http://superdadspeaks.blogspot.com/
He has periodontal twelves* where other people have fours and and at worst nines, Larry is my pal.
We talk for hours and I almost never notice that his gums** have receded badly in the last few years.
Larry's black and I am white - well sort of - Irish Catholic. We went to Loyola University in the 1970's and while I drank beer and smoked Luckies and later Marlboros - Larry ate taffy and caramels constantly.
We kept in touch, which is more than I can say about Larry and his dentist.
In an age when most dentally challenged persons get bridges and implants, Larry goes Natural.
Larry is my friend and I wish that he could have been President. He and I agree on Congress and on most other things.
People should not hide behind the color and number of teeth in person's head.
*
Dental charting is part of both initial and periodic dental examinations, and is included in the cost of care. Exams are normally covered by dental insurance.
Charting begins with tooth naming and numbering. The maxillary, or upper arch, and the mandibular, or lower arch, each contain 16 teeth in a full adult dentition. Teeth are paired right and left by size, shape, and function. Beginning at the midline, each arch includes two central incisors side by side. Continuing outward to right and left are pairs of lateral incisors, canines (cuspids), first premolars (first bicuspids), second premolars (second cuspids), first molars, second molars, and third molars (wisdom teeth).
In a primary, or deciduous, dentition there are no premolars or third molars. From the midline, pairs are central incisors, lateral incisors, canines, first molars, and second molars. As the adult dentition erupts, first and second primary molars are replaced by adult premolars. Adult molars erupt behind the primary molars in space created by the lengthening maxilla and mandible.
The widely used universal system, adopted in 1974, assigns the permanent teeth numbers from 1 to 32. Primary teeth are assigned letters from a to t, regardless of their position in the mouth. In the permanent dentition, 1 is the third molar of the maxillary (upper jaw) right quadrant. Numbering continues sequentially around the upper arch to 16, the third molar of the maxillary left quadrant. Number 17 is the third molar of the mandibular (lower jaw) left quadrant, and numbering again continues sequentially around the lower arch to 32, the third molar of the mandibular right quadrant. Teeth may drift due to factors including other missing teeth, malocclusion, malpositioning, or congenital abnormalities.. . .
•Case Type I: Gingivitis is present when inflammation is apparent and the gingiva is characterized by changes in color, form, position and appearance. Bleeding and/or exudate may be present.
•Case Type II: Slight periodontitis is present when inflammation has progressed from the gingiva to deeper periodontal structures and bone, with slight bone loss. Probing depths are 3–4 mm, and there is some loss of connective tissue attachment.
•Case Type III: Moderate periodontitis is a more advanced stage of Slight Periodontitis, with increased destruction and tooth mobility. There may be furcation involvement in multirooted teeth.
•Case Type IV: Advanced periodontitis involves major loss of bone support and increased tooth mobility and furcation involvement.
•Case Type V: Refractory progressive periodontitis is diagnosed when there is rapid bone and attachment loss or slow, but continuous, loss. Normal therapy is resisted, and there is gingival inflammation and continued pocket formation.
**"For his idiotic racist comment last night, will Chris Matthews be flogged and pilloried like Imus was?" tweeted "Shoehead."
"When I 1st heard what Chris Matthews said I thought maybe Pres Obama just looked extremely light-skinned 4 some reason," tweeted "QueenMelmendi."
Brent Bozell, founder and president of the Media Research Center, a conservative media watchdog organization, said the remarks reveal a prejudice on Matthews' part.
"What Chris Matthews is saying is that he doesn't believe African-Americans are capable of giving speeches like that."
