When I was nine years old, I had my first horrible experience with a dentist. I had a cavity and he was going in with the syringe to numb my mouth. As he pushed the needle into my gums, it broke off and stuck there. Worse, he was putting so much pressure on my gums that the syringe cut into it from the back of my jaw to the front. Result? A nine year old with a mouth full of stitches and a lifeline fear of dentists.
My second horrific encounter involved no pain at all. What is did involve was a big conglomerate dental clinic where I was treated as if I smelled bad or had cooties. They were the rudest people who did nothing to qualm my already taxed nerves but, instead, took it upon themselves to yell at me and treat me badly the entire time I was there. I mean it, everyone from the receptionist to the hygienist, the x-ray tech to the dentist - rude, rude, rude.
So, between those two experiences, let it be known that I have not gone to the dentist as regularly as I should have.
Fast forward to last Thanksgiving. I got a drink of water at my sister's house. She has these heavy crystal glasses and I spazzed or something and hit my front tooth in just the right way that I made it loose. Not too loose, but loose enough that I couldn't' leave it alone for the next two months. By last week, it was hanging there and needed to come out. So, I had to find a dentist and I had to go.
I managed to find a great dentist. Dr. Terry Huff...seriously, he is the kindest man in the world. His whole crew made me feel so comfortable and they were so accommodating and friendly.
Naturally, since I hadn't been to a dentist in a long time there was much to be done aside from the tooth. I needed some deep cleaning and had a small cavity needing filling too. My tooth came out and now he's bonded another tooth in there. And all without pain or stress or yelling.
I can't recommend this doctor enough. I will no longer fear the dentist and I can only hope Dr. Huff never retires!
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