My Adventure with Dentures – Part Seven

A big part of this journey learning to live with a complete set of dentures is psychological in nature. Although I know full well I shouldn’t be concerned with what other people think, I sometimes wonder if others can take note of the fact there’s something different about the way I appear and the way I talk. I guess you could say that’s a part of vanity, but still, it makes me wonder.

I saw a family in the cafe’ yesterday that I hadn’t seen in quite a while. Being the good people they are, they struck up a conversation with me. I didn’t share any details about my recent dental work, but instead discussed what we’d normally talk about. All the while, I realized that certain enunciations that came out of my mouth were different than they’d been before. I was wondering how noticeable it was. I wondered also if the appearance of my new teeth was noticeable. These people are fine folks and knew better than to think it made any difference. But still I wondered….

Other than these blog entries and talking with close friends and family, I don’t readily share that I’ve had all this dental work done. I wonder how noticeable it really is. And then I wonder whether all of that really matters anyway. For a person whose livelihood for most of life has been talking with others, it’s a pretty big deal.

Today I was supposed to substitute teach for the first time since having the dentures placed. I was thinking ahead and wondering how all that would go. But due to inclement weather conditions, school was canceled for today and so that will have to wait for another day. I did call the pharmacy today before putting my dentures in and could really tell a difference in the way I sounded, but was readily able to communicate and get an answer to the question I had.

Another part of the psychology of all this journey is wondering what others think about someone who’s had to have all their teeth replaced. I had issues with dental health from a young age and as I got much older, it only seemed to escalate. I know a part of that is daily maintenance, something I had always struggled with. But I also have learned that a part of it can be genetic as well. At the same time, I realized I have friends who are missing several prominent teeth and that definitely hasn’t made me think any less of their friendship. So in the bigger picture, does any of that really matter?

I know all this is a part of the process of learning new skills and getting used to a new norm. I need to remember to be patient, not be so hard on myself, and to take it one day at a time. So much in life is easier if I choose to handle it that way.