Tooth Tales
So, at the age of 30, after much dilly-dallying and procrastination, I finally got braces. I didn't think I needed them so much -- my teeth were irregularly shaped since I was a child, I always had teeth problems -- but as long as they were healthy, I didn't want to go the extra distance and put myself through pain. Until someone pointed out that my teeth stuck out and didn't look nice. It got me thinking and a routine visit to the dentist for a clean-up led to much contemplation about getting braces. "You will look nice, you will look better, your teeth will look nicer, blah blah blah..." There's only so much you can resist after hearing all this -- after all, the world is cosmetic and looks matter. And people like us, who aren't blessed with looks, have to do everything to make ourselves be seen. Never knew confidence could be such a bitch and my teeth would hold myself back. So, I gave in and agreed to the procedure, expecting a whole lot of pain and discomfort.
Turns out it was painful but not the kinds I was expecting. The dentist is a really patient man and he is very gentle and caring. After two extractions and minimal pain, I contemplated my life as I reclined in the chair. Fluorescent lights above my head almost gave the room a surreal feel, as if I was thinking of the afterlife, and the smell of chemicals being applied to my teeth permeating my nose. The dentist's biggish-looking pliers-type thing looked like an instrument of torture. Much as I wanted to keep my eyes tightly shut so as not to witness all the metallic contraptions entering my mouth, my curiosity, as usual, was at its peak. So I kept opening my eyes and taking occasional peaks at the scary-looking instruments and what was happening over me as the dentist leaned in. I could see a pair of bespectacled eyes, a nose and no mouth, hidden as it was behind a surgical mask, a pair of hands pushing and prodding my teeth, and an assistant/helper peering in. The doctor occasionally made small talk, which was a relief as I was getting utterly bored. I was all alone and, perhaps, the doctor read my fear and took time to calm me down. I thought how nice would it have been if someone had accompanied me but, you know what they say, about beggars not having the power to be choosers and all that jazz. It's often the case with me.
The first stage is done, I have another sitting on Saturday, and after that progress will be checked and reported every month or two. Hopefully, by the end of a year or two, I will have better looking teeth and won't be too conscious of what guys think. But, as someone said, the toothy smile would disappear. Make what you of it but compromises have to be done and the toothy smile was just one of them. It could be another surgery next, and another -- aesthetics makes the world of people go round and so it shall be. Resistance is futile.
Song of the Day: The Partisan (Leonard Cohen)
Turns out it was painful but not the kinds I was expecting. The dentist is a really patient man and he is very gentle and caring. After two extractions and minimal pain, I contemplated my life as I reclined in the chair. Fluorescent lights above my head almost gave the room a surreal feel, as if I was thinking of the afterlife, and the smell of chemicals being applied to my teeth permeating my nose. The dentist's biggish-looking pliers-type thing looked like an instrument of torture. Much as I wanted to keep my eyes tightly shut so as not to witness all the metallic contraptions entering my mouth, my curiosity, as usual, was at its peak. So I kept opening my eyes and taking occasional peaks at the scary-looking instruments and what was happening over me as the dentist leaned in. I could see a pair of bespectacled eyes, a nose and no mouth, hidden as it was behind a surgical mask, a pair of hands pushing and prodding my teeth, and an assistant/helper peering in. The doctor occasionally made small talk, which was a relief as I was getting utterly bored. I was all alone and, perhaps, the doctor read my fear and took time to calm me down. I thought how nice would it have been if someone had accompanied me but, you know what they say, about beggars not having the power to be choosers and all that jazz. It's often the case with me.
The first stage is done, I have another sitting on Saturday, and after that progress will be checked and reported every month or two. Hopefully, by the end of a year or two, I will have better looking teeth and won't be too conscious of what guys think. But, as someone said, the toothy smile would disappear. Make what you of it but compromises have to be done and the toothy smile was just one of them. It could be another surgery next, and another -- aesthetics makes the world of people go round and so it shall be. Resistance is futile.
Song of the Day: The Partisan (Leonard Cohen)
Comments
Post a Comment