I was moving wood last weekend to try to clear the backyard up a bit more before the landscaping started. I had just climbed on top of the pile of wood that I was creating when one of the pieces rolled down and landed on my left hand. It then bounced off and landed on my right index finger tip squishing it so much that it broke skin just under the front of the nail. Blood copiously dripped out.

I was so deeply under the influence of Advil Cold and Sinus pills for my allergies that I hardly felt anything. I did notice that my knuckles were scraped quite nicely on my left hand and did think that my right index finger should be hurting more than it was.

Anyway, being right-handed, and having a sore finger there, it’s a given that this week all of my cases would involve picking my way down calcified canals or around curves. The finger is definitely hurting now.

Here’s a retreatment that I finished today. It was completed by an endodontist late last year and remained bite sensitive. He recommended apical surgery to address the symptoms. The patient came to me for a second opinion.

Because I thought that I could improve on the endo, I recommended a retreatment with consideration for an adjunctive surgery if necessary. Long story short, the post op film shows some decent improvement on the technical quality, but what’s more interesting is the up-bend at the tip of the mesial root. WTF? No wonder my finger is sore today.

At least the patient is comfortable with the tooth now.