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Home > Praise and Thanks Volume II |
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16 months of Dental Care
My most fond memory of my childhood was getting my tooth pulled out. There were no such thing as dental office back then, so taking care of one’s teeth was almost none-existing. Whenever a shaky tooth was found, I would use my fingers to shake the tooth to its roots, the tie a sewing string as deep as it can go down as tightly possible. Then I would try to yank it out, or if the situation was dire, would tie to a door and sit down hard. But alas! Many times the string would snap from the force…
Whenever that kind of situation rises, I would ask my older sister or brother for help. It’s such a silly thing looking back but, my older brother or sister would tie the string securely on the tooth and say “ahh!” As soon as my mouth was opened, he or she would strike the back of my head and pull it out. Because of such practices, my lower two from teeth came out well shaped, but the remaining two were slightly pushes back.
The first time I had ever went a dentist was arriving in United States. For the first few years I had a job in Northern Telecom Company. In the introduction they were explaining me of the medical benefits and of dental benefits as well. But I have never been to a dental office, and I, being young was careless about it. But many people around me how important to take care of my teeth and for the first time went and visited the dentist. As the dentist inspected my teeth, he generally looked on with pity. I get a routine check-up every 6 months, but prior to that I never had till almost at the age of 40 went, my teeth was probably caked with plaque. After the Korean War I had lived in the country side for short time. At that time, there were no such thing as a toothpaste, and even salt was very rare. To ‘brush’ teeth one would have to get some find grains of sand and ‘brush’ using the finger. It was the time when the enamel on the teeth would be stripped off and, laughs with those ugly teeth. It was considered the normal thing.
As I had resided in the United States for a long time, moving from here and there, I have met many dentists who had done my treatment. Before I met the current dentist, the previous dentist was very calm demeanor, and had carefully treated my teeth. However, the dentist was just a general dentist and did not do special treatments like, gum surgery, pulling out tooth and other oral surgeries. After seeing my teeth for several months he said my gums needed to be operated and also I had severe bone loss on the 4 molars. Because of the dire situation, a specialist was needed and he introduced me to the said orthodontist. After having had an appointment and inspecting, the amount of money needed for the treatment was outrageous! Normally a dental operation is expansive but that made my mouth open. With my current insurance, besides the plaque clean up, everything else was from my own personal money only. I knew continue living like this was dangerous.
Then I remember someone. I used to work in an office along with an elder whose son happens to work with me during the Fridays weekly. The elder’s wife works in a dental office. I asked about Elder Yoon about my dental problems and he introduced me to the office where she was working at. Like the old saying, “Do not hide your illness but present it out loud.”
After thoroughly examining my teeth and took x-rays of my mouth, he explained what was needed to be done. First, he took a needle and poked every single teeth and gum are to see how much bone loss was there. All the more, the 4 molars were on the verge of being pulled out. Finally, he also told me that the canine teeth conditions were so bad that they needed immediate sugery. What surprised me was that the dentist’s age was nearly of my age but still healthy and truly does a nice, clean work. I learned later that his middle name was the same as my first name, Paul.
I had inquired how much the cost of getting my teeth fixed would cost, (knowing full well when the actual operation begins,) and the financially would be stressful to pay off. He said very well, and said I could pay in multiple installations. I had decided that despite the price, since I had met someone who does his job extremely professionally, I felt it was necessary to get the operation done. He first wanted to test an operation by doing a bone graft on one of my canines. Since the medical technology was very advanced, the bone supporting the tooth would just require some sort of powder to be mixed and placed in the tooth to reinforce it. But some people the body accepts, and some rejects it. In my case the powder had become like the bone and successfully supported my canine.
For the next 16 months while doing the operation on the 2 canines, the 4 molars’ gum, the dentist had applied the said powder to make them like bone. On 18th of June, the final operation was completed in success. Despite the lengthy time, it felt short because of how much cares Dr. C. Paul with Mrs. Yoon as the assistant. The operation was to place a machine in the cramped space of the mouth, and then to carve out part of the gum line, then clear out the debris within the teeth, then put the powder quickly into the missing space, then finally tying the tooth securely into the place. Such delicate operations were done with so much care and craftsmanship how can I not be thankful? I give also thanks to the Lord for letting me meet such valuable people, and the two people mentioned above.
On the other hand, my wife 20 years ago had started using dentures but they were now too loose, noisy and painful to use. The previous dentists suggested pulling out all of the teeth and using full dentures on both top and bottom. My wife tried all she can to preserve her tooth as it was but to no avail. I told Dr. C. Paul about this and he said he would look at it.
After examining her teeth, she would be able to keep her remaining teeth, and after redoing the dentures, told her how to reinforce them. While redoing her dentures I was able to see the delicate touch and care in his patient along with his experience he had over the tens of years as the expert to make her the perfect dentures. He had taken several days to make the denture – he himself had worked the craft of making it, grinding it, and drilling holes in it etc. He had really thought of the discomfort the patient was having and while sweating toiled on his craftsmanship to make it even more comfortable, even putting his lunch late to have the work done.
After the dentures were secured and having none of the discomfort, the next step was to do a mini-implant of adding three titanium screws to my wife’s bones that were supporting the teeth.
After exposing little part of it, the denture had a small part carved out. Afterwards special epoxy was applied to hold it in place. This operation took nearly 2 hours of time! The operation was so that the denture and the implant were seamlessly applicable. The operation surely was of high techniques requiring many patience and care in the craftsmanship.
Nowadays my wife can pull on a piece of Galbi (short ribs) without worrying. Dr. C. Paul Park appointed us on the 8th August to check on my wife’s denture status.
The cost of the treatment that we were so concerned about, Dr. C. Paul Park gave us a discounted price. I had done a monthly installment of paying off the cost of both me and my wife’s treatment. On the 1st of August was the final payment for my wife’s treatment. I give so much thanks and gratitude to Dr. Park who had sacrificed so much time and effort to give us a treatment without burden of the cost.
I give thanks to God that I was able to meet several important people in my life. I give thanks that I met people who can help me with things that I cannot handle myself. I give thanks to Elder Yoon, his wife and Dr. C Paul Park who had helped with my treatment on my teeth.
(August 2nd 2016)
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Youtuber Reverend? (23,000 views coming soon…) 
16 months of Dental Care