Maintenance

Did you know that dentists have one of the highest suicide rates of any professionals? It's because everyone hates them, or at least the thought of them. I told my son's girlfriend this bit of trivia many years ago, and she said ever since then she has been especially nice to her dentist so he won't be sad. I love that! I really like my dentist, but for a variety of reasons I didn't see him for a while. When I called last year to make an appointment, I found that it had been seven years since I'd been in. Waiting so long was not a good idea, but I can't get that time back. I take really good care of my teeth, but I don't happen to have dental instruments lying around the house. So when I got my check-up last month, I was told I needed to schedule two appointments for "debridement", one for each side.

Having visited the dentist regularly for most of my life, I didn't really know what this would entail. It wasn't pleasant. I had novocaine injections on the top and bottom (today they did the left side) and then the hygientist went to work on seven years of tartar build-up not removed by my toothbrush and/or dental floss. I'm kind of glad we doing it on two separate days; it lets me feel and see the difference from the done side and the undone side. After the other side is finished, I'll be able to stay on top of -- with regular cleanings and check-ups -- and never have to do this again. The hygienist said that's how it turns out for most people, but she has several patients who have had debridements five or more times because they didn't learn the first time. I have learned. From now on, it's maintenance rather than correction.