Do you ever put off the dentist? There are really so many more pleasant things to do than sit with a pair of hands in your mouth, while their owner asks questions that require a lengthy answer. Annoying. But, necessary to stay happy and well.
As a child, I was dentally abused. Badly. Nightmarish and ghoulish. The perpetrator was an middle eastern chap with very hairy fingers. Long black curly finger hair on very dark skin. Freakishly big hands. He enjoyed tormenting little girls, and I thought I was the only one. I needed to reach college age before a group of friends were discussing feeling about dentists and his name came up. Funny, we all had the very same abuse and nightmarish experiences under his care. The saddest thing was that when I left the Central Valley, he was still dealing with children at the hospital there. Chilling.
He enjoyed putting the needle right in front of our eyes, while pushing the syringe, releasing a tiny drop of evil fluid to land on our noses. In fact, so close that I ‘m sure we were cross-eyed as we looked up at the dentist we were told to trust. He enjoyed the pain he caused us, we all agreed.
After many years of abuse at his hands, my parents finally changed dentists. At least this dentist was not into torturing children. However, it turned out the dentist before had left decay under all my mercury fillings, so we began again. One tooth at a time. At least that guy gave a prize when were were done. He also had no finger hair.
So, going to the dentist has never been my favorite thing.
With my teaching career came the most wonderful dental insurance. I must say, I didn’t appreciate it as much as I should have. For most of my adult life, my family and I were fully covered, and never missed our six month cleanings and maintenance. My crowns were replaced every 5 years right on schedule, and so, my dental life was good, until it wasn’t.
Thanks to my God Mother, TJ, I had the cutest dentist in the world. A past tennis pro, he was a visual delight, being just as sweet as adorably handsome. He and I watched our kids grow up and move out of the house. After two decades, he announced one day that he was leaving to devote time to retirement, tennis, and golf in Monterey. And just like that, the one dentist that had finally earned my trust was gone. Replacing that relationship would be impossible, for sure. Even coming close has been a chore kept on the back burner.
Last week, I made an appointment for a check up with the dental office here in my little dusty part of Nevada. There are always cars out front, this practice being a busy one. The office staff is genuinely nice, and the dentist, whom I met yesterday, is dentist-y in a good way. Being young, I’ll die far before him, which means he may be the last dentist I need to form a relationship with. All to the good.
After my exam, we decided on two troublesome crowns that need replacement. Then came the bill. It wasn’t as bad as I had expected, but not as good as I had wished. Crowns are expensive.
So, I asked a question.
“Do you give discounts for cash?”
After a conversation with the front office, it turns out that cash patients receive a 20% discount right up front. On Everything. It pays to ask. When two crowns are the topic of discussion, this adds up to quite a savings.
My appointment with my new dental friends will be in July. They promised they would call earlier if there is a cancellation. I fully expect that I’ll have my crowns long before then. I expect they’ll be of average quality and last me the rest of my life, because that’s just the stage of life I’m in.
Living in a small town has so many benefits. My eye doctor’s office called and my contacts are in. My glasses will be here next week. I am looking forward to Bible study with the friends at my new church, and my special friend is coming for dinner tonight. Life is funny. Just when you think you are all alone, new friendships bloom and happiness feeds your soul.
Don’t forget about your dental health, even though it is not the most pleasant thing in the world. It’s always nice to have pearly whites to flash. Smile! It increases your face value.