While not pretty, my teeth are solid.  Most of my experiences with dentist has been for cleaning only; however, a few experiences stand out.

In 1952 during my first year in the army, everyone in my platoon had their wisdom teeth pulled – for no reason!  Perhaps the dentist was new and needed experience.

In the small community of Anchorage in Annapolis, I went to a dentist who lived in our neighborhood.  He suggested that I ground my teeth while I slept.  For a considerable amount of money, he made a contraption that I should wear at night.  It was awful!  I decided that I would rather grind my teeth than wear that thing.

Then there was Dr. Lee who discovered a cavity.  I was 60 years old and somehow felt violated.

Note:  At about 80, I got hearing aids and they were always removed for all subsequent dental encounters, and to be fair, some of my complaints probably be blamed on lack of hearing. 

Upon moving to Collington, I got a recommendation for a dentist in Pointer Ridge about 8 miles away.  I don’t remember his name, but we got along quite well.  However, at my next appointment, I found that he had sold his practice to a Russian dentist – Dr. Dmitry Nurminsky – and therein lies a tale.

The dental hygienist told me that when Dr. Nurminsky said “sssssssssonge”, I should stick out my tongue.  I added “sssssssssssonge” to my dictionary and when he said it, I stuck out my tongue.  Then he said another phrase that I didn’t understand.  Not knowing what to do, I stuck out my tongue again and the next thing I felt was that my mouth was dead.  For what seemed a long time he kept fiddling around in my mouth.  At about 83 years old, I found that I had my second filling.

 

Fast forward to my current dentist, Dr. Granger on Enterprise Road.  I like him very much.  He speaks very softly – at least, without my hearing aids.  At a recent appointment, while he was fiddling around inside my mouth, he was mumbling about someth

ing that I thought  he was telling me about my solid teeth – which I didn’t consider important.  However, as I checked out, I was asked “What date would be good to have your 2 fillings replaced?”  Oops, his mumbling was perhaps telling me was more important than I thought.  They have now been replaced.