Go Retire Psychiatrist

Well, I’m ready to wrap up the busted tooth adventure which began on Saturday, June 13, 2026. I guess I have to give you a “recap” (har!) because the whole thing started after I broke off a cap from my upper right, a tooth the dentist would call the old number 4 (I think).

Ironically, that happened while I was flossing. I visited the dentist the following Monday on an emergency basis. That was probably not necessary because I had no pain. That was because I had a root canal there. I think I must have got the crown in Des Moines, which could have made it around 30 years old, believe it or not. Typically, they last only about a decade or so.

My dentist suggested that, because there wasn’t much left of the tooth anyway, I had my choice of letting it go, getting a denture, or getting a single dental implant. I chose the single tooth denture route. That meant getting the tooth pulled.

I had to wait about a month to see the oral surgeon to get the tooth yanked because dentists don’t do that at University of Iowa anymore. I know they used to because around 10 years ago, a dentist pulled a tooth that cracked while I was eating lunch when I was on duty as a consulting psychiatrist at the hospital.

The tooth extraction went pretty well because it was painless. But then I had to wait about another month for the hole to heal before the dentist fitted me for a single tooth denture. They measured the space using a special digital tool that makes precise measurements around the tooth.

Finally, I got the finished product yesterday. It’s a simple plastic retainer with one tooth. The dentist made some adjustments with a reciprocating saw to make it fit just right. After the blood got mopped up, it fit OK.

But I talked with a slight lisp. Having a plastic retainer on my upper palate made pronouncing sibilants a little difficult at first. But the more I talked, the more my speech improved. I’ve never had braces or anything like that when I was a kid, so it was a novel experience.

My dentist told me that I wouldn’t necessarily have to use it just eating meals at home. In fact, that would make it wear out faster. It’s mainly a cosmetic fix. The pictures show it well. A few of the home instructions were a little puzzling.

I didn’t have much of a problem with gagging despite the fact that I’m a notoriously easy gagger. Just brushing my tongue while brushing my teeth sets me off. But the only time I gagged while the dentist was fitting the device was when the pry bar was being used.

I’m not sure about just how the muscles in my mouth are supposed to get used to the denture. Will I have to send them to the gym to do squats?

And if I can’t bite, tear, or grind food, should I just have my wife pre-chew my food for me?

I’m sure I’ll work out the answers to these and other questions before I’ll need to get a full set of dental implants.