The Apples Didn't Work for Me This Time.

I went to the dentist for the first time in 8 years. Yes, I bear the shame and confess my laziness of not scheduling regular visits. But as of today, I vow to maintain better oral hygiene and to brush better.

My friend and I mentioned to our boss a couple months ago of having not gone to the dentist in several years. I learned I wasn't the only one that went several years without a dentist's visit! Our boss then made a promise to help us men get hooked up with her long time high school friend, a dentist in near by Santa Ana. So yesterday our boss calls us in and made good on her promise to set up appointments for us with her friend. It was embarassing, but nonetheless we were thankful. Yeah, we be tight like that at work.

It might have been a few more weeks before I would have gotten around to it. I know, I know.

So my appointment was at 2pm today. So I made sure I brushed really good in the morning, swished around the mouthwash really good and smiled. I dunno, I think I'm a nut sometimes. Everytime in the past, including this morning when I had a dentist's appointment, I brushed my teeth 10x better on day of then any other day. Am I the only one? Like as if I could fool myself that 8 years could be erased with 3 extra minutes brushing and swishing. Never again will I delude myself of instant fixes!

1:55 P.M. I arrive at the dental office. Good thing that it happens to be only a few miles away from where I live; if they knock me out, they can stick me on a bus to my apartment! I was hoping 8 years of neglect wouldn't put me out too seriously. Up until today, I was resigned to the fact that I might have my first few cavities. [Sigh] I guess the streak must end. Nonetheless, it was time to face oral hygenic reality.

As I walk around to the front, the back door was open, although the outside gate of the door was closed. I heard a tremendously loud scream, like Westley in the "Princess Bride" screaming on the torcher table. It was just NUTS!

I go in the front door and was greated by Aurelia, the office manager, and another of my boss' best friends. She handed me the initial paperwork to fill out and initial. While doing so, the TV in the waiting room was showing Yu-Gi-Oh. Two little boys with their mother and baby sister were in the room with me. And in the background - that excruciating scream! What the hell is going on here. I stand up and yell out "what kind of gestapo tactics are you using here!!".

Just kidding. I didn't do that. At first I thought maybe it might be jungle noises, to go along with the apparent safari theme on the walls. (I looked more closely and it was actually a marine theme...yup, I was way off). I did get up and ask Aurelia, cuz I was beginning to get nervous.

Me: Aurelia, is that screaming I hear?
Aurelia: Yes. it's their older brother. He's having many cavities filled and getting a couple teeth extracted.

Me: Oh. ok.

I sat back down to wait my turn. Periodically the mother and the brothers would go in and out of the waiting room to be at his brother's side. Each time that door opened - "AAHH!!!...AAHHH!!!." Then I noticed that the mother had been crying for her son during the excruciating treatment. I know it must have been hard. During my wait, I did look over to her, and gave a small smile. For over 45 minutes, the poor kid screamed at the top of his lungs while the dentist did her work. Man, that must have been hard for the dentist work through; just as it was for the entire office to hear.

Finally the young man comes out, tears still running down, and his head and shirt noticably wet from sweating. Poor kid. The dentist then allowed him to pick a small toy and sticker for being a good sport over all. Another satisfied customer!

My turn. The first thing they did was take X-rays. Ok, so far so good. Then Quynh comes over to greet me. I congratulate her, as she is 6 months pregnant with #2. I saw her last at my boss' wedding. We chatted and then asked for some hygenic history. Told her I never had cavities, and that my wisdom teeth all seemed to be out such that I would accidentally bite my cheek while eating. She asked if I flossed regularly. "Nope" I said embarrassingly. After writing some quick history, it was time to go to work.

Diagnosis - I had 2 "mini" cavities, requiring minor fillings. Darn! The apples didn't work for m this time-the dentist had me! I also had a good thick layer of calcium around my teeth, which could be scraped off. I needed a deep cleaning and my wisdom teeth out (which will be later down the road). After she finished initial inspection of my teeth, she called over her assistant and asked for the "sharpening stone". I looked over, and holy cow! She needed to super-sharpen her picks for my teeth. That is a first. I thought, oh great, I'm going to bleed a lot now. And damn, I was still wearing my nice work clothes!

Suprisingly, she was very gentle. Sure and steady handed, but she cleaned me up pretty good. She commented that I had very good teeth; that I could have passed for someone that didn't go to a dentist for only 1 year. As she was scraping I accidentally fell asleep for about 3 minutes. I told her afterwards and she laughed, "oh that's good, you're doing very well by the way". Then after the cleaning it was time to do the minor fillings. After getting numbed up on the lower left side of my mouth, she quickly drilled, sucked, and injected a small amount of clear filling. I couldn't belive how quick that went. I was certainly thankful for her care of my teeth; and mostly thankful that 8 years only got me 2 mini cavities. Again I promise to brush and floss more reqularly.

Before I left, I made an appointment for next month to come in to have deep cleaning. I'm going to ask for a toy on that visit.