Bite Your Own Teeth

If economists could manage to get themselves thought of as humble, competent people on a level with dentists, that would be splendid.
-- John Maynard Keynes

Tuesday, June 17, 1997

I had a dental encounter about six weeks ago, but that was on an emergency basis. This morning was my first real examination with this dentist. Why did I not go for so long? A combination of procrastination and not being insured at some points.

Dr. I--- has been my sister's dentist for many years, so I have confidence in her. They did quite a thorough examination complete with x-rays, and then actually went ahead and did the cleaning since there was a cancelation. The x-rays were rather uncomfortable because of my small mouth. The inside lower films were digging into my flesh!

This was my first encounter with the ultrasonic cleaner which vibrates the deposits off of your teeth. But it had been so long that the hygenist also had to resort to the pick. She was concerned that I hadn't been brushing my teeth the right way, so I had to demonstrate my technique for her. I wonder if I really showed her what I do? After all, at home I don't lie on my back to brush!

So a lot of old fillings have renewed decay around them, and nasty cavities, and impacted wisdom teeth, and, and,... I shudder to think of all the work that lies before me. I hope I can get it all done while covered by insurance!

I stayed at work till seven o'clock to finish up something special. I figured I'd still be able to get to my Cacophony meeting at seven thirty, since the traffic has usually died down by then. I was shocked, when I looked at the traffic web site, to see that the approach to the bridge was still stop and go! But I still made the decision to take that bridge, when I reached the point on the road where I needed to choose. And what was the strange phenomenon that was slowing us to a crawl? Wind! A front moving through had raised such whitecaps on the inland Lake Washington that cars were creeping along in both directions.

I was late to the meeting, but got there in time to get caught up on plans. We should have a good turnout this weekend!

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