HELLO DENT, GOODBYE

DENT, GOODBYE (Chapter 5)

It had been almost eight months since their conflict. Their relationship was still there but most of the time, it felt like its existence was almost impossible. They kept a stable relationship but not actually a happy one.

Eight months passed and the orthodontic treatment of Mr. Monterazas had finally come into an end. He was so excited that his braces were getting removed. Dr. Zibonga explained that Sir Slater's teeth were finally aligned, and the adjacent tooth of the missing tooth was finally on their proper position and now suitable for putting pontics or prosthesis.

At 2 o'clock in the afternoon, Dr. Lipay who specializes in prosthodontics finally came into the dental clinic as was scheduled.

Without further ado, he began the procedure.

The first step was tooth preparation which is a procedure to remove the structure of the tooth to provide space for the insertion of the artificial teeth that is permanent. When the teeth were prepared, Dr. Lipay then did and impression.

Next, he placed an artificial material which is composite to rebuild the structure of the teeth that was prepared that would serve as a temporary crown. This would ensure that the patient will not feel any sensitivity on his teeth. After doing the process, he told the patient to be back tomorrow for the trial of his artificial teeth and then discharged the patient.

The next day stroke, and Mr. Monterazas was back in the clinic.

Dr. lipay tried inserting an object that looked like metallic teeth inside the teeth for proper fitting. He explained that this procedure is called metal-trial.

On the same day in the afternoon, he asked the patient to come back.

The patient was curious that this time, the object did not look metallic but whitish instead. He also explained to the patient that this process is called unglazing.

Dr. Lipay tried fitting the unglazed artificial teeth in order to find some premature contact or other problems on the object. Thankfully, a proper clearance was present. Thern was a good contact too. When it comes to occlusion, the teeth can occlude properly, and that the patient doesn't feel a problem when biting.

When the procedure was done, Dr. Lipay told the patient to be back tomorrow in the morning as they will do the final trial.

Another morning sat. Dr. Lipay and Sir Salter were already in the clinic as early as eight in the morning.

Dr. Lipay began the procedure.

Mr. Monterazas was amazed at what he saw. The object that he saw was now different from its previous looks or form. Based on how he described it: it was shiny, very aesthetically pleasing, and beautiful.

Dr. Lipay then fitted the object which was called Fixed Partial Denture specifically Porcelain-fused to metal crown. When he inserted it in the patient's teeth, he placed cement on it and cured it.

Dr. Lipay told the patient to bite and smile. According to the patient he couldn't feel any problem or that he had no other concern. In fact, he was satisfied with the results.

"Anddd that's it! We're done with the procedure," said Dr. Lipay with a note of intense satisfaction. "Here's the mirror and try looking at your teeth."

"Doc, I----" said Dan. He couldn't contain himself. Although he had a strong muscular build, he couldn't hold back his tears and cried like a little soft boy.

"Oh my—are you that happy?" asked Dr. Lipay. "I am so touched right now."

"Doc, I am the one who is very touched right now. I will no longer feel ashamed smiling in front of people. They will no longer call me 'a handsome face with and ugly teeth'," said Mr. Monterazas happily with tears still on his cheeks. "I AM REALLY GRATEFUL TO YOU DOC—TO ALL OF YOU ACTUALLY---TO ALL THE DENTIST THAT MADE THIS DREAM OF MINE COME TRUE. I WOULD FOREVR BE THANKFUL TO YOUR GROUP OR TEAM."

"Well, I wish they were here so that they could hear how much you appreciate us."

"I WISH I COULD. I CAN NOW SMILE WITH CONFIDENCE," he said. "And I will now be more confident talking to clients."

Dr. Lipay ended the day with a very light-feeling and with very high satisfaction.

On the same evening, Liz and Dan decided to meet at the park to have some serious talk. The conversation lasted until past midnight. It was a very long conversation indeed.

Sadly, there were words that lingered inside Dan's brain, and he couldn't even put himself to sleep.

"Dan, our relationship wasn't good for the past 8 months, I still love you though but it's no longer helping me and actually it's torturing me. I am thankful for the years that we were together. Maybe we were just a lesson for each other or maybe now is not yet the time for us to be together and that we might be destined to meet again in the future with the better version of ourselves and we would become people who will be fitting and perfect for each other. But I guess this time, it's not working. And it's no longer working for both of us. DENT, Goodbye."

Dan was on his bed crestfallen, and his cheeks were stained with tears. The tears were making the pillows wet. His heart felt like there was a hallow on it.

A mismatch of love language clashed between the couple. Dr. Dan loves Analiz so much, but he was always prioritizing his patients that he lost sight of someone who mattered the most --- his girlfriend. Dr. Dan did not notice that Analiz was just enduring their relationship, but she did not give up yet as she still told herself that he was still a good man. Will the things end between them, or will they be able to fix their relationship?