""Oral Surgery. Tears Of Happiness""

I woke up this morning NOT feeling fine, something painful on my mind.

Following my dentist's referral for a extraction of a broken upper left front tooth and because of my health problems my own dentist was unable to extract a a broken stump of a tooth after the crown had became loose and snapped off.

It was explained to me that Stoke Mandeville Hospital had better facilities in case of emergency.

In the meantime my dentist had written for me a prescription for some Amoxicillin to fight the infection that had set in.

I had been suffering quite a lot waiting for my appointment slot to arrive but this morning the pain in my left nostril was just agony and like an idiot I tried pushing my little finger to have a pick..as we do.. Owwi! I could feel the swelling round the base of the root of the broken tooth and the taste in my mouth was so bad my wife had to turn the other way.. I took my usual pain killer but no good.. I decided to ring Stoke Mandeville Hospital Dental Department for advice. The gent on the other end took my details and said they would ring me back. I just popped into the front room to drink a cup of tea and the phone rang, I had been offered an earlier appointment for today at 16. 00 hrs. Luck would have it my son was on his day off having booked a MOT on his car. My son's car had passed it's MOT and he said that he could take me for my new dental appointment.

Travelling too the Hospital the Sat Nav had us doing a few circles along the back lanes but we eventually arrive at our destination.

Quite understandably there was a slight wait but I guess until that dentist pulls a tooth he never knows what he is going to find but eventually my time arrived. ....

Nervously I entered the room where I was greeted with three handshakes and beaming smiles.

Every detail was explained to me and I was given the opportunity to ask any questions.

The dentist did tell me a couple of porkies. " Open wide, a slight scratch"--blooming 'eck! "

"One more scratch slightly more than the first" I had raindrops in my eyes.

The procedure when ahead and the offending root removed.

Yes I told the dentist, " You're the first man to bring tears to my eyes. " The pain like the root had gone. All that anxiety for nothing.

I was asked by the nurse if I would like to see the root and was amazed by it's length. Like an iceberg much more below the surface.

It was confirmed to me that I had a bad infection in there for which I have been given a prescription.

It's the second time that I have attended this apartment and just like the first I found all of the staff, from receptionist, nurses and dental surgeon true professionals. I just cannot knock them

Thank you Stoke Mandeville