A young man came into my office a year ago with an extreme amount of decay and a story. Unashamed to share his past with me, he described a long-term love affair with Methamphetamines. Though he had been clean for six years, the effects of the drug were evident every time he laughed or smiled. Often, people stared at his mouth while he talked. He felt as if he lost credibility with people as soon as they noticed the condition of his teeth. As a result, he hid his smile, the last shackle that kept him tied to an old way of life. God helped him with his addiction; I had to help him with his teeth.
In a practice where I only do dentures and partials, I have seen a growing number of people in their 30's with massive tooth decay. Though they are young, they have little choice but to have their teeth removed and replaced with dentures.
The drug itself is not the culprit, as many believe, but the habits it creates in the person. On the street, it is called Meth, Speed, Ice, Crank, Glass, and Crystal. It is cheaper and easier to obtain than Cocaine, and the high lasts around 12 hours rather than Cocaine’s one. It is hardly surprising that Meth is a popular drug. As the number of users increases, so does the devastation. According to the American Dental Association, Meth rots teeth quickly by causing dry mouth, cravings for soda, tooth grinding, clenching, and long periods of self-neglect.
Part of my patient’s recovery and break from his past was starting over with a new smile. I made him look so natural that people who had never met him before did not even suspect he was wearing a denture. People who already know him give compliments on how much younger and more handsome he looks. Naturally social, he is seen in church laughing easily, smiling and joking. He doesn’t know it, but I overhear girls in the congregation talking about how good he looks. I can’t help but smile to myself knowing that for some people, “Mysterious Ways ” just may include a trip to the dentist.
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