If you’ve been following along with my Twelve by 2012, you’ll have noticed that one of the items was to get my teeth cleaned. Seems like such a banal thing to write on a list like this, but it’s been so long since I’ve been to a dentist that I’m too embarrassed to even tell you how long it’s been. And the situation was getting more dire with each passing day. So, I found a nice dental office with a friendly website, called for an appointment, and made sure to brush up (ha!) on my German dental vocabulary.
I’m not one with a fear of dentists, but it doesn’t mean I like going to the dentist either (obviously). But, I have to say, the entire experience was almost pleasant. The dentist and her staff were friendly, and the practice displays paintings and other artwork by local artists. (How kick ass is that?) More importantly, my teeth are shiny and smooth again, and I found out (miracle of miracles) that I don’t have any cavities. What more can you actually ask for? Next time I definitely won’t wait so long between visits!
Do you have any stories to tell about going to the dentist? Do you avoid it at all costs? Or are you one of those people who goes every 6 months?
Also, I’m in the middle of working on a number of other items from my Twelve by 2012, so stay tuned!
Hi, Mandi,
SO glad you had a good experience.
I hate dentists, always have. Every time I’ve had to have work done, they’ve botched it, making things far worse (drilling too deep and damaging the root & nerve, splitting a tooth whilst filling it, damaging adjacent teeth…the mind-boggling list goes on). A necessity of life, alas, but I’ve just had bad luck with the ones I’ve gone to.
But, like you, it’s been a while so we both have to go soon. It just seems that dentistry is still in the dark ages sometimes (and bloody expensive to boot).
i avoided the dentist for so many years, always putting it off and i went a decade not going :( then one day I had no choice and I realised it wasn’t so bad and I didn’t need as much work as i expected. I now go every 12 months and i always get a clean and polish cause it makes me feel brand new!
@David: Oh geez, that doesn’t sound very fun at all. Hope you guys are able to find a decent dentist in your parts, and that it doesn’t cost too much!
@an expat wife: I hear ya! I’m totally determined this time around to take better care, and get regular check-ups — in the hopes that I can avoid more serious issues later on!
I live in fear of going to the dentists. I just hate people having their hands in my mouth. It kinda freaks me out. However, I was good and went to the dentist whilst I was back in Oz in September and therefore will not need to go for another 12 months.
I love my (now) dentist and go every 6 months. But I hate going. But before this dentist I hadn’t gone in years and was so scared to go but finally did. Whew!
@Riayn: That was smart — if you’re going to do something you don’t like, it’s at least good to know what you can expect. (Although the German dentist appointment wasn’t too much different from an American one.)
@Emily: Wow, good for you!
I’m one of those people who doesn’t go for long long stretches of time too. Last time I was there, it had been three years since my last appointment, and the dentist scolded me a lot and was quite surprised to find no cavities. This time it’s been six going on seven years. Hope my cavity status has remained shocking…fingers crossed, I’m planning on making an appointment once I’m done being pregnant.
@clickclackgorilla: Rather than the fear of the dentist that keeps me away, it’s rather a fear of the scolding for having waited so long. If dentists would only lay off on the major guilt trips, people might actually visit more regularly! (That’s my theory, anyway.) Crossing my fingers that you remain cavity free until the baby is born!