Home dentistry
I had an odd dentistry experience yesterday, though it started ordinarily enough. It had been years since I last saw a dentist, and I was experiencing some tooth pain ( probably sinus-related), so I was in dire need of a dentist. So, I went to the campus dental insurance page, used their MetLife link to look up a recommended dentist, and arranged an appointment.
So, when I arrived at the dentist's office yesterday, I was surprised to find that the dentist was operating out of his house. There were no dental assistants, or other patients, just a 60-year-old man with a dentistry setup in his house. There was a home office (which had a typewriter but no computer!) and a room that had the usual dentist's chair setup. It was a bit cramped, and not too tidy, but it seemed clean. I felt quite odd; this was not at all what I expected a dentist's office to look like. I mean, the guy had a diploma on the wall, was recommended by MetLife, and had all the usual tools (including an autoclave for sanitizing tools). Still, I was nervous enough to plan what I would do if he tried to chloroform me and take me off to his secret sex lair.
But abduction fears aside, the appointment went as usual. He inspected my teeth, and cleaned them (but didn't floss them, which was not a problem, since I'm a good flosser). He poked at the grooves in my teeth with a metal implement, just like my past dentist (but maybe a bit less thoroughly), and announced that I had no signs of cavities. He even X-rayed my teeth and developed the film there, confirming I had no hidden cavities between my teeth. He was friendly and seemed nice.
However, I'm not quite decided if I'll visit him again. The setup was odd enough that it made me a bit uncomfortable. I think I would feel better in an ordinary office with a secretary and assistant, but all the same, the guy did his job well as far as I could make out.
So, when I arrived at the dentist's office yesterday, I was surprised to find that the dentist was operating out of his house. There were no dental assistants, or other patients, just a 60-year-old man with a dentistry setup in his house. There was a home office (which had a typewriter but no computer!) and a room that had the usual dentist's chair setup. It was a bit cramped, and not too tidy, but it seemed clean. I felt quite odd; this was not at all what I expected a dentist's office to look like. I mean, the guy had a diploma on the wall, was recommended by MetLife, and had all the usual tools (including an autoclave for sanitizing tools). Still, I was nervous enough to plan what I would do if he tried to chloroform me and take me off to his secret sex lair.
But abduction fears aside, the appointment went as usual. He inspected my teeth, and cleaned them (but didn't floss them, which was not a problem, since I'm a good flosser). He poked at the grooves in my teeth with a metal implement, just like my past dentist (but maybe a bit less thoroughly), and announced that I had no signs of cavities. He even X-rayed my teeth and developed the film there, confirming I had no hidden cavities between my teeth. He was friendly and seemed nice.
However, I'm not quite decided if I'll visit him again. The setup was odd enough that it made me a bit uncomfortable. I think I would feel better in an ordinary office with a secretary and assistant, but all the same, the guy did his job well as far as I could make out.