First: the good news. The dentist fixed the chipped tooth, and it looks great! This was a pretty snazzy practice, with an x-ray machine that’s nicer than the one at my dentist in Virginia. They took panoramic x-rays, fixed the chip, and examined the teeth that hit the sidewalk, all for 400,000 shillings (about $160). I’m especially grateful that he was able to do the work without hurting my still swollen and scabbed lip.
The less-good news: the dentist said that the other incisor is fractured, and showed me the line. The chipped tooth is a little loose, so I can’t bite anything for a while to give it time to resettle.
He’s not sure whether the blood flow to the teeth was compromised, “if in ten or twenty years the teeth die, you can trace it back to this event.” Direct quote.
Amusing moment for me: one technician was doing an inventory of my teeth, and another technician came in. In African culture, it is rude to ignore someone who comes in, so I waved. He waved back. For some reason, that made me inordinately happy.
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