(The title above has nothing to do with the 47th US president. Any meaning suggested is purely a coincidence.)
“My next piece will be penned in the Philippines.”
That was the line in my December 30 ATABAY article, which I wrote during our vacation in the U.S. This piece, which I am now writing, is the “next piece” I had meant to pen after my wife Cher and I got back to our homeland, the Philippines, two weeks ago.
The weary load of the actual long air travel, along with the psycho-emotional build-ups, has made returning to my normal writing mood quite an uphill climb. Additionally, the usual challenge of sparking my writing in a different setting further compounded my dilemma.
The moment we arrived home after a long absence I was confronted with the sight of a house worn out by the forces of nature and the passage of time. The front yard garden needed trimming and a makeover, the long idle car in our garage required restoration to working order – a new battery to be installed, a broken luggage compartment cable to be replaced, a defective passenger door lock to be repaired, an air-conditioning system to be fixed, a flat tire to be vulcanized, and an expired registration to be renewed.
Our front yard Our car
But none of those distractions could have turned off the flow of my writing juices like the glaring reality of my one missing front tooth. "This is Made in U.S.A." – I grin as I quip each time Cher teases me.
Looking back, a week before we flew home to the Philippines, I broke and lost one weak front tooth jacket when I munched on a tough grub in Texas. (Thank goodness, it didn’t happen right after we landed in the US. Dental care procedures there would cost anyone an arm and a leg. I realized this when our friend Edith broke and lost her lower front tooth chomping a macadamia nut while watching Queen Esther play in Branson, Missouri. Fixing it was sky-high.)
Losing and eventually living with one missing front tooth feels self-conscious, socially awkward, and uncomfortable, especially when interacting with people. It may look cute on a smiling toddler, but for a senior, it adds more years to one’s appearance. On top of that, it affects not only your eating pleasure but also your karaoke singing, particularly in songs with lots of “f” words in the lyrics.
The other day, I went to the bank and was glad to find all its staff wearing face masks – a pandemic health precaution hangover. I would stand up for such a precautionary health practice anytime and anyplace, as it would hide my one missing front tooth by wearing a face mask myself.
Yesterday, on a sunny morning, I began the first session of the root canal three dental procedures to restore my one missing tooth. As I sat comfortably on the ergonomic dental chair in the typically cool and tranquil clinic, the masked dentist smiled (I could see it in her eyes) and gently started to prepare for the procedure. The room was calm, with a hint of lavender in the air, and I could hear the faint hum of the dental equipment.
I took a deep breath (heeding the tip: Focus on breathing. Practice deep, slow breaths to maintain a calm state) as the dentist approached. She made a small opening in my tooth to access the pulp. I could feel it (heeding the tip: Educate yourself. Knowledge is power. Understand the procedure you’ll undergo. Knowing what to expect can reduce anxiety.)
I closed my eyes and let my mind wander (heeding the tip: Visualize success. Picture yourself going through the procedure calmly and successfully. Visualization can help train your brain to approach the experience with confidence. Set reassuring drift: “I am calm and in control. I trust my dentist”).
The sensation was strange but not painful, a gentle pressure that felt distant and almost surreal.
She began to remove the damaged pulp. I could hear the sound of the files working inside my tooth, but it felt like it’s happening in a different world. I imagined tiny miners diligently clearing away debris, making way for a new, healthy foundation. (As a civil engineer, I know full well the value of a strong foundation. Heeding the tip: Stay positive. Remind yourself of the benefits of the procedure and how it will improve your overall dental health.)
With the pulp removed, the canals were cleaned and shaped. Her hands moved with precision, and I imagined a sculptor chiseling away, creating smooth and perfect pathways inside my tooth. Each movement was careful and deliberate. She confided to me later that she ensured that every bit of infection was cleared away.
Then she filled the canals sealing them securely with a filling that acted as a protective shield, guarding my tooth as it healed.
I knew full well this was just the beginning of the restoration of my one missing front tooth, but I already felt a sense of accomplishment and relief.
As I sat up and thanked my dentist, I felt a wave of gratitude. The procedure was long and intricate, but it’s a testament to the wonders of modern dentistry and the skilled hands of my dentist.
Leaving the clinic with a lighter heart, I clicked on the top stories on my mobile phone and came across the following headline:
“Trump sworn in as 47th president as US braces for a new era of disruption and division”
It tells of the historic return of Donald Trump to the Oval Office with his promise to end America’s decline. On the flip side, his radical shift in policies, including aggressive actions on immigration, economic nationalism, and cultural conservatism, are expected to create substantial upheaval and polarization within the country.
I was surprised by how bland such breaking news felt compared to the personal triumph of having my tooth given a new lease on life.
Thanks, Doc Angel. Any meaning my dentist’s real name suggested, I hope, is much more than purely a coincidence.
Content and editing put together in collaboration with Microsoft Bing AI-powered Co-Pilot
Head photo courtesy of Cruz Label
Still photos courtesy of E! News, Alamy, FB Smile Concepts Iligan, Shutterstock, and Getty Images
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