The Joys of Getting Older

Spent part of my day getting a root canal. It wasn't abcessed, just going towards issues of becoming infected. Here it explains all the joy I dealt with today w/o good narcotics.

•What is endodontic treatment?
•Why would I need an endodontic procedure?
•What are the signs of needing endodontic treatment?
•How does endodontic treatment save the tooth?
•Will I feel pain during or after the procedure?
•Endodontic Procedure
•How much will the procedure cost?
•Will the tooth need any special care or additional treatment after endodontic treatment?
•What causes an endodontically treated tooth to need additional treatment?
•Can all teeth be treated endodontically?


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What is endodontic treatment?

“Endo” is the Greek word for “inside” and “odont” is Greek for “tooth.” Endodontic treatment treats the inside of the tooth.

To understand endodontic treatment, it helps to know something about the anatomy of the tooth. Inside the tooth, under the white enamel and a hard layer called the dentin, is a soft tissue called the pulp. The pulp contains blood vessels, nerves, and connective tissue and creates the surrounding hard tissues of the tooth during development.

The pulp extends from the crown of the tooth to the tip of the roots where it connects to the tissues surrounding the root. The pulp is important during a tooth’s growth and development. However, once a tooth is fully mature it can survive without the pulp, because the tooth continues to be nourished by the tissues surrounding it.


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Why would I need an endodontic procedure?

Endodontic treatment is necessary when the pulp, the soft tissue inside the root canal, becomes inflamed or infected. The inflammation or infection can have a variety of causes: deep decay, repeated dental procedures on the tooth, or a crack or chip in the tooth. In addition, an injury to a tooth may cause pulp damage even if the tooth has no visible chips or cracks. If pulp inflammation or infection is left untreated, it can cause pain or lead to an abscess.



What are the signs of needing endodontic treatment?

Signs to look for include pain, prolonged sensitivity to heat or cold, tenderness to touch and chewing, discoloration of the tooth, and swelling, drainage and tenderness in the lymph nodes as well as nearby bone and gingival tissues. Sometimes, however, there are no symptoms.

How does endodontic treatment save the tooth?

The endodontist removes the inflamed or infected pulp, carefully cleans and shapes the inside of the canal, a channel inside the root, then fills and seals the space. Afterwards, you will return to your dentist, who will place a crown or other restoration on the tooth to protect and restore it to full function. After restoration, the tooth continues to function like any other tooth.

Will I feel pain during or after the procedure?

Many endodontic procedures are performed to relieve the pain of toothaches caused by pulp inflammation or infection. With modern techniques and anesthetics, most patients report that they are comfortable during the procedure.

For the first few days after treatment, your tooth may feel sensitive, especially if there was pain or infection before the procedure. This discomfort can be relieved with over-the-counter or prescription medications. Follow your endodontist’s instructions carefully.

Your tooth may continue to feel slightly different from your other teeth for some time after your endodontic treatment is completed. However, if you have severe pain or pressure or pain that lasts more than a few days, call your endodontist.


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Endodontic Procedure

Endodontic treatment can often be performed in one or two visits and involves the following steps:

1. The endodontist examines and x-rays the tooth, then administers local anesthetic. After the tooth is numb, the endodontist places a small protective sheet called a “dental dam” over the area to isolate the tooth and keep it clean and free of saliva during the procedure.


2. The endodontist makes an opening in the crown of the tooth. Very small instruments are used to clean the pulp from the pulp chamber and root canals and to shape the space for filling.


3. After the space is cleaned and shaped, the endodontist fills the root canals with a biocompatible material, usually a rubber-like material called “gutta-percha.” The gutta-percha is placed with an adhesive cement to ensure complete sealing of the root canals. In most cases, a temporary filling is placed to close the opening. The temporary filling will be removed by your dentist before the tooth is restored.


4. After the final visit with your endodontist, you must return to your dentist to have a crown or other restoration placed on the tooth to protect and restore it to full function.



