DentistsMy current dentist is called Mr Stiff.
Back when I was at university though, I had enormous pain in my jaw one morning - so bad I went as an emergency case to the uni dentist.
He took one look at the back of my mouth and said, "Ah, wisdom teeth. Impacted. They'll have to come out."
He then reached under the chair and came out with an enormous industrial (and entirely non-dental) pair of pliers, "I can do it now if you want..."
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chthonic, Thu 2 Nov 2006, 14:31)
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British dentistry a stereotype? Yes, in this case...About two years ago, I had to find a new dentist, so I got a referral to a practice from a friend. Unfortunately, the senior dentist in the practice's patient list was full, so I became the patient of his apprentice/understudy. His apprentice/understudy from Brazil, who spoke English so heavily accented that I was unable to understand a word he said, particularly while he was scraping my mouth whilst wearing a surgical mask. I suffer from some hearing loss (thanks to a tooth-related problem and working as a welder) and I had to ask him to repeat everything several times, and often even then I couldn't work out what he was saying. I'm a nervous dental patient, and this failure in communication didn't help matters one bit.
Fast forward to about a year ago. I had a filling in one of my molars fall out, and I made an emergency appointment to have it examined. The appointment was with the senior partner, a British dentist (I'm a Brit in Canada). He took a look, and told me he could fill it immediately. He said that while I could have it frozen, there wouldn't be any pain anyway, so it was up to me if I wanted to have a needle. I opted for no needle. He explained everything as he did it, there was no pain whatsoever, and it was all over in ten minutes. Best dental experience ever. I told the secretary that I wanted to be transferred to the senior dentist, or I was leaving the practice. I got my way, and I now have the best dentist ever. Thank you Dr. Traverse in Burlington.
On another note, why do all dentists prod your gums with an incredibly sharp pick, then say accusingly, "Look, your gums are bleeding! Not enough flossing!" Flossing, my arse. Perhaps it could have more to do with the surgical implement inserted pointy end first into them, rather than a lack of proper hygene. I swear the next dentist that does that to me is going to end up with his pick in his eye.
Apologies for length and lack of blood and gore. Some of these stories are making my stomach turn.
(, Mon 6 Nov 2006, 2:21, Reply)
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