dental revelation

for years, i've "hated the dentist."

i went through those awkward middle school years with braces and dealt with retainers in addition to the twice yearly check-up and cleaning. i always just sucked it up and did it, though i do believe there was one cavity filling incident that left me in tears after whimpering that it hurt and my dentist practically yelling, "oh it doesn't hurt!"

so anyway, i'm not very trusting of japanese dentists (the general state of japanese people's teeth doesn't do a lot to convince me otherwise) and have now pared down my dental visits to the one time i'm home a year.

so, i went to the dentist yesterday.

my neighbor is a dental hygienist and she made the experience actually enjoyable. she shut up when she had her hands in my mouth, and asked easily answerable questions when she didn't. finally someone who gets it! i thought.

and i realized that i actually really like getting my teeth scraped and picked, polished and flossed. i love flossing, and someone else will actually do it for me?? it's a perfect deal.

but what i also realized, was that i don't actually hate THE dentist. i hate MY dentist.

eh well, i only see him once a year and even that is just for the final check, a glace at the x-rays, and everyone's favorite, "how's japan?" question.

i managed to come out with no cavities and of course a shiny new toothbrush, toothpaste and floss (which i will be using religiously to avoid cavities which could results in actual one-on-one time with my dentist.)