The doctor and I stood in front of the panoramic x-ray.
Where once a healthy tooth stood fast and secure, I now have a titanium screw.
Did you know titanium is the only metal bone will heal around?
A hundred times a day I remind myself that my life depends on the labors of other men, living and dead, and that I must exert myself in order to give, in measure as I have received, and am still receiving. ~Albert Einstein
I’m grateful for the humans who discovered, and administer Novocaine. So thankful for the scientists who explored and found a solution for cracked teeth requiring extraction and replacement that does not involve a plate or bridge!
Granted, my life might not be much different with a gap in my smile, but I appreciate the work of Dr. Connors who painlessly pulled my premolar and screwed an implant into my bone. Months will tick by before the bone and screw become one, but when they do, I’ll get a new shiny tooth.
Lucky!
I was in and out of the office in 36 minutes. We humans can do amazing things.
(An aside…On Sunday night I noticed Henrietta has lost her two front top teeth. The new ones are already emerging.)
Anyhow, after the oral surgeon went over my post-op instructions I asked, “What about physical activity?”
“Keep it light today,” he replied.
The surgeon’s assistant walked me to the front desk. “When you asked about physical activity, were you thinking about yoga?” she asked.
“Yes!” I replied. “Tuesday is yoga class day. Why do you ask?”
“You look like a yogi,” she said.
I was wearing jeans and a blouse…not yoga pants and a tank…
I did breathe deeply while in the chair and held my calm despite lots of metal chatter.
“Don’t do yoga for a couple of days,” she advised. “Too much upside down business. I had contact with another patient who practiced yoga shortly after the surgery and she ended up with lots of throbbing pain.”
“Don’t have to tell me twice!” I replied. “No yoga until Saturday.”
Are we all signaling something, even if we don’t recognize it?
What do people’s reactions to you tell you about what you’re sending out?