My Visit To Dentist

 The first and the severest toothache I’ve ever experienced in my life was the ache of wisdom teeth when I was 20 or so. The second severest toothache occuered about a half year ago. I had a terrible ache of my tooth root which I had already got treated in my youth. I went to see a dentist, and have it treated.
It took me pretty long time to have the bad tooth completely treated. I attended the dentist for about a half year. Now it’s alright thanks to the dentist.
As my dentist checked up all the rest of my teeth at that time, I don’t have any decayed teeth now.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　
As for wisdom teeth, I had them removed when I was young, I don’t have any wisdom teeth now.
Wisdom tooth is called Oyashirazu in Japanese. It’s because wisdom teeth come in in one’s early adulthood, sometimes after his/her parents have passed away in the times the people had a shorter life expectancy.
There is another name of the wisdom teeth in Japanese. It’s Chishi (智歯 in Kanji ). The 智 also means “wisdom”. It’s really interesting that both Japanese people and American people call the teeth the same way. I’m not sure why the teeth are called “wisdom” teeth. But I guess that it’s because one will become smarter by the time the teeth come in.　　　　　　　　　　　　　

　　　　　　　                　

These years I go to the dentist once in three months to have my teeth cleaned and checked up. When I was a child, I didn’t often visited a dentist. My mother was not willing to take me to the dentist to have my teeth checked up. In those days, most parents were very busy to do their work and had little interest in the health of their children’s teeth.
On the occasion of dental check in my elementary or junior high school days, I had few decayed teeth but some plaque was pointed out. I think that was because I had not brushed my teeth very well. Now I know the importance of brushing teeth, I try to brush my teeth completely at least two times a day.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　

I totally agree that having good healthy teeth is necessary for having good health.
As I mentioned earlier, my last visit to the dentist was the end of last year. I felt a pain in my right upper gum.
First, I went to the receptionist and gave her my insurance card.
It was my first visit to that dentist, so I had to pay a fee for the first visit. I don’t know exactly how much it was. The fee was included in the bill that I paid after the treatment that day. And before I left the dentist, the receptionist gave me a patient identification card which I was told to bring with me whenever I visit the dentist afterwards.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　

When I was called into one of the examination room, I felt a bit nervous.

There were about 8rooms and there was a dental chair in the center of the each room.
The dentist was male and he was the clinic director. He was a middle aged man, and the dental assistant was a beautiful young woman. Both were wearing a surgical mask. The assistant lady said there was some plaque collected on the surface of my teeth. She cleaned my teeth with a dental picking tool.
The doctor told me that I had to have my teeth X-rayed. The assistant lady took me to the X-ray room, seated me in the chair, set the X-ray film in my mouth, and then took an X-ray.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　
After the film was developed, my doctor said that one of the roots of my teeth was infected and I need to have it cleaned.
He also said that it would take some long time for me to get completely treated.
Actually, I had to see the dentist every week for about six months from that time on.
Fortunately, I didn't have to have my tooth extracted. Now the treatment is over, my teeth are in good condition.

By the way, I didn't know that a wisdom tooth in the upper jaw usually has only one root, that the one in the lower jaw usually has two roots, and that the upper one is easier to extract.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　

When I was young, I had my wisdom teeth extracted. The dentist anesthetized the local area of my bad tooth. I felt a little pain at first, but it was bearable.