Source: How To Make Your Wheelchair Comfortable | Focus On Aging

Finally, I did it.  I know I am 62 years old but I still enjoy eating. I will admit that I have been having a rough time eating lately.  I mean I am actually eating with my front teeth, which are beginning to crumble, because my bite is out of alignment.  I am missing so many “molars” (inside joke) and they are beginning to shift.  While in Indy I was informed that I would first have the bony growths, I call them mountains, known as tori removed from my mouth and then they would fit me for dentures.  Tori and dentures can’t occupy the same mouth at the same time so I was going to first have them removed then dentures; which honestly I did not want.  I kept remembering my mother misplacing hers only later to be found in the ashes of the trash we had burned in a barrel in our backyard.  When that was permissible.  Anyway, she was absentminded and so am I.  Needless, to say I didn’t intend to have to remember where I left my dentures in fact I didn’t even think I would have to wear dentures.  Really?  So, what did I think was going to happen?

Fast forward, now I live in Virginia, didn’t get anything but a cleaning in Indy.  The thought of having those tori removed was too scary for me. Now, due to my, I can’t take it anymore mentality, I decided to visit the dentist that my son and daughter-in- law go to.  I must say I was truly impressed with this new fancy place everything is beautifully decorated in teal and white.  The dentist Dr. Bachour and staff are marvelous; I really enjoyed them.  What? Enjoyed?  Am I crazy; did I add how terrified I had been of the dentist.  Growing up when forced to the dentist by my mother, she would give me a Valium before the visit.

So, here I am enjoying the dentist, the things that once traumatized me were a breeze; is that due to the wisdom of age or to the fact that technology has lessened the dental trauma.  Regardless, I went three times, paid for office insurance; the consultation, deep cleaning and moldings to be fitted for Invisalign.  May, I add that due to how uncomfortable and cumbersome the fitting was I was somewhat disappointed.  They appeared to be uncertain and new at this technique.  I asked but was told that they just completed some continuing education classes however, molding teeth was nothing new for them.  Finally I was told what the final cost would be and I was totally blown away.  It would be somewhere between  $25-35K…historically, when frustrated I would have started to cry but surprisingly, I didn’t. I met with her once again, attempted CareCredit but they only approved of about a third of it.  I decided that perhaps something else would present itself.  And it did.

Miraculously, I found another dentist, who turns out is be a provider of what is called “fast braces”.  Already in less than a month my bottom teeth are straightening out and my tops are moving backwards.  And no, I won’t get all my dental needs at this time, but I currently do have the braces, two dental implants, chipping front teeth were sand down and having two extractions.  I am very excited  but I must admit I do feel a little funny being a woman of a certain age wearing braces.  But what can I say this is what happens when you allow a piece of yourself to run down without adequately caring for it.

My Advise:  Take care of your teeth; it is the opening to your health and wellness.