So here's the full update:
Headed to the appointment this morning with a sneaking suspicion that my dentist would not be there even though I was told he would be back from leave today. When I got there, the office manager confirmed my suspicion. I was annoyed because I had specifically said that I wanted to wait for my appointment until the dentist was back. But then the office manage asked me if I was having any trouble with my teeth -- when I told her that I was I think she realized why I wanted to make sure the dentist was there for my appointment. So, not really her fault since she didn't know. I'm still a little frustrated because now I need to take more time of my from work and have anxiety leading up to another appointment.
As for the cleaning appointment itself, it was one of the most painful I can remember. I've seen this hygienist before and she's always been good. This time though, I told her about the problem with my crowned tooth and also about some gum soreness I was having elsewhere in my mouth. I understand that he was really trying to clean both of those areas really well, but it was so horribly painful that tears were rolling down my face. Then she put some sort of 'desensitizing agent' on those areas which was supposed to make them feel better, but only made them worse. At one point she tried to dry off the crowned tooth with air and it hurt so badly that my leg came up off the chair and slammed back down -- I was so embarrassed about that as I am usually quite outwardly calm in The Chair. After all of that, she wanted to try to put some other treatment in my teeth for sensitivity, but at that point I just couldn't take any more. Maybe I should have let her, but I was honestly feeling so traumatized already (not trying to be dramatic, but I felt myself regressing back into dental terror as the minutes passed) and I was in agony. I just couldn't tolerate even 1 more minute.
The only good news is that the hygienist thinks that the crowned tooth may just need a bite adjustment. I'm not so convinced, but would be thrilled if that's all it takes.
The dentist is now scheduled to come back next Wednesday and I have an appointment for next Thursday at 9AM. In worried that they will not tell me if my dentist is not back and that I may show up and be scheduled I see the covering dentist. Maybe I will call next Tuesday or Wednesday just to be sure. The anxiety of all of the unknowns is sometimes the hardest part. And, my mouth is still super sore from the torture session this morning.
Definitely not one if the best dental visits I've had in recent years... We'll see how next week goes -- if it even happens.
I ended up buying and sending a get well card to the dentist (I've been thinking about it for a whole, but I figured better late than never, right?). I'm hoping he doesn't think it's too cheesy I do that. I asked the office manager if he'd been getting a lot of get well cards and she said he hadn't. She seemed to think sending one would be an ok idea, so I hope it was.
