Just came back from doing a little bit of dental work. It’s never fun, of course, although it’s not too bad if you choose your dentist carefully, spending as much time as possible doing your homework in advance prior to the actual event. No one ever writes about what a Frenchwoman would do if and when she had to visit the dentist for anything more than a cleaning, but I imagine she would do the following:
- Get referrals from trusted friends and/or colleagues. If necessary, find one via Angie’s List, which isn’t as comprehensive as they claim (many, if not most service providers I checked on the site have only 1 or 2 reports, which is surprising in a major metropolitan area such as Dallas). By the way, if you do decide to try out Angie’s List, I’d be much obliged if you could let them know that I sent ya. I get a super-duper gift for referrals: a bag of plain M&M’s! I’m not kidding, either, when I say that it’s super-duper. I love me my M&M’s.
- Once you’ve chosen your dentist, call and make that appointment. Many dentists can get new patients in within a week; the really good ones may take a wee bit longer, although you shouldn’t have to wait more than two or three weeks. Have your insurance card ready. If necessary, call your previous dentist and ask them to send your records to the new dentist.
- Load up your mp3 player (iPod, Zune, Creative Zen, whatever) with your favorite songs and/or audiobooks. I was in the chair for over an hour getting my crowns put in. It’s not really that unpleasant, only boring, so you’ll want some pleasurable distractions. I like ’80s tunes and the occasional audiobook. Your library should have lots of good Books on CD’s available that you can burn and download onto your mp3 player; most libraries now also offer downloadable music and books from their Web sites directly onto your computer, which you can then transfer to your mp3 player. It’s an easy-peasy way to get your tunes without having to leave the house.
- Take the day off. You’ll be feeling numb, and even with a couple of ibuprofen tablets, after the anaesthesia wears off you might still feel a little sore. Stay home, put your hair down, and pop a beloved movie into the DVD player or crack open a favorite book. Anne Barone wrote in one of her Chic ‘n’ Slim books that Catherine Deneuve would simply cancel all her appointments for the day if she didn’t feel well. Take a cue from La Deneuve and give your body a chance to rest and rejuvenate. Even minor dental work can be very stressful — even if you’re all numbed up, who wants to hear that awful drilling noise inches from your ear? — so be kind to yourself and your spirit and rest. You’ll be glad you did.
- Get a milkshake! Okay, this probably isn’t on the Frenchwoman’s list of must-do’s after dental work, but the staff at my dentist’s office actually make their own shakes on-site. I know, crazy, huh? But it really does feel awfully good to your swollen gums and will ease the stress after being in the chair for such a long time. Head on over to the nearest McDonald’s, Sonic or Jack in the Box. They all make luscious, inexpensive milkshakes, and they do it fast. Vanilla is always an excellent choice, but pick whatever lightens your heart.
- Make an appointment for your next cleaning. If it’s in your calendar, you’re less likely to forget it, and the better your dental hygiene habits, the less likely you’ll be back in the chair, hearing that drill in your ear.
Unfortunately, I won’t be taking my own bit of advice, specifically not #4. As B. and I just moved this weekend, I have a tiny apartment that I need to get into shape. I’m not the most industrious person in the world, but when I move, I like to have everything unpacked and in place in the new home in less than a week. I know, I know, it’s awfully obsessive-compulsive of me, but it helps me feel more settled and at home. May is a rather busy month, what with birthday parties, holidays, graduations, and our wedding anniversary, not to mention this whole moving business, so I’m ticking off my to-do list as quickly and efficiently as possible. I will, however, be listening to some serious CD’s as I go about my new apartment, putting things away and popping that ibuprofen every few hours. Diana Krall will be my post-procedure anaesthesia.
Have a lovely day, everyone!
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