I have my Gran Gran to thank for my 36 year old baby tooth. She, like me, was missing lots of adult teeth. With no adult tooth to push it out, this little upper tooth has hung on and on.
At my last visit, the dentist asked whether I’d like to hear about my options for when it eventually falls out. There were a couple of low cost options, including a fake tooth that I’d be able to pop in and out at will. But what I remember most about the conversation is that she told me that having an implant was really the ‘gold standard’ and is what she would push me towards.
For £2,000, I could have someone drill up into the bone of my mouth and firmly fix in a new tooth. It would look beautiful and it would last.
I remember hearing the words ‘gold standard’ and ‘push towards’ and a little alarm bell started going off in my head. That’s when I asked her whether it would be in any way problematic to simply leave a gap where the tooth was. No problem, she told me. The tooth isn’t one that has to do a lot of work. Still, I could see she thought me crazy for even asking.
I nodded and smiled in all the right ways, whilst making a promise to myself that when that glorious, amazing tooth falls out, I will do absolutely nothing and wear my new gap with pride.
Love and courage,
Leah
P.S. My Gran Gran’s name was Marjorie. That’s why I have that name in my website. She was a very cool lady who made amazing cheese and tomato flans and egg custards and always gave us a Terry’s chocolate orange at Christmas 🙂
This is an absolutely beautiful story, Leah. So many times we are told what we should do based on industry standards, beauty standards, or a myriad of other reasons that ultimately have nothing to do with who we are and what we actually need. I love that you heard your intuition, the alarm bells, and asked questions. It warms my heart to see/hear you doing what fills you up, and wearing your new gap with pride. I’ve no doubt it will only add to your beauty. Thank you, as always, for sharing so openly and honestly. <3
I miss you Jessica! So lovely to see your comment here. I hope you’re really well. It’s really interesting/strange to see the pressure we are under to conform in different ways. I think there’s a time when I would have absolutely wanted that implant but now I think I’ll prefer having a gap and a story to tell 🙂 Sending you lots of love xx
Good for you, Leah! I think our society dictates to us too much need for cosmetic perfection! Wouldn’t it be nice if they stressed the option of spiritual awakening in knowing that we are all perfect beings first.
I’m just imagining what a beautiful trip to the dentist that would be – where they gave all the options but encouraged you to make a choice that was right for you based on what was needed for the health of your teeth and what matched with your true values and not the values of a society obsessed with selling us ways to look more ‘perfect.’ Thank you for sharing Bonnie!