Dentistry

Does anyone remember the days when we went to a dentist, gave our name at the desk, sat down with an ancient copy of the National Geographic, and was then led into the dentist by his 'assistant'?

I don't know if everything has changed since I entered the 21st century, or if it just American practice, but  when I went to the dentist yesterday I gave them my name at the desk, then sat down with an up to date 'Woman's Journal'  (so far so good, I am on fairly familiar ground).   

 

It is from there it all becomes unfamiliar.   I am called into an office by a young man and 'interviewed'.  This young man actually used to work at my bank  (that's a problem with being a foreigner, everyone remembers you) and it is his job to find out why I think I need to see a dentist (no lying back in the chair and telling him myself)  and - most importantly - how am I going to pay for it.

 

When he has finished all his paperwork I go back into the waiting room to continue my Woman's Journal until I am led away again by a young woman for an x-ray.  This x-ray machine seemed incredibly old fashioned, like we would expect to see in Britain; the dentist in Norman has one connected to a computer beside the patient.   Anyway, I digress.

 

Finally, when I've practically finished the Woman's Journal, I am led into the dentist's surgery and the assistant goes away to tell this obviously very IMPORTANT man that I am waiting.   I was somewhat surprised therefore to find he was a modest, pleasant, unassuming young man.  He confirmed that I did indeed have an abscess and the antibiotic I was taking would clear the infection in the gum, but it wouldn't reach the infection which was inside the tooth, and for that I needed a root canal treatment.  

 

I told him of my fears of losing the tooth because it held my dental partial and we discussed the options.  It was bad news to me that if I have to lose my lower teeth (the three or four remaining) the upper teeth will have to come out as well, one can't just have a lower denture (he did explain the reason why).    He warned me that there is no telling how long the tooth will last when it has had the root canal done, it might be five years, but if I were his mother he would try everything to save the tooth.    So I opted for that and just pray that I will be dead before it gives out and I have to consider a full set of dentures.

When I had finished talking to the dentist I was led back into the waiting room, then ushered back into the office to make an appointment for the root canal treatment, and given a fully comprehensive detailed plan of exactly how much it is all going to cost.   Which is better than dying of shock when it is all over.

 

MEMO to my loved ones.   I assume you have electric toothbrushes.  Brush your teeth several times a day, like your life depends on it, and have very regular, frequent dental check-ups.

 

To change the subject.    I was talking to my neighbour over the garden fence,  admiring her garden.  She loves gardening and in spite of her rather bad health works very hard in it, she has just put in a pond with all the digging and heavy work that involves, and she was pointing out the flowering plants she has in it.   

 

She used to own the house I'm in and sold it to Mark Roberts, but has a problem understanding that she also sold the garden with it, so she is very proprietorial about it.   A mulberry tree has grown up on my side of the fence, and she is tugging at it, saying she will  come round and dig it up.   WHAT!!!  I say, "I don't want it dug up, I like trees, leave it alone".   She pursed her lips and muttered something about it getting under the fence. 

 

Pattisue rang me while I was doing this to suggest a movie.  I said I would go along with whatever she would like to see, so I am off shortly to see 'Heaven is for Real'.