I’ve reached this venerable or is it
vulnerable age, when I’ve had to come to terms with the fact of decaying teeth!
Therefore this necessitated me trotting off to my dentist and accepting her
advice that I can no longer hide behind the myth of managing mastication of old
age culinary fancies with decayed stumps of grinders which were sadly beyond
recourse of saving. Hence it was the only option to have them extracted while
there was still some visible protrusion, so as to avoid intrusion like gum cutting,
and thereafter settle for a denture to replace six uppers, four on the left and
two on the right! Thankfully the remaining teeth are my own, though needless to
say, some are capped.
It’s not that I’m an octogenarian or even
septuagenarian yet, the age bracket of folks with whom I always associated
dentures. I’m a mere sixty six or ‘clickety-click’, to use ‘Housie’ parlance!
Now even more, I figured, after acquiring my new dental device. I was under the impression it would be just
that; a misfit in my mouth which a close friend reminds me, never remains
closed and goes ‘yakety yak’ with garrulous advancing age. My fears thankfully
were allayed I must admit, as the denture is light and easy and a perfect fit.
Vastly different to the clumsy set my dad used to term his ‘take out teeth’, shoving them in and out
of his mouth with alacrity, almost akin to a party prop on special celebratory
family occasions, with a view to amuse his grandchildren! Bless you dad for managing uncomplainingly
half a century ago as my denture contrastingly, is comfortable to wear, has not
interfered with ‘That Certain Smile’ and poses no problem when I eat, nor
affects the taste of food. At times though, I must admit if I try to eat and
converse simultaneously I do feel a sense of choking. Older, more seasoned
denture adventurers reassure me that it is nothing more than a fear or phobia
that I’ll overcome with regular use of the appliance.
Interestingly, one hurdle I faced while
dear dental doc with her genteel and gentle manner was demonstrating to me the
technique of insertion which I accomplished with aplomb, was surprisingly, the
challenge of removal of the prosthetic. This proved to be my bugbear. Being
arthritic, with deformed fingers that are miserably incapable, totally lacking
in strength and restricted to use of my right hand alone which fortunately reaches
up to my mouth, but not able to seek support of my left as it is incapable of
stretching similarly, owing to restrained elbow and shoulder joint mobility, I
was trying to coax her to let me ease out the denture with the obtuse rear end
of a tweezer. She considered this the weirdest suggestion ever, but I convinced
her it would work without damaging either my gum or the denture. Eureka, it
did!
We Persons with Disability (PWDs) are
innovative, especially in India, forced sometimes as we are into unforeseen situations
requiring ways and means of quick thinking to grapple with challenging circumstances that confront us, and
many a time to even to seek out solutions to tough subjective daily
requirements of living, with a view as well to have these heeded.
Glad to
mention anyway, that within a few days of use and trial to extract the denture
with my single finger, albeit awkwardly, I’ve mastered the art and mustered the
necessary strength; hence discarded the tweezer…
In the final analysis I’d like to advise
that daily dental care is preferable to a situation of dealing with dentures.
Dental treatment is relatively pain free compared to the past, is sophisticated
and implants are available today for lost teeth, but entail time consuming
dental sittings and pinch the pocket. Truly, there is nothing like preserving
original teeth perhaps for an entire life span. Regular care and check ups are
the answer! I’ve been careless, and now in old age I cringe that it’s an
absolute must to take double trouble over denture protocol and care. Dear Readers, please don’t lose your teeth to
a slothful attitude…
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