Question:
I'm going to the dentist for the first time in about 5 years, the
second time in the last 10 or so (yes, I have all my teeth, yes, I'm a
clean person, no, not white trash).
What can I legitimately ask for?
Answer:
I was sitting on the couch one day with a roommate in college and he
broke his tooth on a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. i said, "hal,
when is the last time you went to the dentist." he said, "nine years
ago." i went to the dentist the next month.
I hate going to the dentist. I really liked my childhood dentist--his
office was in a strip mall in the ghetto in Columbus. It backed up to a
bowling alley, so while you were getting your teeth cleaned, you could
listen to people bowling. He had a huge great dane that walked around
the office (back in the 80's, apparantly, people weren't such pussies
about cleanliness).
He got encephalitis and went kind of insane. So, I stopped going.
It dawned on me yesterday that I'm paying for insurance, so I may as
well go, plus I bleed when I brush, badly. Too much info, I know.
I do enjoy the gas, though--my old dentist let me have it as young as
the third grade.
I was sitting in a bar with a good friend of mine who was telling me
about his first dentist trip after 10 years. He said he didn't go to
the dentist for TEN YEARS and decided since he had insurence now, he'd
give it a go. The dentist did a full exam and cleaning and said he
didn't have one single cavity. He figures that was great but he better
keep getting them checked cleaned to make sure they stay that way.
So, the next time he goes the same dentist who does another exam and
tells him he now has TWO new cavities. WTF!?! This guy SWEARS that the
cleaning actually did something to his teeth to make them more
vulnerable to cavities. I have to say, it's an awefully convincing
argument.
Of course, we were both pretty buzzed so he's telling the story all
elaborate like and pretty much shouting it to everyone at the bar,
whether they are listening or not.
I've been brusing regularly since I was little (some have even said I
was obsessed with it), I floss a couple of times a week (I know less
than they you should), I always go to the dentist regularly for
cleanings, and do everything I'm supposed to do and I've had quite a
few cavities
