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| Category: General Experiences |
Date published: January 23, 2006 |
 There are things about ourselves impossible to change, like our height, the size or shape of our eyes, our bone structure, and many others you could name, but what about the things we can change, should we?
"It's too late now," I told myself. I `d lived with my crooked, yellowing teeth for nearly sixty-one years. It would be vanity, and how could I justify spending the money?" The debate I had with myself was over porcelain veneer crowns, should I do it? If I got them, for the first time in my life I would have straight white teeth.
"Does it really matter to you after all these years?" my husband asked.
I thought a moment before answering, thought of the years I spent hating my smile, and I was one who smiled a lot. "Yes, it really does," I finally said. As a youth and into adulthood, I would cover my mouth with my hand whenever I laughed or smiled. As the years passed, I lost this habit and let my teeth show. I think photos of me are what bothered me the most, they didn't lie, they didn't cover up this thing I hated, my teeth, my yellow, crooked teeth.
"Then go ahead and do it," my husband said. He didn't ask the cost, and I didn't tell him, but it was plenty.
How could I justify spending so much money...especially on myself? I could pay the bills, help my grown children financially, or purchase clothing for the grandchildren. All of my life I'd been doing those very things, placing my own wants and needs on a back burner. With my mine made up, I secured a loan, and gave my dentist the go ahead to proceed.
Before applying porcelain veneer crowns, a dentist has to file your existing teeth into points. I hadn't thought of that when I decided on this procedure. Imagine your smile should the crowns fall out. Not pretty.
Several appointments later, I have a brand new smile. My only regret is that I didn't do it years ago. I'd better not die tomorrow, because I want to enjoy these babies for a few years.
My new teeth don't work quite as good as the old. I fear biting into an apple, even though I may be able to do so, and I had trouble biting my fingernails and so I quit. For the first time in years I have long nails.
You're never too old to change a part of you that has caused you pain, and it isn't selfish or vain for you to do so, it just takes a little self-love, something many of us are a little short of in our lives.
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In My Own Words: Out-of-the-Ordinary Experiences
