Oct 7 - Dentists; Your Friendly Neighborhood Torture Specialists

DzzzzZZZZZzzzzz. DzzzzZZZZZzzzzz.

We all know that sound. If you don't, you're not human and have never had a cavity. I've had one... or three... or... a dozen.

I'm blogging now just as the Novocaine from my latest visit is wearing off (only 3-1/2 hours later). It was for a molar that's been filled three or four times over the years and is now ready for its crown.

Fortunately, I'm insured because the crown costs over $1,000 (even though insurance only covers 50%). Why only 50%? Once a tooth is crowned, the repeated visits for new and larger fillings finally end.

Over the years, I've had braces (twice), two prior crowns, 7-9 teeth removed (including the wisdom teeth before they even broached the gum!), TMJ jaw movement therapy (not as bad as it sounds) and a root canal. BTW, forget the 'horror' stories about root canals. Other than it taking a long time, it did not hurt at all.

Actually I prefer Dentists to Doctors. I've never gone into a Dentist's office with a raging sore throat, runny nose and eyes, horrible cough and have him ask me, "So what brings you in today?" Dentists look in my mouth and can tell me what's wrong! My brother-in-law is a Dentist, although he lives 2333 miles away and is no use to me in times like this.

I'm not sure why people don't like Dentists. Maybe it's the drilling or the sound. And each Dentist is different in their techniques (of course, these also evolve over time).

In the Navy when I had my wisdom teeth removed (mandatory as I was going to be serving on a Submarine), they didn't even put me to sleep. A ton of Novocaine, covered my face and removed the two on the left one week and the two on the right the following week. I felt the pressure and the pulling and saw blood flying out of my mouth. Once it was done and I went to the Mess Hall to drink some lunch. Easy.

I had one Dentist back on Long Island who was a fan of Nitrous Oxide (laughing gas) and after my first visit (lol) so was I.

My first childhood Dentist (Dr. Kravitz) had fingers that smelled like Frito's Corn Chips (I'm assuming it was soap related). This was before the latex glove revolution. Which reminds me - how much do you HATE that everything is covered in plastic now? Oh, and I miss Spit Sink. I hate having my mouth filled with liquid and then sucked out with that tube vacuum. Yuck.

Oh, and how about those X-Rays! They've gone from those sheets that need developing to my current Dentist (props to Dr. Carl Farless) who has a PC monitor at each chair and the images pop up instantaneously! How cool is that?

Anyway, bottom line is, support your local Dentist. He (or the rare She) is there to make your mouth better which if having a nice smile isn't enough for you, adds joy to the Art of Eating - and who doesn't want that!

Shouts out to Drs. Kravitz, Lurie, Juliano, Abrishamian/Silkman, Farless and at least three others whose names I don't remember. My 23 Teeth thank you.