Tag Archives: Lapip

Pause for a bit of venting

23 Friday May 2025

Posted by in Daily Life, Daily Message

≈ 10 Comments

Tags

, , , , , , , , , ,

This was going to be a long, detailed post regarding my last dental surgeries and my unhappiness at the result.  Instead, it will be just a quick summary, I mean, as quick as I can.

Life is too short and I am way too blessed to continue raging about this. 

I had my 4th follow with the oral surgeon after my last two procedures.  He was very dismissive about my complaints.  He told me that all is fine and that this is the way it is.

While none of what I did was for aesthetic reason, I didn’t expect that this procedure would make the receding gum around my front implant even worst.  What I did was various treatments in the gum around the implants, including LANAP and LAPIP.

I also cannot believe that he charged me to add more filling to the top of the implants that his assistant did on the last follow up, but that it had already come out. 

This is where the Universe is funny and always finds a way to make things even for me.

The day I saw that the dentist had put in a claim and my part was $52.50, I get the gift card for $50.00. Almost even 😊 Perhaps I just like to see meaning in these unrelated events, but it is comforting somehow.

I was going to fight this charge, but for someone that paid $5,000.00 for these procedures (it was 6K, but the insurance paid 1K), what is another $50.00?  I know there is the matter of principal, but my time is valuable, so I will just leave it alone.

He lost a patient, and I will never refer him to anyone. I cannot believe I drove almost 2 hours to Stuart, Florida, to supposedly the best oral surgeon, to get this treatment.

Prior to the surgeries, I had already warned him that procedures in my mouth normally don’t work as expected and it is always the worst-case scenario.  I feel he disregarded that warning and just assumed that all would be fine. 

Perhaps he was just guilty of not managing well my expectations and not letting me know that what he was about to do would actually make the gum recede even more.  His answer now ii to say that the only alternative is to do a procedure to lower my lip, so my gum and teeth would not show as much when I smile.  Really?!?!?!?  That is absolutely insane to me.

So, my plan now is to try to keep my teeth impeccably clean (which I have always done) and hopefully not have any infections or inflammations that will need any additional procedure.  Eventually I will have to redo the front implant.   This is a huge undertaking because of the way the original implant was done, and I will postpone it as long as I can.

I have gone to the best (and most expensive) dentists around, so it is disappointing that no one seems to have the right answer or to do a job that is lasting and correct.  I have been going to the dentist since I was 6, and it has always been a struggle.

At this point I have spent over 60K in my teeth – not a single penny has been for anything aesthetic.  Insurance has paid about 5K on top of that, and they normally cover nothing.

I made the decision that I will no longer do any more extensive and expensive procedures in the US.  If I am going to be left disappointed, I may as well do it all in Brazil for a fraction of the price.

We do have amazing dentists in Brazil, but I could never spend the required time there to do anything extensive such as implants, bone and gum grafts.   But now that I am more equipped to work remotely, staying for long periods of time in Brazil is a reality.

There is more to this case, to the procedures done, including something that I said no to, but was done anyway.  But as I said, I am moving on.

All is for the best.  There is always a lesson.  My advice, get it in writing exactly all that is going to be done.  Don’t ever assume that if someone has only 5-star reviews he will be amazing to you as well.

My real estate attorney that cost me $9,000.00 more when I sold my condo, also had only 5-star reviews.

Wishing you all a blessed Memorial Day weekend!

Dates, friends and the whatnots

24 Thursday May 2018

Posted by in Daily Life, Dating, EX Files, Finding Me

≈ 12 Comments

Tags

, , , , , , ,

Dental Issues: I had a laser treatment called Lapip done to try to save a couple of implants I have. I had several shots of local anesthesia so other than the pain of the needle there was only minor discomfort afterwards. Now, fingers crossed and invoking the help of angels, I pray that it will work. Otherwise I will need to return and have the implant(s) removed. Please send me a positive vibe. 🙂

Cheating?
Not even close. My married pal and I have been keeping the texting strictly platonic.   We haven’t texted much, but when we do it, it is mostly fun and platonic.

