Dentist

[mamadeb]

I am very bad to my teeth. I don't brush or floss them as I should. And I don't go to the dentist, really at all. So I am very bad to my teeth.

And it fed into a cycle - as my gums got worse, the more I didn't want to see the dentist for fear of being scolded - I've been scolded by a hygienist and that set off several years of not going. I'd intend to up the hygiene and get them in better shape and then I wouldn't and, well. Bad cycle.

So, with my gums sensitive and bleeding and really, really gross (and hurting - let's not forget hurting), I decided that the scolding would be deserved and last very little time and I should just, you know. Go.

I made an appointment for today. After a long wait (during which I knit a sock and listened to my current course, "The English Novel", on mp3. Great Courses on Tape - wonderful things), Eric (he goes to our shul) looked at my mouth and didn't react in any offputting way. No scolding - in fact, he said that diabetes can wreak havoc with gums no matter what. I know it's all my responsibility, but that helped.

So he took X-rays, and used a device that didn't involve those films they've always used. I have a low palate - those films were painful. This was much better - it fit. And the cleaning? Well, he only tackled my lower teeth this week, and I expected a half hour of picking and grinding and so on. Nope. 10 minutes, tops. It wasn't fun, by any means, and there was relatively little pain.

Dental science has improved in the past five or six years, hasn't it?

I'm going again in two weeks and then we'll see about the other problems I've been experiencing. All in all, not nearly as bad as I'd dreaded.

Comments

[rosehiptea.livejournal.com]

I'm the same way. I made an appointment a while back, and I have all sorts of problems. But because I once had a heart murmur (a long time ago, when I was a kid) they won't treat me without a doctor's release, and then I've been lazy about getting that. One tooth in the back is rotting out.

Thanks for reminding me. And good for you for having the courage. I admire you.

[mamadeb.livejournal.com]

I know it's an extra pain for you but...even having one half my mouth done has been worth it. I can feel and see the difference.

And to have a tooth rotting? Eeek.

[otherdeb.livejournal.com]

Please find out for me if your dentist takes the DC37 Dental Plan. I hate my dentist with a passion. She is a Guyanese Hindu, with the most arrogant, superior attitude I've ever seen.

[mamadeb.livejournal.com]

I will ask.

Attitude does make a difference.

[richardf8]

And in completely other news, I had a doctors appointment and my A1C was 6.3. Doctor was pleased.

[mamadeb.livejournal.com]

Excellent news.

Reminds me that I need to see my doctor again.

After the dentist, I guess.

[kelilah.livejournal.com]

Oh, I hate those films, the ones where you have to bite down and the sides jab into the roof of your mouth and under your tongue. Ouch. I have a small mouth, so those are totally painful.

I'm glad you had a good dentist this time.

[mamadeb.livejournal.com]

Sam the dentist is very good. He just had this nasty hygienist. Also, it takes an hour plus to get to him, which was fine in the days when I didn't work, but not so fine now.

Eric is ten minutes away from my house by bus - 20 minutes by foot.