If the tooth lacks sufficient structure to hold the restoration in place, your dentist or endodontist may place a post inside the tooth. Ask your dentist or endodontist for more details about the specific restoration planned for your tooth.


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How much will the procedure cost?

The cost varies depending on how complex the problem is and which tooth is affected. Molars are more difficult to treat, the fee is usually more. Most dental insurance policies provide some coverage for endodontic treatment.

Generally, endodontic treatment and restoration of the natural tooth are less expensive than the alternative of having the tooth extracted. An extracted tooth must be replaced with a bridge or implant to restore chewing function and prevent adjacent teeth from shifting. These procedures tend to cost more than endodontic treatment and appropriate restoration. With root canal treatment you save your natural teeth and money.

Will the tooth need any special care or additional treatment after endodontic treatment?

You should not chew or bite on the treated tooth until you have had it restored by your dentist. The unrestored tooth is susceptible to fracture, so you should see your dentist for a full restoration as soon as possible. Otherwise, you need only practice good oral hygiene, including brushing, flossing, and regular checkups and cleanings.

Most endodontically treated teeth last as long as other natural teeth. In a few cases, a tooth that has undergone endodontic treatment does not heal or the pain continues. Occasionally, the tooth may become painful or diseased months or even years after successful treatment. Often when this occurs, redoing the endodontic procedure can save the tooth.

What causes an endodontically treated tooth to need additional treatment?

New trauma, deep decay, or a loose, cracked or broken filling can cause new infection in your tooth. In some cases, the endodontist may discover additional very narrow or curved canals that could not be treated during the initial procedure.

Can all teeth be treated endodontically?

Most teeth can be treated. Occasionally, a tooth can’t be saved because the root canals are not accessible, the root is severely fractured, the tooth doesn’t have adequate bone support, or the tooth cannot be restored. However, advances in endodontics are making it possible to save teeth that even a few years ago would have been lost. When endodontic treatment is not effective, endodontic surgery may be able to save the tooth.

Since I had to suffer I thought I'd spread the pain...........................muahahahahahahahha.

Not Quite Perfect

The more I learn about the human body the more I am impressed with how we are designed. How everything affects everything else. How a small problem in the balance of electrolytes can kill you. How medicine has learned to test the levels of electrolytes and fix them when necessary.

The body is amazing.

With one exception.

The sinuses.

Small holes in our skulls that produce mucus which the body utilizes in 60 different ways.

Seemingly beneficial.

You cannot see them but, trust me, you have them. You never even notice them.

UNTIL...

The immune system goes ballistic and starts over producing mucus causing those little holes in your skull to overfill and your nose begins to drip, your ears clog up, your throat has that evil slimey feel.

Those little indents in your skull begin to feel as huge as the Great Lakes. Now I've personally visited 3 of the Great Lakes and lemme tell ya~they are IMMENSE in the lake world! Humongous.

That mucus begins to brew and the opening gets clogged, kind of like a log jam or a leak in a Dutch dike.

The pressure behind that clog begins to build.

First it's a slight headache in the morning.

Next thing you know it feels like the dentist became really teeny and is using his tools inside your head. Without novacaine. OWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!

The problem in the design of the sinuses is the fact that a usable blow flow is missing. Holes do not hold capillaries well because they fall out. I mean, come on! It's a hole, silly.

Because of the lack of blood flow antibiotics do not adequately circulate to the sinuses.

Sinus infections are difficult to clear up.

Now I have about 3 eensy dentists with their drills in my right side sinuses at this very moment. It freaking hurts.

I feel the sinuses have a design flaw.

Or maybe I just have some design flaws(wink).

Smacking Myself Upside the Head

Oh I am so stupid some days.

Here I am in my lethargy/pity party when a friend of mine truly suffers. Dumb ass Janice. Get over yourself.

My legs still work with only small twinges from my left knee.

My brain is not clouded by disease and chronic pain.

I can bail from this pop stand any time I like.

Dumb ass Janice.

I need to start studying so I can get my license and start caring for people who cannot do all these things. People with dementia or traumatic brain injury. Fools who text while driving.

