Happy Easter

This week, I am starting gruelling dental treatment to fill a gap where a tooth was removed during the Covid pandemic. I find it hard to chew on that side and sought out a local specialist dentist who does implants. He has glowing reviews on his website.  He took a CT scan of my mouth and did measurements and declared that he didn't feel confident doing an implant, as there is not enough bone density to insert an implant that would otherwise come into contact with a nerve within millimetres of it. Even if he injected artificial bone to augment the bone density, he still feels the implant would fail and cause me 18-months of painful treatment that would fail. He is THE MAN to do implants and even lectures on the subject at University College London, so, if he says it is not possible, then I believe him. He could have just taken my money and done a bad job, but was at least honest. He suggested a bridge would solve the problem more than adequately, so I am starting that treatment on Tuesday. The implant would have cost £4,900. The bridge is costing £4,800. My usual dentist charges £2,400 for a bridge so I asked why the difference. His reply is that he is more skilled in doing bridges and has studied long and hard to get the best techniques. He said, "it's like the difference between having your leg amputated by a General Practitioner or an Orthopaedic Surgeon. Who would do the better job?" I get what he means and have been persuaded to go for the expensive option. I hope it lasts and will see me out, anyway. I don't go on any expensive holidays (or in some years ANY holidays) so I might as well make good use of my savings. The first appointment on Tuesday is scheduled for two and a half hours. The second appointment three weeks later for an hour. So by May I should be in possession of gnashers to die for.

For many decades, I have had an Easter tree - a custom I picked up when I lived in Germany, but which has caught on here more recently too. Each year I add to the decorations and this year bought six clip-on birds to add to the bunny rabbits, chicks and eggs. I decorated it yesterday in advance of next weekend. If you look closely you can count seven birds, six of them clip-ons.  Happy Easter everybody!