DDS

I made it through another 6-month dentist visit, and with flying colors. No cavities. They are keeping an eye on a few "shadows," but none have progressed (badly) since my last visit. Now a few thoughts and reflections, mostly about dentistry, but not entirely.

* The headrest is always, always, always going to mess up your hair no matter how you try to position yourself.
* I like getting to wear the now standard protective eyewear, today's glasses were as dark as sunglasses. Nice.
* There was one little goober of toothpaste on the lens at the end of my appointment.
* I requested to wear the lead apron for the duration of my cleaning. The hygienist never said no, but it didn't happen.
* I will never try chocolate-mint flavored toothpaste, not at the dentist's office, not anywhere.
* I like how they always warn me that they are going to spray water and air into my mouth. If you can't handle water (pH neutral water) in your mouth... you've got major problems. Air... I can see that being a bit of an irritant, but not really.
* I asked today if any patients keep their eyes open throughout the cleaning. The answer was yes. Then I asked if I was the strange one for keeping my eyes closed. Not sure what the answer was there.
* If you do keep your eyes open the whole time... what can you possibly be looking at? Stop creeping out your hygienist.
* Just because I say something that's stupid, doesn't mean I'm not serious.
* I asked if any of those pointy scrapers ever break. It happens.
* The brushing machine they use has become more and more gentle over the years. In the 70's it felt like a wire brush, now it doesn't. I'm thinking this is a result of some major series of NASA Space Shuttle experiments.
* I will miss the Space Shuttle when it retires.