I had my first German dental appointment this week....
Thank goodness that military insurance hooks us up with some English-speaking dentists, or else I probably would've just put the whole appointment off until I learned enough German dental lingo to communicate (and that would've taken a LONG time since I'm having trouble getting motivated to learn German right now). They were super nice and helpful though and I went right on back to the dreaded dental chair after filling out a very short and simple form (unlike forms in the US).
The doc came in with his tight white jeans and purple polo and introduced himself. He asked if I was having any problems before he checked me out and I told him about my sensitive/painful gum problems that come and go, but that was it. After assessing my teeth and telling me I had "some inflammating" (aka inflammation?) on some of my gums, he told me there was a cavity beginning to form... which I expected. I literally have another cavity every time I go back to the dentist. I promise I brush my teeth, yall. Ever since I turned 20, I've been getting cavities like it's my job. I don't know what the deal is...
He said he could go ahead and fill it that day, which was nice. I asked if it would be a similar procedure and the same type of filling as they use in the States...he said he didn't know. I'm thinking, um... America is the best at everything, why don't you know what Americans are doing in modern dentistry?!! I mean I was fairly certain the filling would be similar to the other fillings I have, but hey, I didn't want some faulty filling to fall out in a few years because I got it done by some behind-the-times German dentist. But, on the contrary, maybe Germany is even MORE modern than America! Maybe my filling was done with some new innovative procedure that American docs don't even know about yet!! I'll never know... it seemed pretty dang similar, so I'm guessing they do it the same way.
Before he started the filling he asked if I would like "anesthesia" for the procedure. First, I'm thinking, "you're gonna put me OUT for this!?" As a nurse, when someone says "anesthesia" I just automatically think of being put under, so I found the need to clarify. After some broken English and charades, I eventually got the impression that it would be a local anesthetic injected into the gum like normal (and by normal I mean like in America).
Secondly, I'm wondering why he's asking if I want it, like I would turn down numbing medicine to feel the drill in my tooth. No thanks. I of course agreed to the "anesthesia". Germans are hardcore when it comes to pain tolerance I've learned. In my experience (in the US) they just give you the anesthetic as standard procedure, no need to ask if you'd like it. I guess us Americans aren't as tough as Germans when it comes to pain.
Well, I DID get to feel the drill and experience all of its glorious functions, just as if I had refused the anesthetic. My tooth wasn't quite numb yet when he started and just typing this makes me cringe. Needless to say, the drill grinding on my tooth's nerves was quite unpleasant. He was done in a jiffy though, so at least it didn't take long.
Then came the even worse part. The dental hygienist! She was just as rough as if she were flossing and polishing on dummy teeth in dental school or something. Did she not hear me when I said I have sensitive gums?! Well, she didn't and because of her violent technique, I could hardly eat a thing all day because I practically had open wounds inside my mouth. Literally, pieces of my gums were peeling off by the end of the evening. Sorry for the graphic nature of this post...
As I was spitting up blood in the tiny sink attached to the chair, she tried to get the toothpaste off my shirt that she somehow got on there despite my bib. Thanks for trying to make me feel better dental hygienist, but I'd rather have toothpaste on my shirt than torn up gums...
Can't wait for next year's appointment...
-MB
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