Posts Tagged ‘likely torture devices’
a step into the future »
Thursday, January 8th, 2009
Considering it’s been far longer since my last dentist’s visit as is recommended, I assumed I’d be shoved into a small (darkened for no reason) room. There, someone would extract all my teeth one by one and tell me to start over.
Instead, I learned I should start flossing so my gums bleed (not kidding). We talked a little about digital cameras (he’s working with a 1.3mgpx from, I think, 1973) and then I had some x-rays, got all cleaned up and was out within a half-hour.
What’s really odd is how I was punched in the ear by innovation:
- The x-rays are all digital. I looked them over with Dentist within in minutes. (Still awkward stuffing a plastic-wrapped wand in my maw.)
- He took a quick pass with the sharp metal doodad instead of digging around for ten minutes. Then used an ultrasonic vibrating wand that took less than five.
- After a quick second pass with the doodad, he bypassed the polishing thingamajig in favor of another spritzing wand. This one pressure washed my enamel with water, air and baking soda.
I didn’t think it’d been that long since my last time-in-chair but now I feel like a retiree handed a digital television conversion box. (Blown. Away.)
Just a couple gripes. The ultrasonic thing was rough. While it’s vibrating away, water jets out of it. This would be fine if it weren’t cold. If anything below ninety-eight degrees hits my teeth my spleen winces.
Then there’s the pressure wash. It’s faster, yes, but it also sprays a pasty grit all over like some sort of Japanese porn shoot gone very wrong. Baking soda tastes terrible and instead of letting me spit it out he shoved that terrifying vacuum tube in my face.
Still, incredibly necessary. These pearly whites (glossy near-grays) are the key to my future. (Not really.)