I am still more interested in psych. I want to help people calm the demons in their heads. I want to spread the message that one can survive most anything if one just takes each minute as it happens. It may be awful for that minute. The next minute may be 1% percent better.

There are many people out there who may benefit from my education and compassion.

Time to get back to work.

Is It Just Me...

Is it just me or does it seem like lots of folks are dying this summer?
Jackson, Shriver, Kennedy, Fawcett, Dunne, and a host of other famous folks?

Is it just me or is there NADA worth watching on my 300 channels?

Is it just me or is this one of the longest summers ever?

Is it just me or is this one of the HOTTEST Seattle summers ever?

IIJM or does the economy scare you too?

IIJM or had People Magazine gotten extra trashy lately? I don't even read it anymo'.

IIJM or is anyone else in an irresistible state of lethargy and apathy?

IIJM or does nothing seem to taste extra special yummy anymore?

I know. I need a plan. A purpose.

Spouse moved the desk and 2 largish bookshelves into the empty living room for me to set up all my nursing notes, books, paraphernalia etc.

Now I just need to my ass moving.....................

EEK!

I was going through my Davis NCLEX-PN book this afternoon as the sweet lil(2.5 ft long) Pupples slept all curled up next to me. He was really sweet today until my son came home. Pupples became whirling dervish dog. Running, jumping, biting, all the obnoxious puppy behaviors. ( A blur just whipped behind the couch and slid to a stop in front me~wonder Pupples!)

Someone(anyone but lazy ol' me) should have walked that dog today.

Back to the topic.

Reading the review did not to alleviate my fears.

I HAVE FORGOTTEN EVERYTHING I HAVE LEARNED IN THE PAST 3 YEARS!!!!!!!!

NOW what am I supposed to do?

Does anyone with even a few living brain cells have any tips for me? I have almost 5weeks to study and write my independent study project.

I'll have 4 weeks or so to study after that until the actual test.

I'm still blown away that I'm being delayed over 6 weeks. DAMNIT!

Life sucks today.

Girls Just Want to Have Fun

If anyone was paying attention I've been a bit scarce.

I'm resting my brain.

I'm living the life playing Sorority Life on Facebook. Nothing like pretending I'm rich, beautiful, vicious, and 28 years younger than my real world.

Been watching Pupples who MUST weigh over 30 pounds now. He is freakin' HUGE.
He was 5lbs 9 weeks ago. We watch him sprout like dandelions. He's teething. I have the bruises to prove it. He's not attacking me just trying to sooth himself.

I need a root canal.

Yeah, sucks rocks.

It will cost $1100 if the insurance covers nothing. $650 if the insurance covers half. My tooth is quite sensitive and painful when I press on it or eat something cold. The x-rays don't show any obvious infection just some suggestive blurriness. If it did not hurt I might wait but it will get worse or abscess or cause me to get endocarditis because that bacteria will move through my bloodstream to my heart if left alone.

Have I mentioned my spouse has been unemployed for 8 months?

And that my taking the NCLEX has been delayed by 6 weeks?

I won't get into the small whines.

When I play Sorority Life all the crap vanishes. The University I attended after high school did not even have sororities.

Irony is everywhere.

Fun Friday

Howdy my friends.

Slow week, just recovering mentally from that boot camp hell they call nursing school.

Pupples the amazing growing puppy(who will be the size of a hippo by October)has been keeping me busy. He misses my 20yo and I'm his second choice. He's definitely a snuggly pitbull. He wants to sleep on my lap but he's way too HUGE to fit.

I'm such a sucker for a snuggle bunny. All my boys were snugglers as infants, toddlers and older.

I will start a study schedule next week. I promise. LOL.

I get to go to the gyn tomorrow~~~yeah.

Already did the mammogram thing so no more squishing my boobs down to flat and wide. Phew! Such a relief!

Hey men, don't whine about a little finger probe....I've had eight pound babies come out of one of my orifices...and the doc's hands, and 1800 other folks in the room.

