Last month, I summoned enough internal fortitude to do the one thing I struggle with —seeing my dentist. As a youngster, a bad experience impacted follow-through on one of our most important health check-ups. My parents never pushed me to go after that though I did manage to struggle through.
It wasn’t until the early 90s that things changed for the better — so much better. A friend introduced me to her dentist. Up to that point, for five years I had been wandering around loose with a temporary filling that my dentist of record had put in place in advance of a root canal. I never returned for dental care! Until I met the first Dr. Rowe — Dr. Ronald Rowe.
Without appointment, when I joined my friend, he escorted me to a suite; we had a chat and he told me what was what. In the time it would have taken a previous dentist to fill one tooth, Dr. Rowe the Dad, filled three, informing me that I did not need a root canal; tooth filled! A pain-free day. A great day!
I have a terrible oral defensiveness gag-choke reflex associated with the CP, so when I needed to sit up, the elder Dr. Rowe accommodated immediately. The same is true with his son, Andrew, who currently provides my dental care. On a recent visit, I had two teeth extracted as I knew they couldn’t be saved. Concerned about gagging and pain, it turns out I had nothing to worry about; there was no pain whatsoever. I was numbed up right n proper! Dr. Rowe was surprised I had no pain while eating given there was an abscess under one tooth. I’ve never had a toothache in my life which I attribute to brushing with the Sonicare toothbrush, using olive oil soap.
I hold myself fully responsible for 3 extractions to date; had I been less anxious much earlier on, I wouldn’t have been so deeply entrenched in dentist avoidance. It was the diagnosis of a heart defect in the 90s that smartened me up though I am still somewhat dentist averse.
There are many conditions and diseases that originate in the mouth given it’s a breeding ground of bacteria.
For me, Grade Two Aortic Insufficiency is another reason for maintaining proper oral hygiene habits and that includes dentist visits. I require antibiotic prophylaxis prior to dental procedures. Endocarditis, an inflammation of the heart’s inner lining is a risk posed with dental work that’s not cushioned with antibiotics.
I’m hyper-vigilant about at home care; that and good genes have allowed me to chew and crunch with an almost complete set of ‘they’re all mine’ teeth for decades. I still have the wisdom teeth so I must be doing something right.
At 67, to have lost 3 teeth is tragic, given I’ve been so careful about keeping them healthy even in the absence of routine dentist visits. Don’t do as I do — see your dentist regularly. If anxiety is a concern for those new to or revisiting the dentist experience, make the first part of the appointment a conversation before going forward with even minor procedures. It’ll be worth it.
Currently, the only source of dental care for low income adults is found through social assistance programs but only for emergency treatment; Canadian children under 17, who are recipients of support from social programs, benefit from free dental care.
Most Canadians receive oral health care through privately operated dental clinics and pay for services through insurance or by paying for it themselves. Some dental services are covered through government dental programs.
The reality is that finances is a significant roadblock to proper oral health and it’s time for the Canada Health Act to change, to address with greater coverage, the needs of the poor and those living on the financial fringe; folks who will never save enough, paycheck to paycheck to support dental health, whether their own or that of young children or older parents in their care. Many procedures are financially prohibitive, though dentists will insist that treatment is urgent.
Our current health care system provides coverage for treatment of issues of the lips, tongue and throat, but not for teeth and gums. I find that disconnect both confusing and disheartening given how many people suffer excruciating pain on a daily basis because they lack the funds to seek appropriate dental care in the absence of health care plans that include it.
Now’s the time to include dental care through our system of health care. Many Canadians are currently treating ongoing muscle and bone pain among other conditions with long-term pain management medications when the real culprit to all of it may lurk in the mouth. Many Canadians would enjoy better health if the government would open wide to include dental coverage within the current Medicare scheme. Cost savings over time would be significant.
Carla MacInnis Rockwell is a freelance writer and disability rights advocate living outside Fredericton, NB with Miss Lexie, a rambunctious Maltese and Mr. Malcolm, the boisterous Havanese. She can be reached via email at Carla MacInnis Rockwell
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