An hour on my back
.webp)
Intra-oral scanner
Image source
On Monday afternoon I spent an hour on my back. It wasn’t for relaxation, though not particularly uncomfortable. Bright lights, loud buzzing, murmuring voices, some music I would never have chosen, but what could I say to my dentist? I was in his hands, literally.
I wondered if one of the requirements for acceptance to a dentistry degree would be small hands. After all, dentists work in a very restricted area and there’s not a lot of room for manoeuvre. It’s difficult enough when the drill is being used, but when the scanner is introduced, life becomes interesting.
A lilting
melody is played as the instrument traverses the gums, and it would not be
surprising to see a well-drilled (!) troupe of tiny fairies dancing in front of
one’s eyes. Of course, I would not be able to see them since I always shut my
eyes when I’m at the dentist’s mercy.
Then Steph, the dental nurse, clearly in training, had a turn with the scanner. That was an altogether different experience and Vishal, the dentist, was pleased with her. He didn’t ask if I would mind her practising on me, probably knowing I would agree, but should he have checked?
Meanwhile, I was wondering if dental patients ever dislocated their jaws. Mine were beginning to ache, having been wide open for what felt like hours. I also pondered, again, if and how many times dental professionals are bitten by their patients.
I had
been thinking beforehand about how I was going to entertain myself for the ninety minutes I
had been threatened with promised, but in the end I was there for just sixty
minutes. I have to return in a couple of weeks to have the crown fitted, taking
home with me again the mould that had been made in July.
There was a small piece of broken tooth in the gum, which has now been persuaded from its resting place. Today, my back aches, I have a headache, and my gum is a little sore, but if that is all that ever troubles me, I shall be forever grateful.
That is no one's idea of a good time. Dentists work so close to your brain, any slip up could end it all. Though my husband was a highly skilled and gentle dentist I still dreaded going in. Not at all my favorite time spent with him.
ReplyDeleteI've been known to ask for a change of music or at least a lower volume. I'm paying many $$$, they shouldn't add lousy tunes to my suffering! I'm glad your long appointment went well.
ReplyDeleteI had my teeth cleaned today. I’m always glad when that chore is behind me.
ReplyDeleteDecades ago in my younger days, I worked at a Dental insurance company that trained us to read X-rays and the anatomy of the mouth/teeth. After I left I worked for a dentist and back then, the dentist preferred to train their own assistants. I hated it! The smell of people’s mouths and breath was more than I bargained for. As a child, my dentist didn’t use gloves and I could always taste the cigarettes on his fingers and no mask either. This was in the 60’s. Needless to say, I developed a real phobia about going to the dentist. I have a good dentist and Hygienist now - very gentle and caring.
I glad it's done for you. I've had scans done several times with my Invisalign and it's not fun, but at least it doesn't take too long. I'll see what they do in two months when I have another appointment.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like an unpleasant 60 minutes, but sounds necessary. Glad they found the piece of tooth and removed it. I would ask for Christian hymns, that would be helpful for me.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if the scanning is instead of x-rays? I do think it would have been polite to ask if it was ok for the nurse to 'practice' on your mouth.
ReplyDeleteI agree you should have been asked about the nurse taking her turn to learn. I've been putting off going in spite of many reminders that my check up is overdue, because I know the hygienist will want to do a cleaning and again I will have to disappoint her because the cleaning hurts every nerve in my mouth and I ache after for quite a while. I should make an appointment before the end of the year though.
ReplyDeleteOur hygienist has new equipment; the first thing I noticed was they use warm water instead of cold - game changer!
DeleteNot bitten, but when she was about five, my sister got in a well placed kick. Dentistry was tough in the 1960s.
ReplyDeleteI hate everything they put in your mouth, there doesn't seem room enough and I always want to swallow as well which is not good.
ReplyDeleteI had a back tooth removed in the summer, it was cracked and stubborn to be removed, my face ached for days. Hope you heal quicker.
ReplyDeleteAn hour! Sounds like torment.
ReplyDeleteMy jaw used to dislocate; a dentist showed me that the bone where lower meets upper weren't fully formed on one side. Passion killer when snogging, and liability when at dentist.
ReplyDelete