“Every tooth in a man’s head is more valuable than a diamond.” Miguel De Cervantes (1547-1616)
Miguel amigo, you were a true visionary. Four hundred years ago you already knew the true value of a tooth.
Diamonds might be a girl’s best friends, but they might not be a guy’s best pals.
A week ago, I was fitted with a dental implant (yes, another one) and it indeed cost me more than a good size diamond. But the fault is mine… entirely mine. I am too naïve (innocent, unsophisticated, artless, ingenuous, inexperienced, guileless, trusting, gullible…) take your pick.
The whole thing started rather innocuously. A few months ago, while munching on some delicacies, I cracked a tooth and I had to pay a visit to my dentist.
After examining the damaged premolar, he informed me that the tooth had to come out, but that he didn’t perform that kind of procedure. He then directed me to a colleague (a periodontist) who could do the job.
The afore mentioned specialist performed the task flawlessly. My cracked tooth came out painlessly (the pain surged later) within a few minutes…
My tongue then felt an unfamiliar void in my upper jaw. The man asked me what I intended to do and I told him rather thoughtlessly that I wanted an implant.
Fine he said. I took his answer to mean that he was going to do the entire procedure himself.
But I was mistaken. He told me that yes, he would insert the implant himself, but that later, my regular dentist would attach the crown. They would share the job… and obviously the proceeds.
I should have realized that two plumbers are costlier than one, but I did not think of it at the time.
A dental implant is a rather delicate operation. First a pure titanium screw has to be accurately inserted into your jaw bone. Then, a few months later a uniquely designed crown is attached to the titanium screw.
This intricate procedure requires unique skills and experience and it is of course costly.
But my original mistake was to let two different people visit my mouth. My previous implant was done by a single person and was considerably cheaper.
I have no complaint about the entire procedure, but next time (if ever there is one) I will demand (and advise anybody) to have a single person perform the entire operation. One is company, two is a crowd (especially in a mouth).
Alain
I told my dentist I want a tooth to match the others. He gave my one with four cavities. Rodney Dangerfield