Dentistry

My new dentist longs
To chisel my jaw
And cap off a tooth.
The old one admired
My imperfections,
Omitted the obvious
Ploys to straighten
Or brighten or bridle
My impudent tusks--
Where lieth the twooth?
Once he convinced me
(In my best interest!)
To submit to a gingival
Cut and paste.
No lasting effect,
But it boosted the business
And buoyed the mood
Of a young Georgetown graduate.
I endure oral pain
With a stoic's indifference:
I can stand the scraping
And stabbing and gouging,
The drilling and filling
And waterpik-boarding
That thoroughly soddens
My leisure suit.
But I quiver in rage
When the hygienist urges
Some pricey improvement
To fix a few flaws,
Adverse or cosmetic,
Else I am doomed!
I know, I know,
Don't ignore the signs,
But so many signs--
They come and they go
Like flocks of geese
Or odious neighbors,
Portending nothing.