An Ode to Dentistry

I am a general dentist,
Who tries to be a perfectionist.
Over the years I've seen patients a lot,
I don't know if it's a blessing or not.
I cannot express in short,
Cause the facts I wouldn't want to distort.
Some show up only for emergency care,
Leaving me with no miracle to spare.
The patients are of so many different kind ,
Some come with the diagnosis already in their mind.
Some show up with the teeth in the socket,
While others carry them in their pocket.
Some come with nice dresses and make up on,
But very few teeth left for me to work on.
Some demand too much explanation,
Because they are afraid of exploitation.
And some demand to be seen right away,
But when see needle want to run away!
Many put in their mouth a finger
To show where the pain linger.
They present with that pain by default,
Yet no matter what it's the dentist's fault?

Many of them truly wait with patience
In me they really have confidence.
Still some agree to everything,
But never follow anything.
There is no evidence of compliance,
A few also show defiance.
Some demonstrate tension,
While others show depression.
When I want to prescribe analgesics,
Some want nothing but narcotics.
Many prefer to get the injection,
While others don't mind pampering the infection.
They don't care if they're symptomatic,
They just want a script for antibiotic.
But once I make the abscess disappear,
They never want to reappear.
For some it's been such a long time of neglect,
That it's hard for them to even recollect.
Some go to the restroom as soon as called,
That always keeps my schedule stalled.
Their phones ring when they're in the chair,
But if I take calls I get an unpleasant stare.
Some come in with a Bluetooth,
But leave behind a bloody tooth.
They are busy with things that are optional,
And cannot hold on to what is personal.
So, Dentistry can be very depressing,
There is no point in comparing.
Dentists commit more suicide,
Better us than causing a genocide!

Even after being in such a difficult profession,
I keep working with full concentration.
Dental education comes after a huge debt,
There is no scope for retiring yet.
Dentistry is physically demanding,
Some procedures can really be daunting.
Many of us develop arthritis,
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and tendinitis.
We keep practicing even if we moan,
Just to pay off the student loan.
Since we had to go to dental school,
We'll be working on patients that drool.
We enjoy a lot of satisfaction,
After a full mouth rehabilitation.
The best possible remuneration,
Is when patients show gratification.
Even if such encounter is rare,
That doesn't stop us from providing care.
Not all patients are very forgiving,
Everyday so many of them are suing.
That, though doesn't make us less caring,
Or ignorant about an honest living.
No matter how extremely frustrating,
Dentistry will always be rewarding.

This is the second part of the Mega poem that I wrote in 02/2008. It was so long that the readers got bored. Therefore, I decided to divide it into 3 parts.