After a cycling accident about 15 years ago, where I smashed my front teeth out (and broke my wrist) I have had a permanent bridge replacing the damaged teeth.. In the last few weeks the old bridge started to come loose and not want to be without front teeth for a few weeks, as the dentist on the island is only here at weekends, Simon and I decided to fly up to Bangkok to get my teeth sorted. Expensive but well worth the trip.
I'd investigated several dentist on line but due to the vast numbers, changed my mind quite a few times on which one to select. In the end, I chose the one recommended by the dentist here on Koh Tao. Even though it was pricey ..it had stunning reports. So appointment made, Si made travel plans to get there. Firstly we caught the after Lomprayah ferry to Chumphon, then immediately jumped onto a mini bus for a 45min journey to the airport, where we boarded NOK Air's small jet propelled plane.
55mins later we landed at Bangkok Int Airport and grabbed a taxi straight to our hotel. Unpacked and showered, and headed out for food.
My appointment was at 9.30am and as Simon had booked the hotel close by, we had a 5 minute walk to the Dentist. Its certainly not like the UK where you're appointment is always running late. I walked in 20 min early and was seen straight away.
First the dentist took pictures of my teeth, then I was sent off to have several xrays taken. Then I sat in the waiting room for another 5 mins before being called in. WOW ..the technology they have is amazing. You've got your own monitor infront of the dentist chair. Where they then brought up all the pictures/xrays they'd taken and went through everything. they then zoomed into my crown where they showed me that I had an infection at the root of one of my teeth, where I'd had root canal treatment and where my teeth were pinned.
All very exciting but I was getting slightly nervous when they told me their plan to drill through the bridge, leaving one tooth secured and then assess whether or not they could use the supporting tooth and if so, id need to see the root canal specialist to treat the infection ..or maybe have the tooth pulled and then talk about implants ...ARGHHH ..anyway, before any of the proceedings, they took moulds of my teeth so they could build a temporary plate for me, so I wouldnt be toothless :-D
Having everything on site, meant that the work could be done very quickly and no messing around sending things off etc.
So, after a 30 minute wait and mulling over a price plan. I went back into see the dentist.. by this time my hands were pretty sticky ....we talked about the options again and then he set to work ..drilled through my bridge, took 2/3 of it out and then checked the tooth underneath ..urgh, it looked rank ..even the picture makes me squirm. As the tooth wasnt that stable, he decided it should be pulled. So off to another section I went. Injected 3 times and mulling about in the chair for what seemed a life time, the pull commenced ..took ages and I was more concerned about her putting pressure on my remaining tooth, crowny thing. Finally, it was out and she gave me a couple of dissolvable stiches ...then a massive piece of gauze to bite on, to stop the bleeding ...by this time I couldn't speak and muttered a thank you and left and headed straight back into see the other dentist where he pulled out this temporary plate and then proceeded to show me how to insert/take it out ...wow, that was quick.
While all of this was going on, I sent Si off shopping, as he needs to replace his laptop, so arranged to meet him back at the hotel. So as I toodled off, mouth packed with gauze and looking as though I'd got a massive fat lip, i headed to the supermarket opposite the hotel on the search for goodness knows what ...In the end, I picked up some grapes, juice and then Si called to say that he was on his way back, so he ended up meeting me in the supermarket, picking up some more groceries and then heading back to the hotel. By then my mouth was throbbing. I did manage to make egg sandwiches which i struggled to eat even with the crusts cut off. How embarrassing!!
That evening we ordered food (soft) to eat and stayed in watching some movies...
The next day, we returned to the Pantip Plaza for more searching for Simons new laptop... unfortunately the one he needs is not in stock in the whole of Thailand... he will have to wait a few weeks before being able to order it... While we were out, we nipped to the Imax and booked our tickets for Iron Man 3.
We returned back to the hotel for a couple of hours, and then went back out to watch the film.... we both really enjoyed the action, and there were some laugh out loud moments.. There were some annoying people who decided to come in over an hour late, and then need to push past to get to their seats... Whats the point if you are an hour late?!!
The next day it was shopping for clothes at the MBK mall... After a couple of hours of buying nothing, we gave up... went home for a nap, and then back out for dinner in the evening... a lovely Indian meal...
The following day we returned to Koh Tao, using the same air service and ferry... and Simon immediately started a Rescue Course... while I have a rest!