My weather is back. High tomorrow to be 70 degrees! Yeehaw.

Now if a helicopter full of money landed in my back yard and left us $500,000 to get us through the rest of 2009 things would be awesome!!!

Any plans this weekend?

Don't Look at Me

If I hide my face, you can't find me~aka I don't work here.

Dog Days Of Summer

I'm overwhelmed with your many suggestions for a study plan...

Haha.

The temperatures are rising here in Western Washington again. Eighty today, higher tomorrow.
Yippee. Nothing like being fried alive. Nothing.

Pupples is getting quite strong willed and large. He weighs over 15lbs and must be almost 24 inches when all stretched out.

He is one psychotic dog. He'll be chewing on his Kong, then wham! He turns and attacks another toy as if it had been taunting him.

He's teething. So far we've kept him from damaging any furniture but he did try to eat the redwoood deck!

Beware of anything left w/in Pupples reach. It will be in pieces especially if it is paper, cardboard, most wood pulp products.

He wrestles the hose to the ground. Can't let that green snake get the better of him! He adores drinking out of it even as he is totally confused how water comes out of it.

His tail wiggles wildly as soon as he sees anyone. Strange dogs, strange people, us. He goes crazy when any of us come back from upstairs or from being out of the house. It's so cute (as he hides his fangs until we least expect it.)

I'm not sure if he's part-Cujo, part rattle snake, half-vampire...........

He will let me rub his belly for 20 minutes. If I stop, yikes! He 'tells' me he's not happy by yelping at me.

Because my mood has been down the past several days he stays beside me and licks me wherever he can reach. Or he sleeps right beside me on the sofa. On top of my arm or my leg or my head. Crazy dog.

A typical male, he tries hard to cheer me up in an awkward he's not sure how way.

My spouse goes from being wishy-washy to alpha dog in 30 seconds. Criminy, enough already. Who's the animal and who's the adult? We may never know.

Have any crazy puppy stories?

Thinking While Pouting

clinical group

As I'm feeling a wee bit lost, I'm letting my mind wander randomly.

I'm being pouty because damn it, I deserve a weekend of pout!

I need a plan. A daily schedule of study.

Difficult for me to be linear. My thoughts tend to meander in a more circular path.

Any ideas how to plan studying through an NCLEX-PN review book?

Interesting strategies?

Creative memory tools?

Naked pictures of George Clooney and medical terms on the back?

Jumping jack stacks of flash cards?

I'm pretty clueless. Like you couldn't tell.....hahaha.

Did any of you prep for the GRE or the NCLEX-RN or the MCATS in special ways?

Hugh Laurie as my tutor?(English accent included)

Please help me.

Thanks.

Love you for the support and comments. MWAH!

Send In The Clowns

How do I start?

On Monday I took my OB final and received a 90%. I was fairly happy with that grade.

Tuesday I took the med/surg aka cancer/ER/leadership and delegation final. It was one of the oddest tests I've ever taken.

I was feeling good. I was done with school. Or so I thought(really loud scary movie music here).

There was a rumor going around the net Tuesday night that people had flunked the med/surg test. Or the OB test. These tests made up our theory grade for summer qrt.

We weren't too worried because we figured those folks had already been notified.

WRONGO.

Woken up at 10am Wednesday morning by a call from the director.

HOLY SHI-ITE.

She was actually nice, which made me more suspicious.

I had a 66% on the med/surg final.

Janice don't flunk. Never(unless we're talking algebra).

Because 11 people did not have passing grades we would have to do independent study for the NCLEX-PN and report in on October 1.

Grad ceremony was last night.

Director's thoughts: You will still graduate. You'll get an incomplete until October. When work is handed in, your grade of 2.3(83%) will be sent to transcripts and then all info to the nursing commission so we could be scheduled for the NCLEX-PN.

And by the way, come celebrate with us tomorrow night.

After hanging up I burst into tears.

My grades have been in the top 10% of the class all year.

