The Dreaded Mouth Surgery

***Don't read this post if you are at all squeamish.***

Today I was scheduled to have some surgery on my gum to determine what is inside the bulge in my lower gum, right next to my new triple crown that was installed in February - just days before my trip to Japan. It has been tender since March, and at my July check-up, my dentist looked at it and was stumped as to what it could be. So he sent me to the specialist who did my root canal in February. This Dr. looked at it last week and decided he should do surgery on it today, making a "flap" in the gum, taking some of the suspected tissue out and sending it to be biopsied. That dreaded surgery was scheduled for 8 am today.

Part way there, I started praying, "Lord, if this is cancer, please give me the wisdom to be able to handle this."

When they called my name, I went into the little room and sat in the reclining chair. The Dr. greeted me, and then started out by giving me all the novacaine that is legally allowed, and then "just a little bit more" per my wishes. Once numb, he inserted a camera into my mouth along the area in question and then looked very closely at the lump. He noticed two little dark spots, so he took a tweezers and pulled on what looked suspicious to him. He showed the particle to his assistant - and both of them exclaimed, "What could that be?!" He took a little tool and grabbed more of the purple substance and then declared that it was impression material - a rubbery substance used in a metal tray to make the impression of your teeth before the crowns are sculpted. Apparently some excess goop got under my gums back in February and I have been toting it around ever since! What a pleasant answer to my prayers!! The Dr. didn't have to make any cuts - thus, no stitches were required. And immediately when I ran my tongue over the area, I was pleased to no longer feel the bulge. Once again, I am saying, "Thank you, Lord."