8-8-2024
Yesterday afternoon, while we were enjoying our lunch, consisting of white rice, a curry with shrimp and fried fish, I suddenly chewed on something hard. I was thinking, “Strange, there is a pebble in the food.” It turned out to be a chipped piece of a lower left molar. When this happens, you immediately start feeling with your tongue all the time. Soon I thought it might be best not to wait to go to the dentist until we were back in Deventer. We stopped by Geo Fernandez to ask for advice on which dentist we should visit. A suitable dentist was close by, so we decided to walk there right away.
The dentist determined that there was an old filling, and that repair was not an option. She recommended root canal treatment and a crown. That would cost 22,000 rupees, around 250 euros. I didn't have to think for long. I estimate the deductible at my dentist in the Netherlands is already higher. To begin with, an X-ray was taken. 10 minutes later I got a thick
anesthetic syringe in my mouth, the molar was drilled open and one root canal was cleaned bit by bit during 1.5 hours. That was a real torture. Afterwards, the hole was filled with a temporary filling. I could go home, and come back today.
I slept well last night, but the dentist had prescribed a good painkiller. This morning we taught another enthusiastic group of MBA students all about sustainability, the Planetary Boundaries, the Social Fundamentals and the circular economy.
In the afternoon, I had 1.5 hour long treatment. The other two root canals of the same molar were cleaned. X-rays were taken to check that all the root canals were clean. Finally, the molar was filled again. The day after tomorrow I have to come back, then the crown will be measured. Again three days later, the crown will be placed. As far as I can judge now, the quality of dental care here in Kerala is as good as that in Holland. Even before our return trip I will be up to parr again.
UPDATE 11-8: Yesterday I sat with my mouth wide open again for 1.5 hours. The molar was prepared for the crown and everything was scanned/measured in. I was given a temporary crown. This temporary crown is some kind of gummy paste that is pressed into the hole. I then had to bite down and the paste takes on the shape of the molar. The fray is then cut off. The paste hardens slowly and after about 10 minutes and a few bites and filing, you have a somewhat rubbery temporary crown. I'm not allowed to chew with it too hard, but I can eat and brush as usual. That crown will stay in place until Tuesday, when the final session will be and the final zirconium crown will come in.
UPDATE 13-8: Today my teeth were cleaned and polished and the final crown was placed. I now have my radiant smile back. Starting next week, any repairs on my teeth are the responsibility of my dentist in the Netherlands.
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