So this morning at 8:30 a.m. I was in Salem at the dentist office.
I have been a patient in this office my entire life. I don't see the same dentist, though, because he died about 10 years ago.
The reason my dentist is in Salem is because my mother grew up in Salem and her job was in Salem. It was always easier to take us to doctors in Salem, and I didn't change after I became an adult. I tried but could never find another dentist I liked as well. The dentist I see now is okay, but mostly I never need anything but a cleaning.
However, now I needed something. In early August I had this ... thing come up on my lower lip. I thought it was trauma from a mouth guard I wear at night. I am a terrible teeth grinder when I sleep.
But the thing did not go away. Sunday I made the mistake of asking my husband to take a look at it.
He freaked.
He thought I had cancer or something, and insisted I make an appointment to see someone immediately.
I had no trouble getting in (and I wince when I write that, because I know Ms. Elenaeous had a terrible time finding help for her serious problem. I guess it makes a difference if you're an established patient.).
The wait this morning was not long and the dentist took merely a glance.
Mucocele, he pronounced.
A what?
This is a lesion/nodule thing that comes up when you have trauma to the saliva glad. I suspect my mouth guard is the culprit. Interestingly, this never came up yesterday when I attempted to research what the nodule might be.
The way the dentist talked, I had no choice but to have it surgically removed and I have an appointment next week with an oral surgeon. But upon reading on the Internet, I don't see that it is necessary. It could go away on its own.
I'll have to give this a think. I tend to shy away from unnecessary surgeries and this is certainly sounding like one.
On the other hand, the thing is in the way and if it doesn't go away it is going to be a nuisance.
Guess I need to see if insurance pays, too, before I make a final decision.
Does it hurt? If it were me, and it didn't hurt, I'd wait and see. Of course, it's probably not easy getting another oral surgeon appointment, either.
ReplyDeleteOh, for goodness sake, that is awful. I have an appt with the dentist in a few weeks for my nightly jaw-clenching guard.
ReplyDeleteOMG, this is so bizarre. I went to my regular dentist today, and among other things, showed him what I keep feeling in between my lower cheek and gum. He didn't use a fancy term but did say it was my saliva gland. After reading your link, I think I have the same thing, and I know I got it after the surgery. He said not to worry about it, and to give it some time. Weird, huh?
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