Dear Baby Tooth,

I’m sorry we finally had to part ways. You were so faithful and dutiful. It wasn’t your fault that a permanent tooth never developed to replace you. You just carried on amongst your bigger peers as though you were meant to be there.

I’ve seen you getting grayer over the years. The x-rays showed what I always feared; your roots were dwindling. Some dentists told me I needed to have you pulled. Some dentists said you could last my entire life wedged between my other teeth. I felt like you were in it for the long haul. That was until we met with Dr. Gies. (Pronounced ‘geese’…may or may not be pictured below.)

He took some glamour shots photos up close that displayed my worst fear. You were decaying. He said over time you would probably spread your decay to my other teeth and then crumble away. I didn’t want to admit it to you, but I knew it was time to say farewell.

I made the appointment, and the following morning, we had a little photoshoot together before heading into surgery.

Some numbing gel, oral sedation pills, shots, and nitrous oxide (what? I was nervous!) later, Dr. Gies placed the forceps around you and removed you from me forever. Minutes later, I had an implant screwed into my jawbone and a temporary tooth attached.

Just know that even once my implant is osseointegrated and I get my new porcelain crown, nothing will ever take your place in my mouth. We smiled together, enjoyed delicious meals together, and made so many memories. You were with me before any of my other permanent teeth, and I’ll never forget you.

Thanks for everything, baby tooth. <3