DENTAL CARE

Q: I’m So Embarrassed. It’s Been Seven Years

A:

She didn’t even take off her mask when I first met her. She told me a detailed story of what her life was like for the past several years. Her daughter was ill, and she moved in with her in New York. The last thing on her mind was taking care of herself. Even if she did think about her health, her teeth were low on the priority list. She proceeded to tell me how her teeth were falling out of her mouth as problems got worse. You may ask why she finally came in to see me? The ultimate tooth fell out of her mouth. Up until last week, all the teeth that were falling apart were her back teeth. Recently, a visible cosmetic tooth fell out. The loss of that tooth was the last straw for her. She could no longer deal with the downward spiral. She needed to do something, so she started searching for a dentist. She does live near my office, and she wanted a dentist away from her home for fear that someone would see her. Nobody needs to know that she was seeking dental care. This concern is how far her embarrassment extended. After an extensive search on the internet, she came across our office. She told me how much she loved the style of our office. To top it off, she was extremely impressed with our reviews. Have I ever told you how kind my patients are? They take the time to write the nicest comments about us! Now you know the history of how she got to our office and why it took such a long time. The question in everyone’s mind should center around why her teeth were falling out. I convinced her to finally remove her mask and then assured her that I would not be judgmental or criticize her. I proceeded to examine her mouth. When I counted the teeth that fell out, there were four of them. Each one, though, had a common denominator. I found that the roots of all of these teeth lodged in the gum.

Then I understood what had occurred in her mouth. The missing teeth never fell out of her mouth. Dental decay had ravaged the visible parts of the teeth. When enough destruction occurred, the teeth fell out. In actuality, they cracked off right at the gum line. Think of chopping down a tree with an ax. Slowly the trunk is attacked, and a v-shape cut progresses through the trunk. Once a majority of the trunk is gone, the tree topples over and crashes to the ground.

In her mouth, the same phenomenon occurred. Decay ransacked the tooth until it could no longer stand on its own, much like our tree analogy. What appeared to be a tooth falling out is the remain of extensive decay.

Those missing teeth are lost, but replacements are not difficult to obtain. Through dental implants and permanent bridges, I could restore the mouth to a state of health. Her embarrassment will be a thing of the past, and finally, we are on the road to creating an attractive and healthy smile.

If you are embarrassed about your smile or how your teeth look, please call us. I have so many ways to restore your confidence and make you feel better about yourself. My number is 440.951.7856. Nicole or Cat will answer the phone and help you book your appointment. The hardest step is always the first one. A wise man once said that “all beginnings are difficult.” I encourage you to take that first step. I promise you that you will never look back.

The Healthy Smile 34586 Lakeshore Boulevard (¼ mile west of Route 91 on Lakeshore Blvd) Eastlake, Ohio 44095 440-951-7856 Severance Medical Arts, Suite 603 5 Severance Center Cleveland Heights, Ohio 44118 216-371-2333 www.jeffreygrossdds.com