In the beginning it seemed that things would veer off the friendship course and into the sexual realm. Incredibly and happily, they did not.

I realized that I can be quite an instigator. Once I started paying more attention to what I was saying/writing and staying away from innuendos, he caught on and toned things down also.

“It is always important to know when something has reached its end. Closing circles, shutting doors, finishing chapters, it doesn’t matter what we call it; what matters is to leave in the past those moments in life that are over.”  – Paulo Coelho

It was good for me to realize that I needed to take accountability for my actions and to realize that it was all up to me.  I am not a victim, this time or ever.

It feels good to just be friendly without the added pressure of wondering if it will go any further.

Trips down memory lane are a waste of time and energy. They don’t add anything to my present or future. It glamorizes a time that perhaps it was not even that great, but the absence of it makes it appear so.

“Yet in opinions look not always back,–
Your wake is nothing, mind the coming track;
Leave what you’ve done for what you have to do;
Don’t be “consistent,” but be simply true.” – 
― Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. 

Friends with Benefits?
Not really full benefits, just a little perk every now and then.

Last Thursday my doctor friend and I got together again for dinner. This time it was just food, drinks and conversation.  We went to Rio Bravo in Larchmont, NY.  It was late and all the other places we wanted to go to were already closing their kitchens.  That is the problem with the suburbs… the kitchens close at 9:30.  The food and service was great.

We normally talk about everything, life, philosophy, spiritualism, etc.  Sometimes there is flirting, sometimes there is not.  This time there was no flirting or kissing.  It was equally fun.  I enjoy his company period.

I don’t think many people would understand it, but so far it works for us.   The deep, meaningful conversations is what I treasure most.  Kissing may happen or may not, and it hardly makes a difference.

“There can be no life without change, and to be afraid of what is different or unfamiliar is to be afraid of life.” – Theodore Roosevelt

I know, it is still crazy for me that I am okay with that.  It is crazy to discover this new side of me.  I normally like thinks defined, black or white, yes or no.  To find out that I am perfectly okay with this situation is freeing.

I think it works because, not only I don’t expect anything more than what it is, I don’t want it either.  I like things just the way they are.

This feels exactly like what freedom should taste like. There is this calm, no pressure, no expectation and I love it!!

“Stay committed to your decisions, but stay flexible in your approach.” – Anthony Robbins

Dating?
Some.

Last Monday I met the Nature/Science writer.  We went to Wine 34, a fun, as the name would indicate, wine bar on 34th street. The food and drinks were great. He is very smart and loves to talk so there was no silent moments.  There was no hint of romantic chemistry for me.  He wants a second date. I didn’t give a final answer yet, but I think there will be no second date.  I don’t want to waste his or my time. And even worst, I don’t want to give him false hope.

Last night I finally met the realtor that I have been speaking to for the past couple of months.  I give him credit for his patience and not giving up.  We went to Favela Cubana near Washington Square Park.  As the name would hint at, the food was Brazilian and Cuban.  Some dishes were good, but the pao de queijo was awful. My date had 3 Bloody Marys and a gin and tonic. I had a passion fruit caipirinha and then I tried a drink made with St. Germain, which is a liquor that I enjoy.  They were both good.

He was a very nice guy and the jury is still out on if there will be a second date or not, but I am leaning towards not.  He kissed me, a quick peck on the lips and that was okay.  But then he just kept wanting to kiss me again.  There is nothing more annoying to me than to keep saying no to someone.  What is the rush?  I hate feeling pressured.

The data architect is still in the picture.  We haven’t met again due to our conflicting schedules.  I don’t detect romance but he is just such a nice person and with all this texting we have become friends.  I think I will meet again and see what happens.

“The measure of intelligence is the ability to change.” – Albert Einstein