Today i went to the dentist. It had been a little over 2 years since my last visit. That may not sound like such a big deal, but for someone who was going every 6 months, 3 months, or every other week, i was pretty nervous about what they may find. You see, when i was younger i was told that i didn't have a tooth to come down after my baby tooth fell out. When i was in middle school i got braces (i had a pretty big gap in the middle of my front teeth), got my baby tooth pulled, and had a fake tooth attached to my brackets. Four years went by with the braces. I also had a peg (just a small tooth that never fully grew) that i got a veneer on. After i got the braces off i got a flipper with a fake tooth attached to it. It was kinda like a retainer that i could take off any time. Sometimes i would take it off and play a joke on people. A year or so went by and it was time to get the implant put in. I went in for a consultation and was told that i would have to get braces again because the roots around the area had shifted inward not allowing enough room for the implant to be placed. I believe i was a junior in high school and started to tear up alittle (probably went home and balled my eyes out into my pillow). We waited till after i got my senior yearbook pictures taken and went ahead with the braces. I was told that they would only be on for 6 months, but they were on for probably a year. When they noticed there was enough room (probably 8 months after braces. there were several appointments of going in to see if it was ready only to find out that it was millimeters too close. you can imagine the disappointment) to put the implant in they started the surgeries. I believe it was just after my senior dance recital. I had the bone graft done (cow bone!). Later that night Jeremy came over and we watched a movie, but i hardly remember a thing. I do remember watching him pull out of my driveway, walking into the kitchen, and my mom asking me how i was feeling. I said fine and 10 seconds later i threw up in the trash. Must have been the meds. As the week went on i noticed the area wasn't getting better (after the surgery i went back to the dentist to get the fake tooth attached to the brackets) and i could feel and poke out these tiny bits of bone through my gums. Then came this awful taste and puss. I kept saying it tasted like dirty rose water. That stinky fishy smell. Every time i would smile i could taste it. Over the weekend after the surgery me and Jeremy went on a trip with our church. It was pretty awful because i was doing a lot of smiling and laughing. Plus my lip looked busted it was swollen. When we came back it was time to get it checked out. Apparently the bone graft did not take and it was infected. They took it out and i later had to have it done again. I was a little worried this time around. Everything worked out though. In the mean time i graduated high school and went to Italy. A few months later i got the implant put in, braces off and my gums cut back. Finally it was time to attach a tooth to that implant. But first Halloween came. I was at the orthodontist to get a new temporary flipper made, but it wasn't ready yet. It wouldn't be ready for a few more hours. I was suppose to be at work. I called in and asked if i could come in later, but i could tell it was really busy and didn't want to leave them short handed. I went to work without my tooth anyway. Since it was Halloween i didn't seem to stand out too much...i guess the whole hillbilly missing tooth thing was working for me. Although this lady sure was staring at me pretty hard....probably trying to tell if it was really gone or just colored in. Anyway, i finally got my new fake tooth put in and a new veneer. So after several years, tears, and surgeries i had my million dollar smile (my parents would probably agree to that!) Back to today...i was worried after not seeing the dentist for two years what might happen. I was expecting a cavity or two. Or some sort of gingivitis (because they loved to tell me that back home) but no. Nothing. Nothing but good home care and healthy teeth. You have no idea how excited i was to hear that. It was like getting straight A's on your report card (not that i really know what that feels like). I still have to get my wisdom teeth out, but honestly im not in the least worried about it. Hey, just another day at the dentist for me (or was).
here is a panoramic photo from today. I went back and found some pictures from when i had the surgeries done and decided to spare you some bloody nastiness.
If you hung around to read all of this then you are a true gem....if not then i don't blame you.
p.s. One time this lady at work was telling me about how she just had some work done and her tooth was hurting. I simply said that i understood and she said "no i don't think you do" with a little attitude. I just shrugged my shoulders and smiled.
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