A Big Breakthrough

Last week I had an appointment for a dental cleaning.  I've joked before (okay I was only half joking), that I would rather have 3 annual physicals than one dental appointment.  Sad, but true.  As someone who excels at tartar buildup but not flossing, dental cleanings were at the very top of my "Least Favorite Things To Do" list.

I've discovered there are two groups of people:  those with awesome teeth and no dental issues who LOVE going for their visits...(I lovingly refer to them as "crazy")..... then there's my group.  I've found there are a lot of people like me.  And each time I discovered another kindred spirit who panicked at the thought of a dental visit I rejoiced, confident that we truly outnumbered the "crazy" people.

Over the years each dental hygienist I had extolled the virtues of flossing.  Blah blah blah.  And I would go home and do exactly what I was doing before... with the same results.  Even worse, each time I had a new dental hygienist  I would groan and think "here we go again." I would just get used to being scolded by one person when someone new would arrive.

I dreaded having my teeth cleaned....the picking, the scraping... and more  picking and scraping.  I always felt a little relief when it came time to polish as I knew I was getting close to being done.  Then a bit of flossing......and just when I could see the exit door in my future and was ready to bolt, out would come that pick again.  

And I would inwardly groan.... yet again.

A couple of years ago I went for a cleaning and there was a new dental hygienist.   (Yep you got it, "groan.")   I knew I would get "the lecture" so the moment I sat in the chair I told her what dental issues I had and that I was sensitive (and tired) of hearing about them over and over and over, so please just clean my teeth and don't lecture me.  

I didn't use those words or that tone of voice. I really did try to sound like the pleasant, nice woman I am.  However  I'm sure she thought, "Oh this patient is going to be a true joy to work with!"  

As it turns out, Meredith is wonderful!  Okay, all my dental hygienists have been wonderful, I just haven't fully appreciated their concern and their message until now.  Meredith has put me at ease with dental cleanings and she has gotten this middle-aged woman to use her SonicCare full time and start flossing.  I think she should be nominated for some kind of Nobel Peace Prize for that.   

And guess what??? - the SonicCare and flossing really do make a difference!

Who knew!

I know, you dental hygienists are now all groaning and thinking, "duh!"

So with renewed faith and dental cleanings no longer at the top of my "dread" list I headed to my appointment last week.  Once there I had to fill out a medical form to update my information.  While those forms are important and I understand the need for them, they drive me crazy at every medical office.  I look at this long, detailed form  and immediately glance at the clock wondering if I am really going to be able to complete this before I am called back.

I knew I was in trouble before I even completed the first line.

Name:  okay I got that one.

Date of birth: easy peasy.

Age:  "Easy," I thought, "I'm 53!".  

Just to be safe I started to do the math in my head.  I often lose track of my age.  I can't explain it, except maybe I just have so much I am trying to do and can't multitask like I used to.  Maybe I just don't really care how old I am?

So I'm sitting there in the office waiting room with my clipboard, form, and pen.   This is the conversation I had in my head:

"Okay, I was born in 1961.... this is 2014.... I'm 53.  But wait, I haven't had my birthday yet this year!  What?  I'm only 52?  Seriously? I thought I was 53! Am I off a year???"

  So I did the math again.

And again.  

Each time I came up with the same answer...52.  

And each time I did this in my head I realized I was wasting valuable precious time not getting to the other questions.  I was still on question #3 - my age - which should be a no-brainer!

Finally, pretty confident in my answer of 52, I entered it and went on.

I did get my form completed before it was time to go in.  Whether or not Meredith could read it is another thing.  Now that I'm better about my Sonic Care and better but far from perfect about the flossing, my appointments are much easier - for both me and Meredith!  

I enjoy visiting with Meredith.  We attend the same church and had a lot to talk about.  So in between the scraping and picking..(much less than before)....we chatted.

Finally she was polishing and flossing.  

I could see the exit light in my future!

Then she did it.  

She grabbed that pick again.

And my inward groan turned to an outward moment of humor.  I politely turned my head away and said, "Oh no thank you, there will be no more of that!"  I took her so off guard.  She said, "What...what did I do wrong?!"  

I could only laugh.  I had used my silly voice that I use when teasing Michael, but of course Meredith didn't know that.  And she had never seen my humor before.... only panic and a desire to get out of there ASAP.

I reassured her I was teasing her and told her about my inward groans when that pick comes out one last time.  

It was a banner day at the dentist's office.

Cleanings are no longer something I dread.

I'm comfortable enough there to let my humor come through 
(good for me, maybe not so good for Meredith).

And I left a year younger.

Woo Hoo!!