Mama's Got a Brand New Tooth--and It's a Beauty!

Back on November 16, 2013, I blogged about the trials and tribulations I was undergoing when I had to have both molars on the upper right side of my jaw removed not long before the wedding of one of my five sons.  I was saved from the embarrassment of having a big gap in my mother-of-the-groom smile by a neat little contraption that my dentist made up for me.  (Dentists are sometimes super heroes, did you know that?)

Here's that post, which you might enjoy reading all over again; and if you haven't read it yet, let me tell you: this is a story that you can really sink your teeth into.


Mama's Got a Brand New Tooth

Or at least she will have one, soon.

Since this past summer, I've had to have two problem molars extracted on the right side of my upper jaw.  First the back one was pulled--no biggie, because it didn't even show when I smiled and that still left me with one molar on that side for chewing.  Then the one next to it was pulled--biggie, because the hole where it should be is very noticeable when I smile and now I have to chew exclusively on the left side of my mouth.

I've told you about my tragic tooth saga, my Dickensian tale of two teeth, several times already (do I hear yawning?), most recently in this post (skip down to #3 to get to the scintillating part about teeth, or the lack thereof).  And now here I am at it again!  Mommy bloggers talk about how busy and crazy it is with toddlers in the house, and how much they worry about losing their post-baby weight; grammy bloggers tell you about how much they miss their grown babies, and how much they worry about ending up toothless old ladies.

Anyhoo...

At my latest appointment with the oral surgeon, I found out that the metal "root" he implanted, which will someday have a nice fake molar attached to it, is healing nicely.  In about two months, I'll have the green light to go to my regular dentist and have that new tooth made.  Which is great news--but unfortunately, my middle son is getting married in less than a month and I don't want to feel self-conscious every time I smile on his big day (which I believe will be a lot of times).

So, to tide me over while I wait for my implant, the dentist made me a clear retainer-type device that has a faux molar embedded in it.  I have a slight lisp when I wear it, but the device is almost unnoticeable otherwise (unless you really look closely at it; and if you're that much of a close-talker, I'm going to back away from you anyway).

One of my boys, upon hearing my concerns about the embarrathing lithping, said that no one will notice, because the wine will be flowing, the music will be loud, and I'll fit right in with all the other hard partyers out there on the dance floor.  You know, they'll just assume that I've had too much and that's why I can no longer say an S without slurring my speech.  Thanks, son.  I feel a lot better now.

Okay, readers, I had my husband take pictures of me without the fake tooth retainer

 and then with it.

You really can't tell, can you?  I think I'll be able to fool everyone...as long as I try to speak without using any S or soft-C words.

Thee you thoon.


Here's the epilogue to that story, with a very happy ending indeed.  I finally did get my brand new tooth, a crown made of porcelain that perfectly matches the color of my other teeth.

As you can see, I'm quite pleased with it.

Ain't she a beauty? 

I got this new tooth just in the nick of time for another son's wedding in February--hooray!--and I'll have it when yet ANOTHER son gets married this coming November.  (Three sons getting married in a span of less than twelve months; that must be some kind of record!)

My local dentist did a bang-up job for me.  But if you've got tooth woes of your own and don't know where to turn, you might want to stop by Dr. Ang's Dental Practice.  They'll have you smiling again in no time!