Dana L. Yeoman, DDS

Dentures and Implants

The Power of a Smile to Change Lives:  Mimi's Story Part 1

Mimi snapped out of a dream in a sweat.  Nursing an achy tooth for several days, she had begun to dream at night about her childhood dentist.  Needless to say it was more nightmare than reverie.

When asked why she would not go to the dentist, Mimi often quipped, “Why go to the dentist?  They only find something wrong with you.”  The truth was that she was terrified.  Being a good mother, she had taken her own children to the dentist twice a year like clock-work, hoping they wouldn’t harbor the same fears that she did.  Her children all had good teeth and a good relationship with their dentist, and likewise her grandchildren were being taught the same.  Despite knowing what was right and feeling like the world’s biggest hypocrite, Mimi could not bring herself to go to the dentist.

Sometimes when desperate in pain, Mimi would make an appointment, only to “accidentally” miss it later when terror ruled over her desperation.  Embarrassed that she must have made every dental office in the county angry, she was sure she would not be welcome anywhere.  This gave her further resolve to not do anything more about it.  If she could just bear through until the pain subsided.

Today Mimi was eating Advil like candy, but the pain would not quit.  She had heard to put an Aspirin directly on the toothache, but all that did was scorch her gums and taste nasty. And after that the pain was still present.  She knew this angry tooth was not the only one complaining, but it was certainly complaining the loudest.  Mimi had a sneaky suspicion her mouth had already deteriorated to the point of no return.  Her back teeth had been crumbling for a while.  Pieces would break off while she was chewing food, regardless of how soft it was.  Many of her back teeth were broken completely off and there were getting to be precious few left with which to eat.

Setting her breakfast on her kitchen table, Mimi let her coffee get luke warm so as not to aggravate the tooth any further.  Sticking with toast and butter, she carefully ate on the best side, which wasn’t all that great, but did the job.  Mimi did her best to shake off the lingering phantoms of her nightmare.

The phone rang as Mimi sipped her tepid coffee.  Glad to hear from her daughter, they talked about the upcoming holiday celebrations.  Together they planned meals, decided which set of china to use, discussed who would stay in which rooms, mused on visits with old neighbors, and generally chatted about favorite family traditions.  It would be good to have the house full of family again.  The thought of being surrounded by her grandchildren lightened her spirits enormously.  She ended the conversation with agreeing to being in a three-generation portrait taken at the mall when they were together again.

Hanging up the phone, Mimi’s mind was swirling with ideas and anticipation for November.  Absentmindedly taking a bite of toast while figuring in her head how many pounds of turkey they would need, she heard a loud crack that snapped her back to the present.  There were no words to describe her dismay when she discovered its source.

The Power of a Smile to Change Lives:  Mimi's Story Part 2