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drscottWe went over to Lou C's for dinner and were joined by Frans and Lou's roomie, Wade. I'd never met Wade and her turned out to be a charming, slightly loopy linguist, just my kind of foil. He studies variations in pronunciation for a local speech recognition-based company. After the fine if somewhat delayed (due to coals that went out!) dinner (steak, chops, lots of wine) we squished into Lou's smaller hot tub for more conversation.
Mike had had too much to drink to drive, so I drove us home in the pickup, which I'm not used to.
Today I went to the dentist. We switched over to a very cheap dental insurance plan now that we pay for it all ourselves, but it seems to be working out -- it's an assembly-line operation in a strip mall, but the dentists are competent if recently-minted. For $170 a year for both if us we get two cleanings and exams each plus coverage of "necessary" items at low out-of-pocket charges; for example, today's large filling was $60 out-of-pocket.
The operation itself didn't go totally smoothly; when removing the clamp around the tooth after finishing, part of the new amalgam chipped off, and he had to redo the whole thing, meaning another 15 minutes of holding my mouth open. But it's better than Tufts Dental, where I used to go -- there they would often have to wait awhile after each step to be checked by the instructor.
Because I grew up pre-fluoridation, I have fillings in almost every molar. This filling was the first old one I've had too have replaced because of deterioration; probably all of the ones I got in my teens will be going soon, so that's another 10 or so to do in the next decade. Ick. My one tiny gold filling (which I got at Tufts because each student had to do one gold foil filling even though they are rarely used) will probably last forever.
Mike had had too much to drink to drive, so I drove us home in the pickup, which I'm not used to.
Today I went to the dentist. We switched over to a very cheap dental insurance plan now that we pay for it all ourselves, but it seems to be working out -- it's an assembly-line operation in a strip mall, but the dentists are competent if recently-minted. For $170 a year for both if us we get two cleanings and exams each plus coverage of "necessary" items at low out-of-pocket charges; for example, today's large filling was $60 out-of-pocket.
The operation itself didn't go totally smoothly; when removing the clamp around the tooth after finishing, part of the new amalgam chipped off, and he had to redo the whole thing, meaning another 15 minutes of holding my mouth open. But it's better than Tufts Dental, where I used to go -- there they would often have to wait awhile after each step to be checked by the instructor.
Because I grew up pre-fluoridation, I have fillings in almost every molar. This filling was the first old one I've had too have replaced because of deterioration; probably all of the ones I got in my teens will be going soon, so that's another 10 or so to do in the next decade. Ick. My one tiny gold filling (which I got at Tufts because each student had to do one gold foil filling even though they are rarely used) will probably last forever.
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Date: 2004-08-18 02:21 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-08-18 02:48 pm (UTC)I just noticed the term "bling" a few months ago. I'm apparently too selective in my media habits.
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Date: 2004-08-18 02:57 pm (UTC)Yeah, I was sorta vaguely aware that was pseudo-hiphop. I confess ignorance.
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Date: 2004-08-18 03:13 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-08-18 02:55 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-08-18 03:01 pm (UTC)After a couple of lack-of-anaesthesia events at my dentist when I was in high school, I didn't see a dentist again until 1987. My new dentist completely convinced me that it's possible to have dental work done in a pain-free environment. I feel asleep during a root planing, for goodness' sake. Now I enjoy the entire process. But then, I've always been able to work with my mouth wide open while drilling.
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Date: 2004-08-18 03:34 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-08-18 03:45 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-08-18 03:48 pm (UTC)…
He took out his trusty drill
And told me to open wide
He said he wouldn't hurt me
But he filled my whole insiiiide
Dr Longjohns
Don't you ever go away
'Cause you thrill me
When you drill me
And I don't need no novocaine today
…
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Date: 2004-08-18 03:51 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-08-18 07:31 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-08-18 02:37 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-08-18 02:46 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-08-18 02:49 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-08-18 02:55 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-08-18 03:12 pm (UTC)I am, like, so blown away!
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Date: 2004-08-18 03:33 pm (UTC)I shall start wearing my glasses on a beaded chain...
I will wear my trousers rolled. Like a patient etherised upon a table, thus returning us to the main theme of unpleasant medical practices.
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Date: 2004-08-18 03:48 pm (UTC)My dentist growing up was the son of our next door neighbor. He chided me about my teeth and brushing sometimes, but he actually was pretty good.
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Date: 2004-08-18 07:35 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-08-18 09:37 pm (UTC)[makes tail-wagging motions]
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Date: 2004-08-18 03:10 pm (UTC)I just didn't want to give him a big head. I really know he's 32.
Uh, oh. the "barbs" and lies are a flyin' :-P
Date: 2004-08-18 03:22 pm (UTC)In the very early 70's, my siblings and I used to go to this old codger of a dentist who really shouldnt've been a dentist at all.
He hated kids and would tell us to stop crying and such as he drilled into us sans novicane and such. We were deathly afraid of him. My youngest sister (now 45) went to the orthodontist next door around the same time, who's waiting room was pink. Both offices were in a 1930's era Art Deco inspired tall office building in downtown Tacoma.
Then around 1975-1976, I went to a new dentist, a modern chap in a modern dental office where the equipment was considerably more advanced, even had private music for us to listen to if we wanted etc.
Then the last dentist was similar (80's to early 90's), I think I had doubts whether he was gay or not. Used to wear dress shirts and ties until sometime in the 90's where the tie dissapeared. He's in his 40's I think now. I used to deliver pizzas to him at times during the mid 80's when a delivery driver for Domino's Pizza.
While the dentist isn't my favorate pastime, it's not so bad most of the time thank goodness. I need to find a dentist and have my teeth cleaned at the very least.
Re: Uh, oh. the "barbs" and lies are a flyin' :-P
Date: 2004-08-18 03:34 pm (UTC)Re: Uh, oh. the "barbs" and lies are a flyin' :-P
Date: 2004-08-18 03:44 pm (UTC)I also need to get my eyes examed as well. It was 1999 when I got new glasses.
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Date: 2004-08-18 04:10 pm (UTC)Nobody responds to my Deep Thought posts, of course!
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Date: 2004-08-18 07:38 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-08-18 04:10 pm (UTC)(laughing quietly to himself while at work)
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Date: 2004-08-18 06:06 pm (UTC)The dentist told me that the silver ones are only supposed to last 10-15 yrs.
Luckily I have good teeth otherwise I'd be screwed as I am allergic to all the locals.
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Date: 2004-08-18 09:35 pm (UTC)locals vs. tourists
Date: 2004-08-18 10:26 pm (UTC)Sometimes I feel like I'm allergic to all the locals as well. Luckily, we have enough tourists for me to get some action.
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Date: 2004-08-19 07:14 am (UTC)