I really need to go to the dentist again soon, but as a child I felt I had way too many dental appointments. When we first started seeing our dentist he was actually at all of the appointments, and these were needed because I had a few cavities I needed filling. However, after that for the next several years the dentist wanted me to come in every two months, and for my sisters to come in every four months. They told us yes six months is recommended for most people, but these more frequent check-ups were ideal for us. It still seemed odd we had to go so frequently, and after awhile we were only seeing the dental hygienist and did not even see the dentist at all.

I thought it was kind of odd that during most of my high school years I always was going to a dentist for a glorified "teeth cleaning". Some really good things came out of these appointments, such as becoming better at brushing my teeth, and the suggestion to get the Oral B electrical tooth brush. I swear by the Oral B electrical tooth brushes, and my last few hygienists have commented on how clean my teeth are, which I attribute to that device.

However, most of my memories of the dentist were of getting my teeth cleaned, and I went two years without actually seeing my dentist. During that entire time I did not have any x rays, and could only go off what the hygienist was telling me about the state of my teeth. The day I finally saw my dentist for the first time in two years he lectured me about needing a new filling, and how I should have "known" better. However, with my aggressive teeth hygiene regimen I had done all I could on my part, but what about his two year lapse in actually looking in my mouth? Every other dentist I have been too, and that my niece and nephew has been to has actually seen us, and did not relegate us to the hygienist for most of the visits.

I really enjoy going to the dentist, but as a teen I felt so scolded by this dentist over having one cavity. Later on I would learn that my teeth are really impacted, so it would be a little impossible for me to avoid all cavities. Actually as an adult I have had to have many of my fillings from when I was a teen refilled, and I am not thrilled about that at all.

The day I went to have my teeth filled as a teen the dentist got frustrated with me because I was not opening my mouth wide enough. I was trying my best, but in a huff he stalked out of the room for ten minutes. The hygienist put a wedge on my mouth to keep it open, but at the time I did not realize how much it was cutting into the side of my mouth.

After leaving the dentist I was in severe pain and realized the side of my mouth was cut. My sister and I talked about how weird it was the hygienists would lecture us. One hygienist told us we were lucky to get so much attention to our teeth because most of the kids that come in cannot afford it. Why would they tell us this? I guess they wanted us to appreciate the care we were receiving or something. However this appointment would be my last once I discovered I had a deep cut in the corner of my mouth.

The large cut on my mouth due to the wedge being clamped on left a horrible scab. I was supposed to have my senior pictures taken that week, but I actually had to wait two weeks for the scrape to heal. Even after it healed I put some makeup on it because I would have a prominent scar on the side of my mouth for the next couple of years, and I certainly did not want that showing up in my picture. Even today when I lightly brush the corner of my mouth I can still feel the bump from where the wedge was stuck on way too tight.

After that day we never went back to that dentist. I am appreciative that I was able to go to the dentist, but towards the end it just got too weird for me. I have no ill feelings or anything, but those hygienist and that dentist were way too harsh on us verbally. Later on I learned from dentists I had as an adult that my teeth are highly impacted, and it would have been impossible to avoid some of the cavities I have. As an adult I never felt lectured to or talked down to by my dentist or hygienist, and I think children should be accorded the same respect. These are just a few thoughts about dentistry and my childhood.