f you’ve followed me for a while, you know that I’ve collected a lifetime of interesting (and often unexpected) stories. I’ve been wanting to share more of them with you, and today feels like the perfect time to start. So, let’s dive into a question I get asked pretty often about OI:
Is there any silver lining to having Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI)?
Believe it or not—yes, there is. In fact, a few! But today I want to talk about one silver lining in particular, and it might surprise you.
One lesser-known (and honestly kind of wild) symptom of OI is that, for many of us, our nerves don’t grow into our teeth. I know, it sounds bizarre—but it’s true! This isn’t necessarily the case for everyone with OI, but it’s apparently fairly common.
So what does that mean in everyday life? Well, here’s where it gets interesting:
If someone without OI were to have a cavity filled or a tooth pulled, the dentist would have to numb them first. Otherwise, it would be extremely painful. But for me? No numbing required. When my dentist drills into a tooth, I don’t feel a thing. The only time I feel pain is if something touches my gums—because that’s where the nerves are. But the teeth themselves? Totally sensation-free.
Now, I don’t have a “special dentist” or anything like that—but I do have someone who knows me really well, Dr. Pedro Cuartas. Dr. Cuartas (or Peter as I know him) has known me since I was six years old (since before he was even a dentist), and over the years he’s gotten to know my condition and my limits incredibly well. That kind of long-term trust and understanding makes a huge difference, especially when you have a rare condition like OI.
And for someone who really doesn’t like needles (seriously—I’ve had nightmares about shots in my mouth), this is a huge win. I can’t even tell you how relieved I was the first time I realized I could get dental work done without the needle part. Major silver lining.
So there’s your OI tidbit of the day! I hope you learned something new—and maybe even found a little perspective in the unexpected. I’ll be back next week with another story to share.
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