A Visit to the Dentist

I took my three year old grandson to the dentist recently. He was actually looking forward to it. The dentist office is NOT like the type I went to when I was a kid. I always remembered it as being white, cold, and quiet. The receptionists were usually much older retired ladies with their hair up in a bun. Sometimes I felt out of place. I didn't know if I was supposed to show proof of insurance or my library card.

This dentist office was more of a fantasyland for toddlers. Four receptionists behind a 20ft state of the art, computer laden counter greeted you as you entered the lobby. They with their beautiful smiles, beautiful teeth, long flowing hair, pleasant demeanor. First thing I thought of was a) they probably charge customers like me way too much and b) these girls must get discounts on their dental work.

Up on the lobby wall hung a 42" Plasma TV showing the latest Disney adventure. Back in the corner sits a Nautilus looking contraption in the shape of a hexagon of four TV monitors with Playstation games on them. One of the walls contained a huge 12ft chalkboard with chalk and erasers provided. Other wall sat a 12ft aquarium with exotic fish, reptiles, and cactus display. That recurring thought entered my mind again: They must charge customers like me way too much.

The walls were painted in a mirage of beautiful, smooth colors which generated just enough warmth; pleasantly inviting any visitor to come in, sit down, open wide, and have your teeth extracted. The lobby chairs were made of a soft foam, easy-to-clean material.Can't even begin to describe the colors. Somewhere between a mix of earth tone and neon-George Jetson-fluorescent. Very comfortable though. However, to summarize the lobby experience - waiting two hours for Mikey's surgery, I would have expected not only better magazine choices, but more magazines. Luckily I brought a book. After all, here it is in 2007 and you can only read about the 2005 Super Bowl so many times. It always has the same ending.

Mikey had a root canal and was a real trooper. When he came out of recovery, he kept pulling at his bottom lip and asking his daddy to "take it off." Apparently the numbness was still in place and to a 3 yr old kid it must've felt like he had a boat anchor hanging from his chin.

Its frightening to say Mikey enjoyed the surgery. But if you think about it why would he be scared? He's never experienced it. Had no idea if it would be painful or not. His perception of going to the dentist is everything I described above. A 'fun" experience. Sometimes as adults we base our fears on past experiences or stories we've heard. That fear keeps people from moving forward or trying something new or different. Next time you want to do something different or are afraid, ask yourself " How would a 3 yr old feel?"