck.