Code Yellow

Yesterday morning's sunrise was very pretty — a bit pastel-like rather than the bright, vibrant oranges that we all love so much.

A little later in the morning, I found myself sitting in that ever-so-comfy dentist’s chair for a semi-emergency appointment for a lost filling.

It was not any sort of lost filling but from the tooth that I broke badly, earlier in the year, by biting down on a carrot that was baked to hardness. Back then, I was warned that the filling might not hold, and it eventuates that the dentist was correct.

She proceeded to inform me that she could only do a quick patch before sending me to a periodontist for an extraction and implant. After some discussion, she revealed that the procedure would cost between $6000 to $8000, and that it wouldn’t be covered by my free government-provided insurance. Well actually, it possibly could be, but this specialist does not particulate in the plan, that being his or her option. This insurance exists freely for people like me who live under a certain income threshold and who do not have other dental insurance. It's a plan that has saved me quite a lot of money over the past year or two.

After more discussion I revealed that I wouldn’t be spending that kind of money on an implant and that I would settle for an extraction only. I looked at her and said, “I’m 78,” which, of course, meant that my old head with not too many years remaining would not be worth it. She looked back at me, quite understandingly, and replied that I didn’t look 78. I guess that was the nice part of the session. :)

I asked her if she could do the extraction without sending me to the specialist. She replied that she would ask the boss, Dr Li, if she could do the extraction. I paid my $30 co-pay and left waiting to hear whether Dr Li could do it.

That afternoon, I got a call and was informed that Dr Li thinks that she can save the tooth and that it would involve a root canal and that my co-pay would amount to $200 with government insurance covering the considerable remainder.

That will occur on Friday afternoon when I shall endure a not too comfortable hour or two.

Meanwhile, this morning is not looking pretty like yesterday morning, and we have code yellow (a new designation) for a winter snowstorm. School buses have been cancelled, so Jonathan is, doubtless, happy and probably still snuggled in bed. Now I have to worry about Shauna driving a half-hour west to work, and then I will have to worry about Danica driving almost an hour east into the city tonight to sit for an exam after the storm has hit.

That, above, is what is to come, but our neighbour was kind enough to clear our driveway of the little that had accumulated overnight. I caught him over yonder, just having finished his own driveway before heading off to work. Although he has cleared the snow, I notice that the windows of his van are quite frosted over.