Dentists

I HATE dentists!

I'm not actually sure why I hate dentists - but I do.

I don't think I've ever had a particularly bad experience at the dentists but they come under the 'umbrella' of 'doctors & hospitals & things which are outwith my control'.

Anyway today I had to go to the dentist.  I only go to the dentist once every six months.  Keep reading; apparently that's going to change.

The last time I went to the dentist was in May.  When my whole world fell apart.  My dentist told me he was retiring due to ill health.

Even though I hate dentists I had, in my late 40's, found a dentist that I trusted, he was gentle, he didn't patronise me, he cleaned the plaque off my teeth and said that although I had really bad plaque (every dentist who I've ever seen has told me that) he said that my gums were healthy.

I loved my dentist!  OK that's probably a slight exaggeration but how often do you find a fabulous dentist.  And he only charged me £18 for my check up & clean every 6 months.

Today I knew I would be seeing a new dentist.

My 10am appointment went like this:

Arrived at 9.55am - Very lovely receptionist was not behind the desk (OK, she'd said she might leave when very lovely dentist left). 

Foreign receptionist (OK don't want to be accused of being racist) said 'How can I help?'  I said, 'I've got an appointment at 10am'.

Receptionist - 'Take a seat'.

Never in the whole of the time I have been going to that dentists has there been any more than one person waiting.  Today there were four!!!

I could rant forever about the waiting procedure - but I won't.  This rant is about the dentist;

Eventually got to see him.  Haven't a clue what is name is because he didn't bother to introduce himself. Obviously thinks he is GOD and everyone knows who he is??!!  Checked my name & address, and spent a few mins keying something into his computer????

Then he asked me, 'How often do you brush and do you floss?'  More keying stuff into his computer ensured.  I really just felt like saying - 'You've got all my notes in front of you, all I want is a check up, just get on with it.'

Anyway, eventually he did get on with it.  And he inspected my teeth.

New dentist - 'You've only had check ups for the last few years?'

Me - 'Yes'

New dentist - 'You had fillings when you were younger?'

Me - 'Yes'  (When I was a teenager).  I'm 54 now!!!!

New dentist - 'Your teeth seem fine but you've got a really bad problem with plaque'.

Me - 'I know'

Horrible new dentist cleaned my teeth and got rid of all the plaque.  And he hurt me in the process!

New dentist - 'You need to come back in 3 months time to have your plaque cleaned off.  You have gum disease and could end up with false teeth.  What were your parents teeth like?'

Me - 'I don't know'.

New dentist - 'Did they have false teeth?'

Me - 'No'

Who cares????  Why is he trying to stick me into a 'category',???

And then to make matters worse - once he'd cleaned my teeth he handed me a mirror and made me look in it to see how clean & shiny my teeth were.  I DO NOT want to watch the 'dental procedure'.

And then.............. the 'patronising git (sorry dentist)' showed me a model of teeth with plaque on them.

New dentist said, 'It's my duty as a dentist to tell you that you have gum disease'.

Me - 'The last dentist said I had really bad plaque but he said that my gums were OK.'

New dentist - 'Make another appointment for 3 months time'.

So I've made another appointment for 3 months time.

Can't imagine I'll be going to the dentist ever again!!!!!!!!