Episode 192 : Dial D for Dentist - Part 3

It probably gives an impression that he completed his dental education in pre-WW2 Germany. Actually, he isn't such a bad sort.

One evening, I told him I want a set of temporary false teeth while the ceramic ones get ready. He tried to dissuade me saying that the ceramic ones would be ready after a day. I was adamant and told him I didn't want to go to work with half broken front teeth. So he fixed them.

Now, to fit the false teeth in the dentist had made stubs out of the teeth that remained. When I went to work, I was glad I had the falsies fitted in. The previous day I had to attend a meeting and I am sure everybody in that room focused their eyes on how my teeth stubs looked like instead of listening to what I had to say.

When I went later to get the ceramic ones fixed, I asked him how would he take the temporary ones out. Very calmly he said "Oh, I'll just use a hammer and chisel."

I suppose he thought ignoring my gaping look was reward enough.

Actually they have a machine that rests over the gums and lightly applies pressure on the binding cement. The falsies come out in a matter of seconds. Hardly the equivalent of a hammer and chisel.

But yes, he did use something equivalent of a hammer to set the ceramic teeth in place. Just like how he used a rubber plug to stretch my cheek muscles, he gave me a similar plug to bite into.

'Apply all the force you can, otherwise the binding cement will dry before the teeth set in properly.'

'What if the teeth loosen after some time?'

'You come back here and we'll set it in for you. The cement should last a few years unless you break your teeth again.' he said.

He checked the teeth after I spent 15 minutes of constant biting. He shook his head. 'You make things so difficult for me...' he muttered and returned with an implement to force my teeth in.

And how did he do it? By hammering. I think it is the only time I ever paid anybody to hit my teeth!

By now the cheek muscles had loosened and I found my upper jaw resting not quite in sync with the lower jaw, particularly the front teeth. So I told him that the teeth do not lock in the front, that I can feel the lower teeth scrape against the back of the false teeth.

'I never liked teeth in the lower jaw' he said and proceeded to grind out the top to accommodate the false teeth.

Maybe I was wrong, perhaps he did complete his masters in Germany...

It is two years since my last visit. Now, why did I recall all this? Because my cheek muscles have loosened a little more and I think the binding cement needs a little fixing.