Tooth Update from The Land of Dreams

Since I've been in South Africa I've been able to pet lions, I've visited three malls (including the biggest one south of the equator) I've had cocktail hour, a picnic in a beautifully landscaped park, eaten sushi, Thai food, Cuban food, burgers and beer. In comparison to Benin it is the land of dreams. It's been a vacation basically. Peace Corps didn't send me here on vacation though.

The whole reason why I'm down here is because of a cracked tooth. I thought I'd update you all on the progress that has been made so far. When I arrived the dentist looked in my mouth saw two cavities that the dentist in Benin had missed and filled them. The cracked tooth, which had a crown on it from Benin, he said 'oh I see your problem right now, the crown is much too high' he then filed it down and it did improve but not enough for it to be completely better. He asked that I come in again after a few days had passed to see how it was settling down. The afternoon before I had my morning appointment I was flossing my teeth and the crown popped off. It HURT. The stub was exposed and raw I couldn't eat anything, sensitive to hot and cold, the works. I go back into the dentists office and he says 'huh, I see another problem, the dentist also didn't drill out all the infection before he put the crown on, no wonder why you were having problems.' At this point I have no faith left in the Beninese dentist. He then pumps my gums full of novocaine and drills my tooth down. He had to put more novocaine in three separate times. Close to the end I said that it hurt and he said 'I'm sorry love, we can't give you anymore'. So I cried in pain in the dentist chair. When all was said and done I had a permanent crown on my tooth. The dentist confirmed that THERE WAS ACTUALLY A CRACK IN IT! Which means I was RIGHT THE WHOLE TIME. So I've been on pain and anti-inflammatory medications for the past week or so. I went in yesterday and there is still a question of whether or not I need a root canal. I'll know more on Tuesday when I go in. I hope all goes well, and I don't need one, but if I do at least the whole deal will be over.

I am anxious to get back to Benin, I miss it and I only have a few days left there, 63, I'm not counting down or anything. I want to spend this last days in post saying goodbye to my friends and family.