First ever Happy Dental Visit

 

Last week I had the most pleasant dental appointment. Apparently the usual dental clinic which I visit has contracted a retiree lady dentist who works on a part time basis. She only does filling and cleaning/polishing. She did a filling for me earlier and last week I went back for review and cleaning.

In a throaty voice she dished out advice which I can only nod in agreement while she worked on my teeth. First of all she alerted me that two of my premolars which have turned greyish are not decaying but the discolouring was due to the metal filling inside changing colour tone. She warned me against listening to dentists who advise me to do root canal treatment and crowning for these 2 teeth. In between rinsing mouth breaks I told her that was exactly what some dentists had suggested and I was actually considering the procedure since it was not very nice to reveal the discoloured premolars when I smiled too widely. She then retorted that at our age it doesn't really matter and I should just avoid spending money unnecessarily and the pain.

She then went on to say that we can delay filling a small cavity in another tooth because to do so she would have to drill a bit more into the cavity. Other than that she remarked that my teeth are generally in good order with little plaque. We had a short chat about unprofessional doctors whose aim is to make money with me thanking her professional integrity before I left.

Well I don't really know whether her medical advice is sound but she is the first dentist I have come across in my life who doesn't frown upon my set of teeth or makes me embarrassed commenting on them. That is why many people dislike dentists, starting with fear from pain when young and developing into fear of pain, guilt and embarrassment including embarrassment displaying anxiety on the dentist chair.

I have a good laugh when I left the clinic thinking it has probably lost quite a bit of revenue by employing a retiree dentist to save cost.

It was the first time I walked out of a dental clinic feeling happy about my teeth!