Extraction of my Impacted Wisdom Tooth in Manila

Thanks to my HMO, year 2014 when I had my first teeth cleaning. The dentist noticed that my wisdom tooth on the right is impacted and I need to have it removed through surgery not regular extraction. She said it would be painful and costly. Of course, since it’s not yet aching, I didn’t pay much attention on it, haha. So, just to avoid going to the dentist, I made sure to brush my teeth always and use toothpick to remove bits of food lodged between my molar and impacted wisdom tooth… but it didn’t work.

What is Impacted Wisdom Tooth

According to Wikipedia; impacted wisdom teeth (or impacted third molars) are wisdom teeth which do not fully erupt into the mouth because of blockage from other teeth. If the wisdom teeth do not have an open connection to the mouth, pain can develop with the onset of inflammation or infection or damage to the adjacent teeth.

The search for the dental clinic

Year 2015, I noticed my wisdom tooth is getting black, so I decided to visit San Lazaro hospital. Unfortunately, it doesn’t offer tooth surgeries at the moment.

The dentist advised me to try on UP-PGH (University of the Philippines Manila-Philippine General Hospital), price range would be around P10,000+ per tooth depending on how long the surgery will be and how hard to extract the tooth.

She also mentioned that students of UP Manila are looking for impacted patient for their certification; surgery is free, you only need to pay for medicines. It is quite risky but the students will have guidance from an oral surgeon during the surgery.

One evening, the inevitable happened and my wisdom tooth started to ache. I googled again and finally found a clinic… Uy Dental Clinic (UDC). I found it on three (3) different websites, and most of the feedback are positive. The price range is P4,000-7,000 per tooth.

My Surgery

I called UDC hotline 708-8782 (more info below) and was advised to have my panoramic x-ray first (no need for appointment, they accept walk-in) then the dentist will set the appointment date for the surgery. On the same day, I went to UDC Mandaluyong branch at Tiosejo cor. Shaw Blvd. (beside JRU, in bet. SSS Mandaluyong and Goldilocks).

  1. Panoramic X-ray
    Luckily, I only have two (2) impacted wisdom teeth at the bottom; while the other two at the top didn’t grow.
    My panoramic x-ray shows two lower impacted wisdom teeth
  2. Appointment for Surgery
    The dentist that checked my x-ray advised me to have the surgery asap. The surgery was scheduled on the next three (3) days.
  3. Surgery
    September 22, 2015, I went back in the clinic. Dra. Candice Tan, the surgeon, informed me well about what to expect during surgery and what to do after the surgery. When the surgery started, I thought it will be painful but it’s not, thanks to the anesthesia. But it was bloody indeed; I can feel the blood inside my mouth and saw blood spot in my dental bib. Both my tooth we’re cut into pieces. My right tooth took one (1) hour while the left one took forty-five (45) minutes. Nevertheless, the operation was painless and successful, thank God.
    The surgery costs P10,000 for both teeth plus P500 for antibiotics to take after surgery, not bad compare to the first price range given to me which was P10,000+ per tooth.
Dental tools and my teeth

Aftermath

Dra. Tan strictly advised me to follow below (note, it’s not a complete list):

Prohibited:
  • Do not smoke and take alcohol for a week.
  • Do not eat or drink hot food/beverages.

Things to do:
  • Eat ice cream.
  • Put ice pack for 5 days.
  • Always brush your teeth.
  • Soft diet.

After the surgery, I felt a little bit dizzy, hard to swallow and talk. When I got home, I took a rest and my mom put ice pack on the swollen part.

On the first night, my right wound bled, so I bit two (2) cotton balls to stop the bleeding. I continued to put ice pack for 5 days and it kept my face from bloating. I ate noodles, rice with soup (sinigang, nilaga, tinola, etc.) and vegetables.

After a week, I noticed that my gums were almost healed and no more bleeding.

I am writing this blog two (2) weeks after surgery and I’m getting better now. Thank God. :)


Uy Dental Clinic (UDC)

You can check out UDC by visiting their website or facebook page.

Address:
  • UY DENTAL CLINIC
    950 AH Lacson Ave., Sampaloc, Manila 
  • UDC TOOTH GALLERY DENTAL CLINIC
    80 Panay cor. Timog Ave, South Triangle, Quezon City
  • UDC ASIAWORLD DENTAL CLINIC PASAY
    1941-F Taft Ave., Pasay city
  • UDC ASIAWORLD DENTAL CLINIC MANDALUYONG
    Tiosejo cor. Shaw Blvd., Mandaluyong City

Telephone(T): 02-7088782 / 02-9211083 / 02-5210275 / 02-9844772
Mobile (M): +63 917 5966808 / +63 916 4652208 / 0917-8190849
Email(E): udctoothgalleryco@yahoo.com.ph

Enrolling Insular Life on BPI Express Online for Bill Payment

I want to pay online for my premium on Insular Life but failed on BPI Express Online. I tried both online and went to a branch in person but they did NOT accept my policy number saying it was invalid. The clerk even told me that maybe my policy number was indeed wrong even I already checked it lots of times and even logged-in to my portal to validate it.

At last, after a long struggle, I thought of contacting my agent (yeah, I know, it's my fault) and she told me to just add "IL" on the policy number. See below the full steps:

  1. Login to your BPI Express Online account.
  2. Go to Payments & Reloading > Bills Payment > Enroll All Other Bills
    Enroll all other bills

  3. Fill-up the form
    Example form to be filled-up
    • Your ATM Card Number
    • Joint Account Indicator (JAI) No.
    • Bill Information:
      • Company Name: INSULAR LIFE ASSURANCE CO.(INSULA)
      • Reference Number (policy #): "IL" + <policy number>
        sample: ILW1*******6
    • For additional security please enter your registered E-mail Address or Mother’s Maiden name

  4. If success, you should see below screenshot:
    Successfully added bills to pay
  5. Now you can pay your premium and you should see your biller under enrolled bills (Payments & Reloading > Bills Payment > Pay Bills Today)
    Paying bills