How are your teeth?
Teeth are a sensitive subject. When you lose one as an adult, you feel a bit emasculated. Lose a handful, and you can develop a clinical depression.
And root canals are a torture which even the CIA would never inflict on Osama. My first one was without Novocaine at age 14. The elderly dentist didn't "believe in" Novocaine. I have had plenty since then.
Plus it costs big bucks to keep good teeth after 45, unless you are one of the lucky ones with genetically strong enamel.
My teeth are mediocre-to-poor. I have one implant so far, many crowns, and a number of failing crowns. My wisdom teeth were pulled years ago. I have some extractions and two more implants on the way, plus a bridge. Most of my teeth have fillings and miscellaneous repairs. My dentist blames it on cigars and bad tooth genes, and says I need a serious big-time periodontistry before he can do any more repairs and reconstruction.
I also lost a few front ones playing hockey in prep school. The brother of my then-girl friend stuck the end of his stick in my face, entirely by accident no doubt.
Whenever I am sent to a new person, eg a periodontist or an implantologist or an oral surgeon, before I open my mouth I always say "Promise you won't say 'Oh my God what a mess.'"
This stuff gets expensive. But even worse is that it is a depressing reminder of ones' aging and deterioration, a memento mori.
Entropy always wins. We pay and struggle, but we always lose the battle.
