Dentistry as a Profession -- Looking Down in the Mouth?

Modern Dentistry Has Come a Long Way Even in the Last 30 Years!

When I was a kid, I wasn't wild about going to the dentist.

We lived in a tiny town on the flat plains of Montana... and going to the dentist meant killing a Saturday and taking 2-hour trip to Billings--the nearest, largest Montana city that had dentists (at least those dentists that worked on people). Maybe it was just the times--but the dentist we went to not only had bad breath, but he had big hairy fingers. The equipment was all a sort of light-blue-green and the noises were all a dripping-sucking noise of the little sink by the chair where you'd spit after he rinsed your mouth after drilling with the obnoxiously whiney drill. He'd pull over the huge mirrored focus-light so that it would shine into our eyes as well as our mouth. And, getting X-rays was also a pain--because (as a kid) my mouth wasn't that large but he'd cram those sharp-edged films into my mouth. I didn't like dentists, I didn't like the drills, I didn't like the needles, I just didn't like any aspect about getting my teeth checked or worked on. Thank God that I inherited pretty decent genetic propensity to cavity-resistant teeth. (The only thing good about traveling to Billings for our dental checkups and appointments was that after that ordeal was over, we'd have a special treat--we'd eat at one of the first "fast-food" restaurants I can remember -- a "Sandy's" Burger Joint. I still have fond memories of those cheeseburgers and the chocolate milkshakes they'd come with.)

Then, when our family moved to New Mexico, I got to know more dentists ... because once, while roller-skating I made a face-plant on some concrete... thereby removing a chunk of my upper front tooth. Three or four weeks later, I was in my regularly scheduled karate class... and I skillfully stopped a fellow student's ill-positioned foot with my mouth. Thereby removing a chunk of my other upper front tooth. Almost an exact break like the first tooth. The dentist said that the insurance company would never believe it.... except for the X-rays to prove it. Thank God we had dental insurance..

Whether you like dental assistants or dentists, you will find the dentistry professions featured in the media (usually as comedy characters). From Sinbad's antics in the movie "Houseguest" or Bob Hope in "Paleface" or Mathew Perry in "The Whole Nine Yards".... you'll see that being in the "hot seat" doesn't always involve drilling. Well.... sometimes.
The Main Operations Place at a Dental Office - Where Dentists Work

The Main Operations Place at a Dental Office - Where Dentists Work 

Dentists in Motion ... on the Big Screen (or whatever size your TV is!)

Finding Nemo (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)

Finding Nemo (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)

From the Academy Award(R)-winning creators of TOY more...0 points

The Whole Nine Yards / The Whole Ten Yards (Double Feature)

The Whole Nine Yards / The Whole Ten Yards (Double Feature)

There goes the neighborhood! Hit man Jimmy "T more...0 points

Little Shop of Horrors (Snap Case)

Little Shop of Horrors (Snap Case)

An alien plant which lives on blood changes the lives more...0 points

Cactus Flower

Cactus Flower

Walter Matthau stars as Julian Winston, an easy-go more...0 points

Houseguest

Houseguest

Get ready for riotous laughs as funnymen Sinbad (T more...0 points

The Strawberry Blonde

The Strawberry Blonde

Oscar-winner James Cagney ("Yankee Doodle Dandy," more...0 points

Novocaine

Novocaine

NOVOCAINE - DVD Movie0 points

Reign Over Me (Widescreen Edition)

Reign Over Me (Widescreen Edition)

Adam Sandler, Don Cheadle, Jada Pinkett Smith and more...0 points

The Pink Panther Strikes Again

The Pink Panther Strikes Again

When Chief Dreyfuss escapes from an insane asylum he more...0 points

Snow Dogs

Snow Dogs

Make no bones about it -- Disney's SNOW DOGS is a more...0 points

The Secret Lives Of Dentists

The Secret Lives Of Dentists

In the tradition of American Beauty, acclaimed director more...0 points

Eversmile, New Jersey [Region 2]

Eversmile, New Jersey [Region 2]

[Non-U.S. Format (PAL) Region 2 U.K. DVD - This wi more...0 points

10

10

When Dudley Moore finds out from his dentist where more...0 points

Good Luck Chuck (Unrated Widescreen Edition)

Good Luck Chuck (Unrated Widescreen Edition)

Not a movie for kids younger than 20.... way too m more...0 points

The Paleface

The Paleface

PALEFACE - DVD Movie0 points

Almost Heroes

Almost Heroes

It was a time of heroes. Well, almost. They were h more...0 points

The Dentist's 'Chair' -- Where Dental Work Usually Happens!

