A trip to the Dentist

So anyone ever enjoy a trip to the dentist?

I have to say, when I had Super Insurance through my school job in Wisconsin, that it wasn't half bad. I'd get $1000 coverage a year, which in those days covered the cost of TWO crowns/caps, and a wonderful dentist. I was with him from his dating years, to marriage, honeymoon, first kids, you name it. You learn alot when you're a regular in a dental office.

The best was the personal service, and the nitris oxide or whatever the formal term for laughing gas is. Other than the injections and the drilling, oh and the teeth cleaning/scraping, it wasn't half bad!!!

So I move to Tucson. First of all, I can't find anyone who uses laughing gas. What is the world coming to? After 20 years of the stuff, I'm addicted. That was my (literally) high of the visit.
Sigh. So secondly, you either take out a second mortgage to get your pearly whites cleaned, or you take on dental insurance personally.

Being self employed, I found some dental insurance. Generally ONE visit to the clinic takes care of my yearly "dues".

So here I am in Tucson, and my old dental work starts to slowly fall apart, fall out, etc. So, I get this really strong feeling I'm going to lose my front tooth (or half of it) and I make an appointment. The first thing the telephone receptionist says is...you haven't been here in 18 months! I'm like...well it's EXPENSIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (You have to have priorities! I remodeled my house, got married, moved...and subsequently STILL haven't sold my house -- but that's another story) So I get my appointment and come in for my temporary cap. Now let me tell you -- there's a LOT of difference between a nice family dentist you've been going to for 20 years, and a CLINIC. Today's surprise was it was under new management and all new dentists. Oh boy...I've got to train another one all over again.

Right away I ask my new dentist's credentials as he's standing above me, 6 inch syringe in his hand. He realizes I'm scoping him out and I said, "well wouldn't you"? My assistant has a whopping 7 months experience. Hmmm. He did well with the shot, and the drilling--Everything else was left in the capable hands of his 7 month's experience sidekick.

Without too much information here, I'll tell you my front tooth temporary cap fell out within 24 hours. I have five other caps, so I'm surprised at the quality (lack of). Besides, I must comment that the tooth was the ugliest, most ill-fitting piece of clay I'd ever received. I go BACK in for a re-glue. Hmmm....by evening it popped again.

So, it's a long drive to the dentist, and about 10 days til I get my final, so I decide to use denture cream adhesive. (ucky tasting stuff, wow) So, day 4 of my experience, my husband and I are out taking a twilight walk on a rocky roadway. I let go a mighty sneeze...and you guessed it...lost the tooth.

I spent the next day hiding behind a magazine...and got a new, one size fits all, chicklet temporary now. Anytime I forget and smile big, people look twice. There's a lot of public complaints about health care, hospitals, nurses, etc. Better lump dental into it too...

Anyone got any stories to share? My family wants me to take a picture of my chicklet--but I'm afraid it'll end up on one of their web pages....