We all know the saying, “An eye for an eye & A tooth for a tooth”, but what about “A tooth for an eye!” If you ask Kay Thornton, “A tooth for an eye” isn’t figurative, but quite literal. Kay was diagnosed with a disease called Stevens-Johnson Syndrome 31 years ago & the symptoms led to blindness.
Advancements in medical treatments gave Kay hope in seeing again one day…a day that came recently. Kay sought medical advice from her eye doctor, who found her to be a good candidate for a relatively new type of transplant procedure to cure her blindness. But little did she know that the person used to facilitate her cure would be her own dentist.
Her eye doctor explained that she would need something special to hold the optical lens in her eye…her very own tooth! Kay’s canine tooth was removed by her dentist, then it was converted into a special holder for her optical lens by drilling holes in it. After several hours of surgery, the tooth was inserted into her eyeball. And voila…sight once again.
The mouth, teeth and gums were once thought of as a separate entity from the rest of the body by the general population, but that’s not the case anymore. More and more studies are finding that good oral health can prevent many diseases, such as heart disease, stroke & diabetes. So taking the time to see your dentist regularly, in addition to brushing & flossing daily, is not only important, but a necessity to maintain good oral health.
Fortunately, Kay had a healthy, stable tooth that was required for the procedure. If you are unsure of the health or stability of your own teeth, see your dentist…it could be an eye-opening experience.
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