(Above: My Teeth, 25" x 25". Digital X-rays transferred to fabric with free-motion and hand stitching. Click on any image to enlarge.)
I'm lucky. Dr. Walter "Jack" Turbyfill is my dentist. If it weren't for him, I would have ended up with dentures (his specialty) years ago. Instead, I have a mouth full of caps, crowns, an implant, several root canals, and some sort of "bridge" between two of my upper front teeth. I also have a bite plate which I dutifully wear every night. When traveling, my bite plate is packed in my carry-on luggage because it was once in a checked bag that was temporarily "lost". I woke up the next morning with aching jaws. I'm a "clincher". Dr. T knows it. He knew just what to do to save my teeth.
(Above: My Teeth, detail.)
Dr. T is an expert in complete dentures and removable prosthodontics. Although I don't think he's taking on any new patients, he still maintains a private practice in restorative dentistry. My case is a full-mouth restoration. He's been practicing since the week before I was born. This coming June will mark fifty-nine years. I am very, very thankful that Dr. T "flunked retirement" at least twice. Every year or two, he gets out his specialized camera to snap photos of my teeth ... for his lectures ... to show how a full mouth restoration should look after (now) eighteen years. Dr. T lectures all over the USA. He's always been on the cutting edge of dentistry.
(Above: My Teeth, detail.)
So, it shouldn't have surprised anyone when he bought a 3D imagining X-ray machine. Just because he's over eighty doesn't mean he doesn't still want the latest, greatest, most advanced new thing in his industry. Since all new X-ray machines are digital, I asked for jpegs of my mouth in order to create this unique art quilt. The ones in the middle are from the new machine. Now, how cool is that!
(Above: My Teeth, reverse.)
I didn't have a vintage textile featuring a tiny, white fluffy dog (like Dr. T's "pride and joy" pets). So, I had to settle for a white cat on the reverse! I had a lot of fun stitching this piece.
I am linking this post to Nina-Marie's "Off the Wall Fridays", a site for sharing fiber arts!
3 comments:
Well, that is just too clever! I'll never look at tooth x-rays the same again. Thanks for sharing.
Unique is right! I don’t know as if I would want it hanging in my living room but it sure would be a conversation starter.
What a clever idea. I think your dentist should buy this quilt.
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