Charlie Manuel, the manager who led the team to win the World Series, attended the Philadelphia Phillies baseball game on Wednesday as a fan. He had a dentist appointment in Montgomery County, focusing on his recovery from a stroke. Despite challenges, Manuel expressed feeling positive, not just because the Phillies are leading their division.
“I’m feeling good,” Manuel shared. Following a severe stroke last September, he faced significant difficulties. “I couldn’t do anything, had trouble speaking, couldn’t walk,” Manuel recalled. Now, with the support of his wife Missy, Manuel is back in the Philadelphia area to work with a doctor who is helping him regain his speech.
Dr. Robert Bentz, a prosthodontist, explained that after a stroke, the mouth’s structure can change, affecting the fit of a dental prosthesis like a denture.
Manuel is open about discussing and displaying his denture, a result not only of his recent stroke but also of past baseball injuries. “Jerry Reuss hit me in the face with a fastball and knocked out six of my teeth,” Manuel recounted, reflecting on his dental issues even prior to the stroke.
In Norriton, Montgomery County, at Bentz’s facility, Manuel received a new prosthetic quickly. Advances in dental technology, including imaging and 3D printing, now allow for the creation of dental prostheses in a single day. “This technology is much more efficient and precise now,” Bentz noted.
Manuel, still focusing on his recovery, expressed satisfaction with his new prosthetic and the state-of-the-art technology. “It helps boost his personal morale,” Bentz added. “Feeling confident in yourself gives you strength.”
Returning to Citizens Bank Park, Manuel felt back in his element. “I was happy yesterday,” Manuel said. “I was among all the players, chatting with them just like old times.” While residing in Florida, Manuel serves as a senior advisor for the Phillies and remains active in mentoring amateur baseball players.
