Do You Know When…

I last had a cavity (as you say accross the pond) or needed a filling (as we say in this corner or europe)? Well, technically, the answer to these questions are different from one another. The last time I had a cavity was when I was 19. Unfortunately the cavity won. It was filled four or five times, each time deeper than the rest, until there was no tooth and it was hurting again. It was taken out about 9 years ago. That left me with 27 teeth which really bothers the numberist in me.

The numberist? Ermen, I don’t think that’s a word, and I’m sure I remember you saying that you and numbers have never been close buddies??? Well, in one way that is true, in a totally different way it isn’t.

You see, I count. Slightly obsessively I may add (pah ha ha ha, pun intended!)

It started on a German exchange trip in 1984 where I couldn’t tell what the family were yacking on about so I zoned out and started counting the tiles in their kitchen. They were yellow but I can’t tell you how many there were. You see the quantity doesn’t matter, it’s purely the ritual of the count, creating number/ shape patterns in eveything.

My teeth always had 14 at the top and 14 at the bottom (i had my pre-molars out when I was 10 as my mouth was too small for all my teeth). I run my tongue along the back of my teeth, counting, I may do it over and over again, starting at the top left and finishing bottom left. Only now I have 14 along the top, 13 along the bottom and then a drop. It drops down onto my gum. That last number is missing. It’s odd and it’s annoying.

Anyway, going back to the original point. It’s been 22 years since I had an actual cavity (even if I’ve had fillings more recently) so when my tooth started hurting last week I was worried. How could I get a cavity after so many years of looking after my teeth so well?

I got an emergency appointment at the dentist and she says an old filling must have a crack as there is no sign of cavity and, we musn’t forget that this filling must be a good 29 years old so it has lived a pretty good life, chomped down on a considerable quantity of food.

I see an NHS dentist – paid for by the state (so technically through my taxes) although we must pay a small amount. For instance my 10 minute appointment today was £18 and to have a normal metal filling, which is all I’ve ever had, is £31… But, you know… I’ve always wanted a white filling. I’d quite like to replace all my metal ones with white but it doesn’t seem worth removing the fillings just for vanity’s sake… However, you know… I need one replacing. So I got a quote for a white filling.

The receptionist said that no one had ever asked her for a white one before!! I was surprised!

The quote? £70.

I think I can stretch to that. I was expecting it to be a lot more!