I started writing out a novel, but fortunately came to my senses.
I have horrible issues. Maybe my story could be used to change things, but it would probably be used against me and I'm not in an emotional place where I can handle a lot of ridicule and mocking right now.
Teeth are a huge class issue. When I had nice, straight, white, movie star teeth people treated me completely different than they do now. I did not have braces, but I certainly looked like I did.
I am at peace with the financial and medical decisions I made. My daughter had severe dental problems (ECC) as a toddler, and they were dealt with. My adult son broke one of his front teeth as a young child and that needed to be capped. My daughetr had impacted wisdom teeth that had to be extracted. That was dealt with.
I had advanced periodontal disease. I always put off extractions until I can't handle the pain any more, but I do not use cocaine or other illegal painkillers. When i had my molars extracted, it was with the intention of having them replaced by partials, but my kids' preventative care was more important.
I tried a flipper when I lost my first top incisor. Nobody told me I couldn't eat with it, just like nobody told me that i would start getting cavities for the first time in my life after my gum surgery and nobody told me that I was likely to get a periodontal infection and need an extraction within the first week or so after one of the cleanings that I spent the heat and grocery money on when my dentist suggested that i get them done four times a year instead of twice a year like normal people do.
I do not choose to go through the rest of my life lisping and drooling with a foul tasting piece of plastic in my mouth, nor do i choose to take on soul crushing debt nor do i choose to "play the system" nor do i choose to put my minor child in the cheapest daycare i can find while i work 5 part time minimum wage jobs.
I stopped going to the dentist when the hygeinist said she was going to "ED-yoooooo-kate (me) that i did not have to let all of my teeth rot out. i must re mem ber where I put my tooth brush. I must re mem ber to call my dentist every six months (it said three months on my chart) to sked yool an ap oint ment. I must eat yucky vegetables (I've been a vegetarian for 42 years and vegan for 25) and not spend ALL of my food stamps (I am retired on a very small investment income and have never been on public assistance) on yummy candy"
When I politely informed her that not only is English my native language, it was also my major in college, she looked disgusted, made a motion with her hand as if she was brushing away an pesky fly, stuck the instruments back in my mouth and continued....
"I am going to ED you kate you that you do not have to let all of your teeth rot out...."
That was about six months ago. Even thinking about dentists gives me panic attacks. My adult child takes my minor child to his cleanings because I.just.can't. I do Dr. Nara stuff and haven't needed an extraction yet. When the time comes, I'll figure out how to use the pliars and the bottle of brandy.
That's the short version and it has been sanitized for your protection.
