What I did on my summer vacation

It's the last day of August, and already brown and gold leaves are beginning to appear on the trees here in the Gorge. What a short, hot and productive summer it's been.

I spent 17 hours of it in the dentist's chair, beginning the process of what's known as a full mouth reconstruction. Because the work is so extensive, requiring lengthy sessions (the first one took almost 7 hours), I've chosen to have it done under sedation; that's conscious sedation, not general anesthesia, using pharmaceuticals such as diazepam (tradename Valium) and triazolam (Halcyon). Since if at all possible I avoid using drugs, even aspirin, I didn't know what the effects of those substances would be, and to say I was apprehensive is an understatement.

The experience, especially of the first dental session, was like jumping off a cliff into the unknown. That's a perfect analogy, because going into this, I had the sense that it was akin to an initiation -- spiritual, emotional and physical. Getting my teeth fixed is essential in order for me to move forward with my life. Given the longevity genes on both sides of my family, I could live another 40 years. I'd like to enjoy that time, in good health, and not being self-conscious about the appearance of my mouth. More than that, in order to have complete integrity, you've got to "walk your talk", and having a mouthful of teeth in bad shape that you're not attending to is not consonant with that.

Besides, I love food. I love to cook, and I love to eat.

Anyway, the first round, which involved therapeutic work, root canals and such, is over. I have a couple of months off before I start the next round. After it's all said and done, almost every tooth in my mouth will be crowned, including a couple of permanent bridges, and my bite will be different. As someone I was describing the process to said, this is almost like having orthodontic braces, in terms of the ultimate effect. It's an apt allusion, since the main reason my dental health got into this shape is because of the "quack" orthodonture that I was unwillingly subjected to as a teenager. I've been having dental problems my entire adult life. Taking care of it now is helping me heal emotionally as well as physically, and that includes letting go of the past and stepping freely into the future ... which seems to be the work we're all doing right now, in one way or another.

I haven't yet written about this summer's dental work in my blog, because it felt important for me to experience it "live" and let it act on me, without my analyzing it for public consumption. I've had a lot of realizations, which I'll be sharing here later. Suffice it to say, this summer of eclipses has been a turning point.

Comments

[Sharon]

That's a huge undertaking, and a life changing one at that. I am delighted for you. Our mouths say a lot about us and our overall health, as heart doctors will now tell you.

I had braces put on when I was 45. I figured it was then or never. I have never liked the way my teeth look - they are too small for my mouth - and my bite was getting worse as I got older. Fortunately I had a good doctor, who had taken care of all three of my children. It took four years but I did see an improvement. My teeth aren't any bigger but I'm not embarrassed to smile and my bite is better.

May courage and clarity continue to accompany you on this journey ~

[Kitty]

Thanks for your support, Sharon, and especially those words in the last line ... Courage and clarity".

[Cindy L]

I think this is a wonderful, healthy, and courageous step to take. I so agree with you -- that you should face the other half of your life feeling good about yourself. I like the way you put it, "moving forward with my life."

I never liked the appearance of my teeth, either, and had them rebonded recently. Not only did it help repair lost enamel, but improved my smile -- and made me want to smile more. You can't put a price on that kind of improvement. Your work sounds a lot more involved, but you've got the right attitude and I wish you well! We will get to see a photo of your new smile later on? :-)

[Kitty]

Hmm. Maybe even the whole face to go with the smile. :D

[Joanne]

Kudos to you for undertaking this work. It says much about you that you're looking to the future, planning positively. I agree with Sharon, it seems a journey, almost a transition, taking you from one place in life to another. Best wishes ...

[Kitty]

Thanks, Joanne. Now that the transition is in process, I can already see how far I've come.