The blog of photographer Kim Ayres

But it feels so big...

“My God, it’s huge!”

“Don’t be silly; it’s exactly the same size as the one next to it.”

“But it feels as though it’s about 4 times bigger than all the others.”

“That’s partly because your tongue works like a magnifying glass, making everything seem larger and more detailed, and partly because you’ve had a gap there for 3½ months so it will take a few days before it feels normal again.”

Finally I have my new tooth in place.

And I’m terrified it’s either going to loosen, crack, get knocked out or get into a scrap with one of the others and knock one of them out instead.

My dentist told me I’m not to use it for 24 hours to allow the cement to properly harden, but because of the disproportionate amount of space it’s taking up in my thoughts, if not my mouth, it feels a bit like being handed a new coat in the middle of the monsoon and being told not to get it wet for the first day.

The root is also feeling a little bruised from all the pushing, prodding and squeezing while the crown was pressed repeatedly into place, then withdrawn, modified by drilling minute amounts off, then thrust back in to be re-examined. Consequently, the slightest pressure on it makes me jump slightly.

Don’t get me wrong, I am absolutely delighted with my new tooth. I’m just feeling a little fragile too.

What the new tooth LOOKS like


What the new tooth FEELS like

26 comments

Andraste said...

Congratulations, looks great! That second picture - I know exactly how that feels. But in some ways, that would come in very handy. You could use it as a bottle opener...

Archivalist said...

Wait....#2 isn't real? So all the terrible things we Americans are told about medicine and dentistry in the UK aren't true?

But why would our politicians and news media lie to us?

Unknown said...

Your smile looks great. Your tooth looks good, and I am never ever ever going to the dentist, if they put you through such horrid gyrations, just to get a new tooth.

Kanani said...

Oh... you always make me laugh!

The tooth looks nice, not really distinguishable from the real ones. I'll bet that set you back a sweet penny... or at least here it would!


So how's is going? By the way, yes you have my little book. My contribution is dead center "Hula Girl and the internal wilderness." Anyway, it was a funny thing. I'd written one piece --short, 600 word description of taking the trip, and then the editor wanted to know more philosophical details. Like why? Now, why is a very bad question to ask me. So I gave her a very long answer.

The book comes out. She's taken both pieces and mashed them together. Heavens. Ah well. What can I say.... it's in print. Whoopedoodle!

The Hangar Queen said...

Hmmm..what a foine set of choppers you have there.

Any chance I'd get to see them in person next month?

Mary Witzl said...

That really got me laughing, Kim, and I know exactly how you feel. I had a novacaine shot for some dental work not so long ago and felt awfully embarrassed walking home afterwards, with my lip the size of a large hamburger.

BStrong said...

"But it feels so big" giggle giggle ha ha.

It looks great Kim. Enjoy your steak.

Dr Joseph McCrumble said...

Don't be ashamed, Kim, to tell us the truth. If you want to sport a rabbit's tooth as some kind of badge, then go ahead. Individuality is something that humans should cherish.

ADW said...

No more pirate gap? Oh well. You look hawt!!!!

Seriously though, I'm glad you got the replacement. I am sure you'll feel better after a while.

Kim Ayres said...

Andraste - maybe I should have asked the dentist for an array of interchangeable fittings, like a swiss-army penknife

Archivalist - I dread to think what you hear about the UK. Certainly here, everyone shudders at the idea of going down the US route of a 2 tier medical system based around who can afford it.

Although bit by bit it's creeping in here, and dentistry is the furthest along that road.

Carole - if I never went back to the dentist I'd eventually be toothless, and much as I love my wife's soup, I wouldn't want to have to eat it every morning noon and night...

Kanani - Woohoo! Page 172 - found it! Love it :)

Hangar Queen - unless you can cross the waters to SW Scotland I'm afraid you'll just have to admire the photos. Much as I'd love to, I can't make it over to Ireland in the immediate future. However, if your travel plans are flexible, do give me shout :)

Mary - it's amazing how different the feeling and the reflection in the mirror can be.

BStrong - I'm terrified of going near hard toffees.

Dr McCrumble - what I really wanted was a large pair of vampire fangs, but they cost extra.

ADW - have you thought about joining Facebook? There's an extra application on it that allows you to be a pirate and steal other people's treasure. Every time I use it, I think of you ;)

Christina M said...

haha, you're looking more complete now :-)

Anonymous said...

Finally! You look as dashing as ever.

Foot Eater said...

That reminds me of a plectrum between your teeth in the second photo. Makes you look like a cautious white Jimi Hendrix.

Kim Ayres said...

Christina - :)

RG - *smug*

Foot Eater - Superb :)

SafeTinspector said...

Its always so wierd how disproportionately large modifications to your oral bits feel to the tongue. Instinctual, I guess. We're conditioned to notice modifications to our mouths because bad things in there can severely impact our lives. Especially back before dentistry.

Anyhoooo.... the tooth looks equally good in both pictures.

ArleneWKW said...

I've undergone considerable dental work in my many decades on this planet. I also regularly dream about my teeth crumbling. Usually I race to see a dentist. I was very pushy and loud in one of my dreams. In some of my subsequent dreams, the office staff turns me away because of this rudeness.

Your new tooth looks like it's always been there.

Amy said...

Congratulations on the new tooth. Emma is jealous! Does this mean that your next self-portrait with be as a wall street exec and not a priate?

Pat said...

It looks great. Don't be surprised if you develop a slight lisp. My only criticism is why do all the good looking men I know insist on having their hair shorn instead of gently trimmed.
MTL has that 'skinned rabbit' look at present. Nothing to do with being Scotsmen?

Anonymous said...

Congratulations on the new tooth! Looks great! I've been through the process of having an implant made/put in for the very same tooth that you have, so I know the feeling of the magnification/fear of losing that you're experiencing. Eventually it will start to feel like it belongs there!

Kim Ayres said...

SafeT - I think it's largely to do with having a great deal of extra nerve endings in the tongue, so everything in the mouth feels much larger

Arlene - dreams where all my teeth start falling out are always pretty horrific and unsettling

Amy - at least Emma will be getting a real tooth growing back to fill the gap :)

Pat - my hair used to hang all the way down my back until 9 years ago when I just got fed up with the amount of time it took to look after it. It's just so much easier to have really short hair

Silentwalker - welcome to my ramblings and thank you for taking the time to comment. If you've been going through the same thing, then you have my sympathies :)

Kuin said...

hahahaha great post...and it looks great...you have your handsome smile back!!!!!!!!!!

Jen said...

That's a really good look for you, Kim. You wear it well!

sarah said...

hilarious!

Attila the Mom said...

“My God, it’s huge!”

“Don’t be silly; it’s exactly the same size as the one next to it.”

“But it feels as though it’s about 4 times bigger than all the others.”

Oh geez. You know, this exchange could sound really perverted if you were talking about a bunch of guys standing next to each other at urinals.

Kim Ayres said...

:)

Amber said...

Try gettng spinach stuck in it.
www.whatididwhen.blogspot.com

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