Getting gassed up at the dentist’s office
Somehow, I still have most of my original teeth. There is no reasonable explanation for this. You’ve heard of the kid in the candy store? That was me. I grew up in one. It wasn’t exactly a candy store, but my family’s general store had a huge candy counter. At least it sure seemed that way when I was six years old.
As soon as I was tall enough to operate the cash register, I went to work. Sure, I could have been doing regular kid stuff, but I learned pretty quickly that when my parents were busy, it was real easy to grab a Tootsie Roll or some bubble gum. Too easy.
Throughout my childhood, my mom took me to Trenton, Georgia for annual dental check-ups from Dr. Ray Ridge. He was a kind fellow, with an assistant named Hester, who loved to kid around with me. I actually looked forward to those visits, and each year, Hester and Dr. Ridge would somehow scrape away the effects of my daily sugar intake.
When I became old enough to drive, I switched to a dentist in Scottsboro, Alabama, named Dr. Ralph Sheppard. He was also a nice guy, but my visits to his office concealed an ulterior motive. I had become obsessed with becoming a radio announcer, and he owned the local FM radio station. Somewhere in my dreams, I imagined him looking deep into my mouth proclaiming, “This is the throat of a disc jockey! Put him on the radio, now!” Despite my dental chair auditions, he only seemed interested in cleaning, filling, and flossing.
Then came the dark years. As I hit my twenties, and got out from under my parents’ watchful eyes, I avoided the dentist. All dentists, to be exact. For about ten years, I made excuses and told outright lies when my mother questioned me about dental care. After all, I was young, I figured my teeth would last forever, and I had other ideas on how to spend money. And, “like the feller says,” if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, right?
Around the time I hit thirty, it was broke. Lots of teeth needed “fixin,” and my gums were not holding up well either. Suddenly it occurred to me that a couple of daily brushing sessions were no longer getting the job done.
My dear mother had gotten to the point in her life where she was totally honest: there was no filter. You know how it goes. For most of the early part of your life, your mom is totally positive. “You look so handsome today!” “Look at that wavy hair!” And then one day, the truth comes out. “Why aren’t your teeth straight anymore?” I looked in the mirror that night. She was right.
So I shopped around. “Know any painless dentists?” I asked a few co-workers. One nearby dentist came highly recommended, and he soon began salvaging the wreckage inside my mouth. Mom was on target about those crooked teeth. At the age of 35, I had to wear braces. My new dentist was laying down the law. “You’re on TV, right?” “Yes sir, I am.” “Then, take better care of your teeth!” It made sense.
For some reason, I later switched to an older dentist. Miraculously, it seemed, for many years, my check-ups were joyous occasions. An assistant would clean my teeth, and the elderly doc would come in, take a quick look inside, and mumble, “Everything looks good.” I was free to go.
Unfortunately, things weren’t good. I detected some issues, so I switched dentists again. It turned out the old fellow had neglected some problem areas. It was back to the grind.
To this day, it’s a thrice-yearly round of poking and prodding. Occasionally, my dentist will lean in to his assistant, whispering something about a maxillary axial occlusion on the first cousin molar, twice removed, and then say, “I’ve never seen anything like it, have you?” And I just know those x-rays will soon be published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
As for the pain, when it comes time to crown a tooth, they don’t even ask anymore. “Give him the gas,” the dentist says. While still partially coherent, I say, “Yeah. And I want high-test, none of that low-lead stuff.” For the next hour, I’m in toe-tingling heaven, grinning under the influence of nitrous oxide, while two people play tug of war inside my mouth.
The last time I was in his office, I asked the lady, “Why am I not getting the gas?” She looked up and said, “You’re only here to pay your bill.”
Someone asked me recently, “Have you ever had TMJ?” Nope, but I’m pretty sure I’ve helped several dentists buy a new BMW.
David Carroll, a Chattanooga news anchor, is the author of the new book “Volunteer Bama Dawg,” a collection of his best stories, available at ChattanoogaRadioTV. com, or by sending $23 to David Carroll Book, 900 Whitehall Road, Chattanooga, TN 37405. You may contact David at 3dc@epbfi.com