The whole tooth
and nothing but the tooth…
the tooth is not free.
Here it comes, dad said,
as he lowered the bucket
and then the handle broke
wiping out my tooth
but the root was OK…
the answer was a crown.
Fifty years of cleanings
with some caries and a bout
with periodontitis,
impact was deep
especially on the tooth…
the answer is an implant.
Braces don’t just align a bite,
chewing was ungainly,
brushing was awkward,
but they were a measured response…
to pull my tooth down
and un-recess the gum.
Preparing for the implant
left a gap in my smile
for a state-of-the-art tooth,
unashamed on Zoom
shameless in person…
a wonder to behold.
Impressions were made.
preparation complete…
twenty ncm secures,
grinding enhances,
buffing polishes,
finally my new tooth.
Twenty-eight hands later
the whole tooth…
nothing but the tooth
MaddogPoetry 