As retirement approaches, most people begin thinking about things they may have postponed for years.
Travel.
Lifestyle changes.
Housing.
Healthcare.
And for many of us, dental care.
When my Australian dentist presented the treatment plan, I nearly fell out of my chair.
Several missing teeth.
A possible dental implant.
Additional restorative work.
The estimate was more than I had expected.
I remember driving home feeling anxious.
Not because I doubted the treatment.
Not because I questioned the dentist.
It was 2:17 in the morning.
I know the exact time because I had been staring at the clock for hours.
My tooth wasn't just hurting.
It was throbbing.
The pain seemed to travel through my jaw, into my ear, and up the side of my face.
For most of my life, I considered myself a practical person.
I wasn't interested in luxury cars.
I wasn't interested in expensive watches.
I wasn't interested in keeping up with trends.
When friends talked about cosmetic dentistry, I often assumed it was something celebrities did.
After all, my teeth worked.
"I'll wait until next year."
"It doesn't hurt yet."
"I can't afford it right now."
"I'll just be careful with that tooth."
These are phrases dentists hear every day across Australia.
