Modern Polymath

Last Thursday I went to the dentist. To you that may not be a big deal, but to me it was. I haven’t been to the dentist in about 10 years.

I should have gone long ago, but since the problems I felt weren’t visible to people I talked to, my anxiety over going to the dentist took over. One of our old Dad Advisors from Lodi DeMolay, Doug Martin, was a dentist with his own practice in Stockton. He has a website, so I sent an email on Monday:

Hey Dr. Martin... I'm one of those 'dental anxiety' sufferers you mention in your website. Then it went from anxiety to embarrassment over the condition of my teeth. Because of that, I've let my teeth suffer, and really need to do something about it. I've also quit smoking after 16 years, and will, after the restoration is done, probably want some whitening. I hope you can help me out.

-Micah A Rousey

I got a call from his office later that afternoon, and was scheduled for an appointment the following Thursday. I was surprised (and happy) it was that quick. While sitting in the office, I saw Dax Martin, one of Doug’s sons in the office. He came over, talked to me for a bit, and I told him my dental history, or really, the lack of my dental history. Then he asked me an interesting question: “Do you want to see me, or my dad?” I thought “Huh?” Well, apparently, I was talking to not only my friend Dax from DeMolay so many years ago, but Dr. Dax Martin, a dentist now himself. Although it made me feel a bit old that I would be going to a dentist that is younger than me, it was a pretty easy decision who I would go to.

One question I’ve always found interesting: “Do you have any pain?” Well... yeah. But I tell ya, after a couple years of pain, it’s pretty easy to forget about.

After the x-rays were done, and the visual exam completed, it was apparent, I need a lot of work, (no surprise), but I also have pretty hearty teeth. The level of damage isn’t what is expected from someone who hasn’t had proper dental care in a decade. Dax was very cool about the whole thing. I was afraid of getting ‘the lecture’. You should have done this; this is your entire fault, if only you had come in earlier kind of bull that I already knew. Well, there was no lecture. I was treated like an adult, and given new instructions of how to brush most effectively. I got some new swag; toothbrush, flavored toothpaste, some floss, and instructions for next Friday.

Sedation Dentistry: Gotta love that idea. This Friday, I get put under anesthesia for the first time in my life. I get all four of my wisdom teeth extracted, plus a couple fillings, and a few more things I forgot about. Oh yeah, they are going to clean my teeth too. Next year, I get the gum grafts. Needless to say, I won’t be going to Bradley’s this coming Friday.

I’d recommend anyone seeking a dentist in Stockton to go to Dax. It certainly wasn’t bad at all, even though I dreaded the visit. This coming Friday though, I’m really not looking forward too. I’ll keep you posted on my recovery this weekend.

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