The Dentist's 'Chair' -- Where Dental Work Usually Happens! 

The Dental Chronicles? Well, This is My Dental Story.

And I'm Stickin' With It!

Shining Light On Our Molars (and Other Teeth!)Later, our family moved to Guam. The big dental event for me on Guam was when I was getting my degree at the University of Guam. My teeth had been bothering me -- particularly when I was under stress.... such as during final exam weeks and such. So, I made an appointment to get my wisdom teeth pulled out. The dentist--a very nice Filipino doctor--convinced me to have all four wisdom teeth pulled on the same day--because he said if I got only two taken out, I'd never come back to get the other two taken care of. So, I agreed. And didn't realize that the day I chose for my appointment was during the first week of the new fall semester. When the appointed day arrived, he gave me four shots of Novacaine anesthetic (one for each side and each jaw)... and he and his dental assistant started working on me. This was at 8 in the morning. By noon, I had all four teeth out. Didn't feel a thing.

The doctor was one of the most gentle dentists I had ever had. It also helped that the dental assistant was one of the most beautiful gals I had ever seen. She was leaning over me during the whole operation... so getting work done on my wisdom teeth at this dental office was very pleasant.

The only problem was that the next morning I had Physics class lab at the University. The Novacaine hadn't worn off yet (or maybe the extra pain-killer pills were also working well). So I didn't realize that while I was sitting at the front row of tables I was distracting the professor by having my jaw drooping open and drooling/bleeding onto the table. He came over to me, pointed to the mess on the desk, and recommended that I leave the class for that day. What a great way to start class (it didn't work out well, either, I was so far behind the following week that I had to drop the class.)

Since then, though, I've come to appreciate dentists.... sort of. When we moved to California, dentistry had advanced such that I was finally able to fix my two front teeth (remember the roller-skating and karate technique?)... with the resin-etching bonding to create natural-looking front teeth so I wouldn't look so "gap-toothed". Great for creating a nice smile.

Now, my wife works at a dental office--as an office manager and receptionist and insurance billing specialist. And, of course, her dentist (her boss) is the dentist I go to for all my dental work. The doctor is also very gentle--but with all the advances in technology, the X-rays are way more comfortable (and you don't have to wait for them to develop the film after the X-rays--they go straight to being a computerized image as soon as the images are shot). Also, the drills, lights, and other equipment are smaller, lighter, and more ergonomic--and are thus more comfortable for the patients

Dentistry Decorations?

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Dentistry by the Bay... eBay, That Is!

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The High-Intensity Focused Light - Used to Help Dentists Find the Cavities in Your Oral Cavity

The High-Intensity Focused Light - Used to Help Dentists Find the Cavities in Your Oral Cavity 

Dentistry by the Books!

Dental Practice Transition: A Practical Guide to Management by David G. Dunning, Brian M. Lange

Dental Practice Transition: A Practical Guide to Management by David G. Dunning, Brian M. Lange

Practice management is one of the key elements in the more...0 points

Show Me Your Smile!: A Visit to the Dentist (Dora the Explorer) by Christine Ricci

Show Me Your Smile!: A Visit to the Dentist (Dora the Explorer) by Christine Ricci

It's time for Dora's checkup at the dentist. Dora more...0 points

A Few Words from the Chair: A Patient Speaks to Dentists by David Clow

A Few Words from the Chair: A Patient Speaks to Dentists by David Clow

The first and only book written for dental profess more...0 points

Going to the Dentist (Usborne First Experiences) by Anne Civardi

Going to the Dentist (Usborne First Experiences) by Anne Civardi

This series introduces very young children, in an more...0 points

Dentistry with a Vision: Building a Rewarding Practice and a Balanced Life by Gerald I. Kendall, Gary S. Wadhwa

Dentistry with a Vision: Building a Rewarding Practice and a Balanced Life by Gerald I. Kendall, Gary S. Wadhwa

