Dentist Visits, Chiang Mai

Over the past few years I have been successfully controlling the occasional gum infection with clove oil.

My dentist in Miramichi said the root cause of the infection was a cracked root and prescribed antibiotics a couple of times and strongly recommended extraction and replacement with an implant or a bridge and. However none of this work could be done in the Miramichi and I was referred to a 'specialist' in Bathurst or Moncton The extraction was going to cost in excess of $500.;and then there would be five or six thousand for an implant or bridge. I, of course, balked at the cost and my Miramichi dentist began to soften his position and last spring said as long as I could control the periodical infection (he didn't know i was not using his antibiotic prescriptions), and as long as the crown did not come off one more time I could probably limp along for some unknown time.

That was some three years ago. However I added further injury just before leaving Canada and infection flared up and didn't seem completely controlled even with a penicillin prescription I had from the summer of 2009. So I decided to consult a dentist here in Chiang Mai.

I consulted with an aesthetic dentist and he took an x-ray and while displaying a large screen image explained why I had the problem crack in my root that was the root of the problem (so to speak) . Actually it was caused my an error by the dentist who installed the original post for the crown. The post had been inserted incorrectly and stressed the tooth and cracked the root.

He agreed with my Canadian dentist that priority should be given to extraction. He then outlined in detail the costs of a plan for an implant and the costs of a plan for a bridge. I opted for the implant which under normal conditions could be done simultaneously with the extraction.

Anyhow the extraction went without a hitch. ( Cost: X-ray $5.00Cdn and extraction $52.00 Cdn). The 'freezing' unaesthetic was instant. Unfortunately there was an infection, which I kind of thought there might be, and so an implant couldn't be done the same day. Interestingly when I asked whether I should take antibiotic, he said no, just let nature heal. (try that in Canada!). I had absolutely zero pain or nauseous after effects and had the sutures removed yesterday.

I will follow up Dec 20. If the implant can be done then I will go ahead. If not I may heve one in Indonesia or return to Chiang Mai before returning to Canada.