My first thought: I am such a LOSER!

The Eagles song Lonesome Loser has been running through my mind for 3 days.

I make it through the entire year of hellish torture and then blow some final that made no sense.

Half of the class have to do the independent study.

The entire class agrees the med/surg final sucked and they won't give grades to the people who passed. We will never see the results nor will we get to question the bull shit.

I thought I'd be working by October.

Nope.

Yes, I went to the graduation ceremony. I got my ugly over priced pin. I would not even glance at Dr. Miller who was the med/surg teacher.

woohoo.

Falling from the top of the mountain to the bottom hurts.

Badly.

My ego/self-esteem have deflated to the point of non existence.

I don't get it.

Graduation

Graduation Day...

The celebration never ends!

I Had a BAD Day

It's been a terrible crappy evil humiliating awful day.

I'm so upset I cannot write about it now.

Everyone is healthy, dog is still alive and eating like a rhino, I'm still married.

MY LIFE BITES THE WANG TODAY!!!

And Now The End is Near...

Now don't get all worried~the world is not ending ending, as far as I know.

Summer is not over yet.

My marriage will limp along.

My life as a nursing student will end tomorrow for the time being.

The witch DID NOT BREAK ME!!!!

Ya hear me?

I WON!

So many long days, several too many lectures, dressing downs, inappropriate behavior correction methods more apropos to Gitmo and kindergarten.

And that was JUST first quarter..............NAW just joshin'.

It was first, second and third quarters.

I learned to keep my opinion to myself.

My assertiveness has increased to where I will advocate for my patients.

My desire to be liked by all is pretty much dead.

It's not a popularity contest. I knew that, the many reminders helped my memory.

The lessons I have learned this year are too numerous to list.

Hey guess what? Doctors are not gods!

No one is right all the time.

Flexibility and adaptability will serve me well in my future career.

I still love psych, in reality not solely in theory.

I adore newborns but not enough to want to work OB. I have issues with OB docs.

UP with CNMs!!!!

Hospitals are not my milieu. I was certain they would not be but I made an effort because one never knows.

I LOVE giving shots. I'm not sure why, I just do. :P

No need to inform all strangers I just graduated nursing school...

I have wonderful supportive friends online and off to whom I give 90% of the credit for me finishing. Thank you.

You know who you are. HUGS and much gratitude.

If You Have a Slightly Warped Sense of Humor....

I just read one of the funniest blog posts Evah!

If you've read my About Me section you know I'm facetious, silly, sardonic, and sarcastic as hell.

If you are not any of those things please don't click the link I am about to post.

You've been warned.

My man Jim Suldog is one of the funniest men I've ever had the pleasure of reading. He's from Boston and loves the Red Sox but he's one of the guys.

He invented a new award to give to folks who give him awards~which he detests so he disses them in the most amusing way possible. He makes fun of their foibles, he invents "facts" about them, anything to make them stop giving him awards.

Did I mention Jim is slightly into the 'grumpy growing older guy' persona? Just makes him more amusing.

If you're twisted and enjoy some racy yet not x-rated humor, go read Jim's latest post.

You are quite welcome for the laugh out loud good time you're about to have!

My hat's off to you Jim!! Awesome post.

Missing Motivation

Sigh.

I have a final Monday and another Tuesday.

No desire to study.

I am so tired.

I am addicted to Sorority Life on Facebook.

A nice no thinking required, escape from life game.

I am getting a thrill from destroying other sororities. (I'm not like that in RL)

At UCSD we did not even have any Greeks.

Is there a 12 step group for bizarre addictions like Sorority Life?

A blank 6 weeks stretches endlessly, colorlessly in front of me.

Days with unemployed,excessively unmotivated spouse.

Pupples the demon dog our companion.

DAYAM!

Western State Psychiatric Facility is looking quite tempting at the moment.

Just think of the odd psychiatric conditions I could study when not locked up in the rubber room...!

The rest of my life is ahead.............................does it stop being scary after the first few steps???

