Benjamin Franklin is generally credited with the old saying, “Don’t put off until tomorrow what you could do today.”

That’s always good advice.

I wish I had been smart enough to follow it.

After moving back to Michigan three years ago to retire, I had a lot to do. I had to find where all the golf courses were. I had to buy a dog and a boat and, of course, a much larger snow blower. Then there was restocking the tackle box and a place to dock my boat, which meant getting a cottage on beautiful Hubbard Lake. Then there were the grandkids’ baseball, football, and soccer games to go to.

Then, on top of all that, Father Time painfully informed me that I needed a new knee, for crying out loud. That took me out of commission for a bit. Thank goodness I am on Medicare, or it would have meant goodbye to the boat and cottage.

Although, upon retirement, I had purchased some dental and vision insurance with all the intentions of using them. But, like I said, time got away, and not until I chewed into something really, really hard did I realize I was chomping on one of my own teeth that had given up its last days. I knew then it was time to not put it off any longer.

A call to a local dentist was made and I was in “the chair” a few days later.

I first told the doctor the exam shouldn’t take too long because I only had a few teeth left to look at. OK, maybe I exaggerated a bit, but, as I opened my mouth and he came at me with that pointy sharp thing, he began to describe each tooth, one at a time, to the dental assistant. I couldn’t say anything for fear that pointy thing might go where it’s not supposed to, so I just sat there and listened.

It began, “Tooth numbers one, two, and three are missing in action, number four is cracked in half, number five has bone loss, number six has some decay …”

Well, that went on for about 10 minutes. I swore he was describing the scene of the dead and wounded on a Civil War battlefield. The dentist didn’t show much emotion, but I know he must have been thinking, “There is no hope for this old guy,” or, “Cha-Ching! When I get done with him I will be able to retire, too!”

I suggested we just cut our losses and go right to dentures. Dentists don’t like that. If there is only one tooth left, hanging by a piece of gum, they have ways to make it work out. I said, “You’re the pro, what do you think?”

Doc says first we need a cleaning. I am thinking industrial strength power tools because it has been three years since I I had that done, but he assured me they could handle it and set me up for a cleaning the very next morning. But, before I left his office, I brought up that dentures subject again, and he went over all the options and the cost of each.

Since I hadn’t yet won the PowerBall Lottery, the frugality in me took over, and the fact I am a hobbyist woodworker and that, as a young lad, I was told George Washington had false teeth made out of wood. I think I got this. All it would take is a quick trip to the lumber yard, pick up a piece or two of that pressure-treated lumber, grab my router and Dremel tool and I could knock these out in no time.

I looked it up on Google. Old George didn’t really have wooden teeth, so scratch option three.

I could see what was happening now. The dentist and I would be seeing a lot more of each other. Usually a trip to the dentist is a one-and-done, unless you have a cavity or two. Then they book you for another appointment and you are good for six months.

I shouldn’t have put off until tomorrow what I could have done today, I kept telling myself, because I wasn’t getting just another appointment. I was getting a full plan of attack, kind of like the blueprints when you build a new house or building.

Dentistry has come so far in my lifetime and it’s virtually painless, unlike my childhood dentist who had fingers the size of fence posts and everything he did hurt. So, next year, when I am finally back on track, I intend to buy an extra large T-bone steak and chew the heck out of each and every bite.

So, the moral of the story is obvious: If you are past due on your dental visit, make that appointment today. Don’t wait until “tomorrow”.

As always, feel free to share your experiences with me at gregawtry@awtry.com.

Greg Awtry is the former publisher of the Scottsbluff (Neb.) Star-Herald and Nebraska’s York News-Times. He is now retired and living in Hubbard Lake. Greg can be contacted at gregawtry@awtry.com.