Skip to main content

The Dentist

In this episode - The Dentist . . .

Ok, let's just fess up and be honest - you hate going to the dentist! Why? Here's what happens. You wake up the day of your appointment with thoughts of "Oh NO, today is the day!" Your stomach starts to churn; your nerves are on edge; what are they putting me through today? With trepidation, you bravely move forward.

To calm yourself, you tend to your daily routine: breakfast, shave, shower, brush your teeth, floss, and rinse. Then you hop into the car, make the drive, and check-in at the reception desk. Unknowingly your blood pressure starts to rise. You're called into the examination room and slide into the dental chair. Then your mind starts racing.

Here's the reality - we all have horrible memories that cause you to start squirming in the chair. Try to eliminate those bad experiences; those memories become the forefront of your thoughts. The one that stands out for me was circa 1962, in Dr. Sandercock's office in Abington, Illinois. Our family dentist needed to drill out a cavity; he assured me, "No needles, he could do this without Novocain. Close your eyes, open wide," the drill starts to whine - then POW! He hits the nerve. My entire body lurched in the chair.

"Did you plug me into an electric outlet!?"

After that, I don't remember anything the dentist said or what he did. I just wanted out of there! Can you relate?

Subsequently, every time I enter a dentist's office, smell the unique smells and hear the whine of a dentist's drill, my entire body tenses up, just waiting to be plugged in. Like you and your experience, that memory (pain) is burned into my psyche.

Rest assured, this podcast is not about the pain inflicted by a terrible dentist but what happens when you find a competent one. It takes time to find your dentist. After trying out a few, I was lucky to find the dentist I now visit faithfully. Not to relive the drill experience but for preventative maintenance, cleanings, and check-ups.

I'll admit, recently, we had a 25-year-old crown replaced, and I didn't feel a thing! And I'm here to sell you - because it starts with a skilled, friendly dental hygienist. Don't underestimate the value of such a qualified, reassuring individual. Mine is a Gem! And as you can see from the photo, practices safe habits.

Do I still get nervous sitting in the dental chair? I sure do! I'm afraid that horrible experience will always be with me. But practicing the daily habits my hygienist prescribes has kept me from experiencing the sting of that drill for many years now.

And if you're good, you receive a treat - not candy, but a new toothbrush with a travel-sized tube of toothpaste, floss dispenser, Chapstick, and a big smile from her.

I'm Patrick Ball; thanks for listening. See you in the next episode.

Comments

Most Popular of All Time

Beyond Facts-The Deep Dive

✨ In this episode, Beyond Facts: Reimagining School–in the Age of AI . . .   This week's podcast is a bit different; it's another example of how Artificial Intelligence (AI) can offer tools to creatively enhance your analytical presentation of information. We took this week's blog and copied it into Gemini with the question, “If a story is to work, it must, on some level, create an illusion of escape and also achieve a goal simultaneously. Does this apply to my blog post that follows?” What's created is not just an analysis of the writing, but an AI-generated discussion produced “On the Fly” - Enjoy! Did you know that the word "school" comes from the ancient Greek word scholÄ“ , which originally meant "leisure"? Not a rigid schedule or droning lectures filled with "facts," but free time for thinking and conversation. To the Greeks, learning happened best when life slowed down—when you had room to reflect, to ask questions, and to wrestle ...

A Heart Full of Thanks

Oh, the thanks I could think, and the thanks I could say! For the wonderful people who brightened my day. The first one is Lori, my wife, sweet and true, Who knows just the thing and knows just what to do. She whipped up a feast with a smile and a sigh, With corn on the cob and a steak cooked “On the Fly!” My neighbor, Steve, with a mischievous gleam, Said, “No fence work today! No work, it would seem! You’ll paint with some water, some colors so bright, And sign your new painting with all of your might!" I laughed and I said, “But I don’t know that skill! I’ll slap on some paint and see what sticks still!” Then there’s my friends on the Facebook machine, The best group of readers that ever was seen! They read all my blogs and they hear my podcasts, They send all their cheer that's built to last! And Billy and Linda. A Snoopy card in the mail. A wonderful surprise that was sure to prevail! From very good friends, a delightful new tale ! But the thanks didn't stop, no, not...

The Summer Surprise

In this special episode, The Summer Surprise . . .   Well, howdy there! It's me, Huck Finn, and lemme tell ya, somethin' special happened just the other day. We called it "The Summer Surprise.” Phew-wee! That ol' post box, it coughed up somethin' good! Wasn't no bills, nor them pesky ads, and thankfully, no regular ol' rocks neither. Nope, this here was a letter, folded up neat as a pin, looked a bit like one o' them school lockers, just sittin' there waitin' to be opened. It was from young Sierra, a mighty fine friend, and she'd gone and made some pure, honest-to-goodness artwork with her own two hands. My fingers they was all thumbs, just itching to see what kind of wild wonder she'd whipped up this time. I unfolded that paper, careful-like, you know, and bless my bare feet, there it was! A picture of a whole gymnasium and a mini-soccer field, all done up in colors that just popped. She'd used crayons and pencils, and you could tel...

A Pirate's Ponderings

In this episode, A Pirate's Ponderings: Turning 69 with a Classic . . . When was the last time you were so compelled by a quest that you had your bags packed and your boots on before the first rooster crowed? For me, this summer has been exactly that, a journey where the world outside faded away and the one inside my head roared to life. I felt like that young cabin boy in training, with the vast ocean of a great story stretching out before me. My hand was on the wheel, navigating every swell, riding the waves, and eager to see what lay just beyond the horizon. This wasn't a journey across lands, but a flight of imagination that has been an exciting ride. My adventure took off on the deck of the Hispaniola as I became lost on Treasure Island . My imagination soared, and I could almost taste the salt spray and feel the ship's timbers groan as we sailed toward our destiny. Below deck, in the narrow, shadowy depths, I could smell the hearty meals Long John Silver and Jim Haw...