To Tell the Tooth

It’s been more than a year since I lost a tooth. It was always a troublesome one. When it needed a small filling, it turned grey. So I got a veneer on it, which lasted several years until I swallowed it while eating a caramel apple at the Western Fair. Then one day while driving home from work, it just made a break for it. I called the gap it left behind, my hillbilly tooth. 

I was 98.5% sure I would submit to an implant for that space because, due to a variety of reasons, it was either that or the plastic, temporary plate my dentist made for me. The plate was only useful for short periods and not for eating or keeping in while on the air, because it made me sound like I had a speech impediment. But what really sold me on an implant was our visit to Iceland. I forgot to put in the temp and smiled broadly for a selfie at the Blue Lagoon.

I believe my response was, don’t you EVER show that photo to anyone! But it confirmed that it was definitely a “smile” tooth that I was missing! Despite the outrageous cost and my lack of insurance coverage, I’d have to go for the implant.

I knew it wouldn’t be pleasant but the dentist really undersold the after-effects. Let’s see – he dug into my gum, drilled into the bone, added synthetic bone to build up the structure and then pounded and twisted until a screw was in place. What’s so bad about that? Thank you Tylenol 3s and other wonderful medications! I was warned that I might wake up the morning after looking like I’d been in a bar fight. There’s swelling, but it’s not nearly that dramatic.

It will be three more months before I can get an actual tooth replacement in that space. They’re telling me to eat things like mashed potatoes and soft eggs for several weeks. I practically live on carrot sticks and other crunchy vegetables. But then I look at that photo from Iceland with the black hole in my mouth and think, that’s not so bad! Cheese can be soft. So can ice cream, yogurt and soup. It’s all for the greater gap – I mean, the greater good!