Written as a novel, this book models a real-life s more...0 points

Take Care Of Your Teeth (Rookie Read-About Health) by Don L. Curry

Take Care Of Your Teeth (Rookie Read-About Health) by Don L. Curry

The popular Rookie Books expand their horizons - t more...0 points

The Business Of Dentistry (General Dentisty/Practice Management) by Raj Rattan, George Manolescue

The Business Of Dentistry (General Dentisty/Practice Management) by Raj Rattan, George Manolescue

Department of Health, London, UK. Text explores th more...0 points

Just Going to the Dentist (Little Critter) (Look-Look) by Mercer Mayer

Just Going to the Dentist (Little Critter) (Look-Look) by Mercer Mayer

Mercer Mayer's very popular Little Critter is on h more...0 points

The Excruciating History of Dentistry: Toothsome Tales & Oral Oddities from Babylon to Braces by James Wynbrandt

The Excruciating History of Dentistry: Toothsome Tales & Oral Oddities from Babylon to Braces by James Wynbrandt

For those on both sides of the dreaded dentist's c more...0 points

I Love My Dentist - The Secret to Creating an Exceptional Patient Experience by Cary Ganz

I Love My Dentist - The Secret to Creating an Exceptional Patient Experience by Cary Ganz

This book will provide the reader with the tools, more...0 points

Where There Is No Dentist by Murray Dickson

Where There Is No Dentist by Murray Dickson

Community health workers, educators and individual more...0 points

201 Secrets of a High-Performance Dental Practice by Bob Levoy

201 Secrets of a High-Performance Dental Practice by Bob Levoy

PROVEN TECHNIQUES TO HELP YOU "TURBO CHARGE" more...0 points

Dentistry: An Illustrated History by Malvin E. Ring

Dentistry: An Illustrated History by Malvin E. Ring

A pictorial history of dentistry, which traces the more...0 points

A Trip to the Dentist (DK READERS) by Penny Smith

A Trip to the Dentist (DK READERS) by Penny Smith

Back in full force with 7 all-new titles, DK Reade more...0 points

A History of Dentistry from the Most Ancient Times Until the End of the Eighteenth Century by Vincenzo Guerini

A History of Dentistry from the Most Ancient Times Until the End of the Eighteenth Century by Vincenzo Guerini

This is a reproduction of a book published before more...0 points

A Day in the Life of a Dentist (First Facts) by Heather Adamson

A Day in the Life of a Dentist (First Facts) by Heather Adamson

Children will explore a typical day of a community more...0 points

The Tooth Book: A Guide to Healthy Teeth and Gums by Edward Miller

The Tooth Book: A Guide to Healthy Teeth and Gums by Edward Miller

Every child studies dental care in school and this more...0 points

Create your own collection of Squidoo lenses by starting here!

Just click on the icon below -- it's easy, it's fast, and best of all, it's FUN!

Squid graphic courtesy of Squidoo Squid Graphics For Your Lenses! by GreekGeek.

Open Wide and Say Aaaah! ... Actually, You Don't Have To. Just Drop a Note!

  • rogerrph Mar 1, 2012 @ 1:51 pm | delete
    great job, keep up the good work in your writings!
  • marryjacksion Nov 17, 2011 @ 4:47 am | delete
    Nice lens. I like the way you shared your experience, really great, Nowadays you don't have to fear from any dentist. there is new advancement is found in dentistry.
  • UKGhostwriter Mar 5, 2011 @ 11:39 am | delete
    Ahhh! I wonder if dentists learn to understand that sort of wide open mouth conversation.

    Excellent lens!!
  • jasmineann Mar 5, 2011 @ 8:24 am | delete
    I have always had good dentists. My first dentist was wonderful with children. Even before I really needed any dental work he let me ride in the chair and he gave me some money !! So I had very positive ideas about going to the dentist! He was such a nice person and chatted about interesting things all through. Never hurt me even years later when i had a cavity filled and then had to have 2 wisdom teeth out! Those first two were in my 20's and easy but I had 2 out in my late 30's and they were much more challenging and I had to be in hospital for those - just for the day and a much longer recovery. My dentist then and now are great though and i still don't mind too much going.

    Great lens and lensrolling to my Wisdom Teeth Notes For The Wise lens.

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