Guest post by KBW:
It is time for me to go to the dentist.
How do I know I am due for a visit? Did I get a postcard with a tooth wearing a lab coat looking at it's watch saying 'It's about that time.'
- No.
Was there a friendly reminder left on my voice mail from a pleasant sounding receptionist?
- No.
Are my teeth aching or my gums bleeding?
- No.
Do I have to have my wisdom teeth removed?
Actually, I am lucky, I was born without wisdom teeth. My dentist told me it was an example of evolution. So on those diagrams that depict a monkey on all fours turning into a man walking upright, I'd come after that upright man, wearing a big wisdom toothless smile.
The reason I know I am due for a visit is simply because it has been ten years since my last one.
Gasp, how did this happen?
Well, when I moved out of my parents home to live in downtown Toronto, I stopped going to the dentist. I didn't have coverage. I was an aspiring actor and until I got enough paying gigs as a union actor, I don't have benefits. So just pay for it out of pocket, well I would but all that pocket money I had went to rent, food and new headshots (so I can get that elusive union gig). This was my excuse for the majority of the ten years, but for the last few years I have been a working actor, with benefits. Yet, I still haven't gone to the dentist.
Are you afraid of the dentist?
Yes, I am afraid of the dentist. I am afraid they will lecture me when I tell them it has been ten years since my last cleaning. I am afraid they will call me a liar when I say I floss regularly. I am afraid that when we have are little getting to know you chit chat before we start I will make a bad joke (which I often do) that will offend the hygenist's sensibilities and as a result they will take out their frustrations on my mouth. Or our chit chatting will continue into the cleaning process, and I will feel obligated to try and grunt out a conversation with my gums bleeding and my lips cracking from dryness. So what tv shows might I have seen you in? Mwarner Mas. Pardon me? Corner Gas.
Most of all I am afraid I might have a cavity. I've never had one, and I like that about myself, I know it is a trivial achievement, but it my trivial achievement.
I know avoiding the dentist is unwise, perhaps there actually is some wisdom I missed not having those teeth.
So today I started my search for a new dentist. Already I am leaning towards the ones that advertise themselves as being gentle and understanding. I am especially curious about the ones that have tv or movies you can watch while your teeth are being cleaned. This is not to say I don't want to interact with my dentist, I do, just not during the cleaning. I also like the websites that have pictures of the dentist, because A. I want to see how their teeth look and B. I do hope they look nice. Because although I don't want to talk while they're cleaning my mouth I do want to have a trusting relationship with them. After all no one not even our closest loves ones will ever clean your teeth, and it is a vulnerable position to be in, mouth open unable to talk with someone seeing truths about your habits, do you smoke, drink too much coffee, eat too much sugar, grind your teeth because the world stresses you out.
I guess to any dentist that might be reading this I just want to say be gentle, not only with my teeth but with my feelings, I don't let just anyone into my mouth.
After a Facebook status of 'What dentist should I go to?' To which only two people responded with 'A sober one' and 'Rosedale Family Dental Care' although both were good suggestions, I decided to just look on google maps with the search of dentist to find the closest one to me. After checking all their smiles and seeing that they had tv's to watch I called Avalon Dentistry avalondentistry.ca wish me luck!
Now if you'll excuse I need to floss.
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