Today's Escapade: A Trip to the Dentist

My mouth is still a little numb from getting a cavity filled today. But I had to pause and say that I love going to the dentist! Getting a cleaning is one thing to love-the fresh, clean feeling of a bright, sparkling smile surpasses, for me, even the joy of chocolate. And I live for a short time afterwards with renewed desire to floss and care for my pearly whites.

But even better than that is the feeling of partial numbness that comes with a filling. I'm not being sarcastic at all. I really love it. I love that the dentist starts with that cotton swab slathered in analgesic-type ointment and after a few seconds brings out the shot of Novocaine and he is so careful not to let me see the needle. He is so gentle, I hardly even know he is poking me several times with it, except for that occasional burst of medicinal coolness. And he tells me that he will be careful and he reminds me to breathe (I honestly would have forgotten).

And then the dentist leaves me for a moment with a good movie to watch on a nice flat screen TV placed strategically above my head to make it easier to see. I wait, and focus on the sensations of the Novocaine radiating into nothingness. And then when it's time, I love to have my chair tilted back so far that my head is just a little lower than normal.

Now, the drilling isn't fun. I'm not altogether crazy. The sound is horrible and there is always a momentary twinge as if the drill went just a tad too far, followed by a grimace and the dentist's reassurance that seconds are all that is required for completion. But amid all the drilling, my favorite part is to lay there while the dentist tells me everything he is doing and he goes on and on about what a great job I'm doing. I'm doing NOTHING, he's doing all the work and he's telling me how excellent I am, practically gushing over my composure like I'm some rare talent. Seriously, I was even late and messed up his schedule and he is still all smiles and asks about my Christmas and works me in like I am his most important patient. He even thanks me for still making it in. And on my way out, when I hand over my debit card for the measly $106 dollars to cover my new, shiny, white filling, the dentist walks by the front desk with a quick pause to tell me again what a great job I did and to assure me that no one will ever know I had anything done.

I honestly love it. Granted, I've never had a root canal so my experience is limited, and this is only my second cavity to fill, but really, don't you love going to the dentist too? Does your dentist rave about you, too.