Here's another story of Logan's pain and suffering to make your day a happier one...
SHINE DENTAL CLINIC
After getting to see the look of complete surprise on my face when a tooth fell out, I decided a trip the next day to the dentist was in order. Putting off anything to do with your teeth has always seemed stupid to me. As anyone who has read much of this blog knows, going to the dentist is never a good experience for me and is usually filled with pain - but it's still the smart play.
Nino is a Georgian girl who works here at the hostel. When she came in, I requested she call the Shine Dental Clinic for me. This is the same dental clinic that the third employee of Friends Hostel, Brigid had been to and recommended.
Nino booked an appointment for that very morning and Brigid gave me foolproof directions to get to the dental office.
Shine turned out to be reassuringly clean and staffed by three women dentists and one man whose job it was to operate the x-ray machine.
The only strange thing to happen was that the man had me hold the card in my mouth with my finger while they took an x-ray of the tooth. He also didn't leave the room for it. I've been told they have directed x-ray machines which don't spread radiation all over but this is Georgia.
I'm thinking he doesn't want children.
One of the dentists worked on me while the other mostly watched and translated into decent English questions and such.
They gave me a choice between simply pulling the tooth or attempting to put the part that fell out back into my head. Their facial expressions told me they weren't at all confident about being able to get it back in nor how long it would last.
This was the same tooth they had attempted to fix back in Cambodia. I figured that the tooth really didn't want to 'play ball' and get along with the rest of my mouth so I opted for the option to just yank it.
The procedure took over a half an hour.
Even with the shots they put into my gums to deaden the pain it was remarkably painful. They used my other teeth to try to apply leverage and it often ended up with my lips between the unyielding teeth and the metal tools.
Teeth have three roots. I found this out because each one ended coming out separately and painfully. Various clamps and drills alternated for what felt like a month.
They didn't cheer when they got each root out but did have a mixture of elation and relief every time.
The dentist told me it wasn't the most difficult tooth extraction she'd ever had but it was in the top ten.
This came as no surprise. Nothing with me ever goes easily.
After they had finished removing the tooth and I'd spit up a lot of blood they told me they felt removing it was the better option.
I'm glad they didn't say they should have left it in.
Yes, I realize that you can get implants but not at that dentist. I'm also not sure what sort of quality they have here in Georgia. Dentistry seems a bit...basic here.
COSTS
Getting a tooth pulled, 40 GEL (for the lazy ones out there, that's about 25 USD).
One X-ray, 5 GEL.
SHINE DENTAL CLINIC
After getting to see the look of complete surprise on my face when a tooth fell out, I decided a trip the next day to the dentist was in order. Putting off anything to do with your teeth has always seemed stupid to me. As anyone who has read much of this blog knows, going to the dentist is never a good experience for me and is usually filled with pain - but it's still the smart play.
Nino is a Georgian girl who works here at the hostel. When she came in, I requested she call the Shine Dental Clinic for me. This is the same dental clinic that the third employee of Friends Hostel, Brigid had been to and recommended.
Nino booked an appointment for that very morning and Brigid gave me foolproof directions to get to the dental office.
Shine turned out to be reassuringly clean and staffed by three women dentists and one man whose job it was to operate the x-ray machine.
The only strange thing to happen was that the man had me hold the card in my mouth with my finger while they took an x-ray of the tooth. He also didn't leave the room for it. I've been told they have directed x-ray machines which don't spread radiation all over but this is Georgia.
I'm thinking he doesn't want children.
One of the dentists worked on me while the other mostly watched and translated into decent English questions and such.
They gave me a choice between simply pulling the tooth or attempting to put the part that fell out back into my head. Their facial expressions told me they weren't at all confident about being able to get it back in nor how long it would last.
This was the same tooth they had attempted to fix back in Cambodia. I figured that the tooth really didn't want to 'play ball' and get along with the rest of my mouth so I opted for the option to just yank it.
The procedure took over a half an hour.
Even with the shots they put into my gums to deaden the pain it was remarkably painful. They used my other teeth to try to apply leverage and it often ended up with my lips between the unyielding teeth and the metal tools.
Teeth have three roots. I found this out because each one ended coming out separately and painfully. Various clamps and drills alternated for what felt like a month.
They didn't cheer when they got each root out but did have a mixture of elation and relief every time.
The dentist told me it wasn't the most difficult tooth extraction she'd ever had but it was in the top ten.
This came as no surprise. Nothing with me ever goes easily.
After they had finished removing the tooth and I'd spit up a lot of blood they told me they felt removing it was the better option.
I'm glad they didn't say they should have left it in.
Yes, I realize that you can get implants but not at that dentist. I'm also not sure what sort of quality they have here in Georgia. Dentistry seems a bit...basic here.
COSTS
Getting a tooth pulled, 40 GEL (for the lazy ones out there, that's about 25 USD).
One X-ray, 5 GEL.