Do I have To Grow Up Now?

I've read all the books in this picture including several you can't see. I've been through 11 months of challenging classes, clinicals, emotional pressures, nasty evil events which I will not discuss again, etc.

Tomorrow is the last official day of nursing school.

The last day I am forced to wear these teal scrubs and the student name tag and the community college photo ID, the official rule cooperating persona. Whoooooo.

I will spend my last day in ER with my favorite(sardonic tone of voice here) fellow student. I'm hoping for some action because today in mother/baby I did not see any babies. Pout.

I had 2 patients that could have/ should have been on med/surg. They fit in the gynecological category but they were on the OB floor because they had many empty rooms. I heard med/surg filled up over the weekend unlike last week when I was there and the census was quite low.

My resource nurse, a lovely woman who is used to doing newborn nursery, was a bit lost with the 15 meds one woman was on. Most newborns aren't on meds and we had to help ID the meds because we are very used to patients in PCU and med/surg having 10 meds or 30 meds etc. OB is not stocked on most of the meds so we had to wait for the pharmacy to fill the Pyxis etc.

I got to give a shot! One of my favorite things to do even if it was just SQ. I'm mean like that.

Finals Monday and Tuesday and then..........grad ceremony Friday and then waiting to hear when I can schedule the NCLEX-PN.

I also need to look for a job.

I do not know how odd it will be without classes to go through. Much of my life has been based on the school calender between my education, the kids', going back to school. I'm used to busy in September and having those lovely breaks between quarters............

I don' wanna grow up!

Grown ups are dull.

I prefer silly and facetious and sarcastic and under-my-breath funny comments....I did get in trouble for those comments back in October and January blah, blah, blah. That only stopped me from making comments during school........

Geez, now I'll have to worry about work place appropriate comments, sigh.

People that hire hire me will also be able to fire me, RATS!

Good thing many in the medical field are just as warped as I, especially in psych. Wink.

What do ya'll think?

Should I apply for a position at the psych facility I did clinical in, starting late September, paying quite well-on the high end, with full time shifts from 2pm-10:30pm. I could sleep late and it's less than a mile away.

Or should I apply to the baby interim care facility? I'm not sure they are hiring. They always take applications and it is newborns in needs of love and patience and cuddles every now and again?

Then there are about 60 temporary positions giving flu shots for 2 months.

Not to mention many clinic openings, some even for new grads. The clinics tend to train and they have plans to help pay for an upgrade to RN.

Also the school district, but I won't be able to take the NCLEX before school starts after labor day and these are on the lower end of the pay scale.

Tell me your opinions!!!!!

Pupples in Peril?

The Pupples coughed up tennis ball fuzz along with some plastic this morning. Contrary to popular belief I do not feed my pets or my children tennis ball fluff covered pieces of plastic....

The Pupples(who now weighs 12.5 lbs up from the 5lbs from 5 weeks ago) lay around all morning.

I opened the pantry door(aka the TREAT place) and Pupples did not even move.

He did not jump from couch to love seat since last night.

He WAS NOT biting anyone!

He refused ice chips from my hands and the Pupster ADORES ice chips, the way I used to adore my children~before they could talk.

Call the 20 year old son and expressed my concern. He called vet and off we went. Me holding the 12 pound Pupples who feels like 25lbs. He's getting so long in leg and body that I almost don't have enough lap.

It was a magical 20 minute drive with spouse driving my car.(I am rolling my eyes here, could you see me?)

Son met us at the vet's/pet store.

Long waits, blah, blah, blah.

Pupples most likely had an indiscriminate diet adventure.

Watch and wait after an infusion of a bolus of dog type Ringer's Lactate given subcutaneously into the extra skin on his neck. Ya know, saline plus electrolytes...whaddya mean? You all did NOT take IV therapy theory with me?

Shucks. My bad.

Pupples kinda looked like the Hunchback of Notre Dame's puppy for about an hour.

He perked up enough to bite the spouse after we were back at home.

My kinda puppy. Wink.