Chewing on a Problem

Unusually this post is not a story - it's a part of my life

I like British teeth, I like their crooked honesty. They bring character to a face and a charm to a smile. Straight uniformed US teeth have a perfection that denies truth. At least that is what I have taught myself to believe to justify my absolute fear of the dentist, a fear born from a childhood trauma when I had six molars removed under gas with little or no explanation as to why.

I was quite happy with my resolute refusal to face a fear.

Over the last three weeks something weird happened. People I knew well began to talk about teeth and dentists, one suddenly and for no conversational reason explained how much better they were and how the needles were so much smaller. Another removed a part of his smile before eating explaining he was due to have it repaired shortly. There was no reason for this, but it kept happening.

As a result my thoughts began to consider whether I should try a trip to my dentist. My previous visit some seventeen years ago had not been too bad and the trip twelve years before that was a distant blur. However, fear of what might happen, what I might discover kept it as just a thought and not an action.

Last night a tooth broke. It was as if Lefi had decided that without some intervention I would continue to postpone the inevitable. As a result this morning I walked up to my dentist. A bright blue sky, wonderful fresh air to breathe and a broken tooth. Well two out of three isn’t too bad.

Somewhat surprisingly I was no longer on their records, apparently a regular seventeen year check up doesn’t count. I had to register again my previous NHS status lost through my stupidity.

I was thrilled when they said a dentist could see me right away, Pain 1 Fear 0. She said she would see what she could do with my broken tooth and did I want an inspection of the others. My fear wanted to say no but I heard common sense say ‘yes’.

Outcome

She was able to repair the tooth. In addition, despite years of dentistry neglect, I have no other real problems with my other teeth. I didn't deserve such a result for my cowardice and I promised her I would not recommend my approach to others. And I don’t. Pam Ayres had it right.

But I suppose my approach to my teeth is reflected in so many aspects of life. Postponing the things that you fear, procrastinating to avoid, writing short pieces about teeth to delay.

I wonder when they removed my molars as a child if they took out my wisdom as well. Keep smiling everyone.

Yours, Numb Lip Magoo