a trip to the dentist

I always had phobia of going to the dentist..since young..and the result was not going to one since..ermm..i think JC days (upps!) N I always pray this phobia will dispel one day. Today...i went to the dentist to fill up some holes which he had previously told me about during my first visit 2 weeks back (yes first visit to the dentist since JC times)...and was told the horror news...

While I was laying down on that chair and he was having a look at my teeth:

Dentist: "Oh I have to tell you, you need to have surgery to remove your 2nd bottom left molar"
Me: Speechless..Stunnned
Dentist:" Yes it is only half out and I can see it decaying"
Me: "Huh? Why didnt you tell me during my last visit?"
Dentist: " Well the last visit I tot it was fine as we couldn't really see as it was filled with food. Today I can see a clearer picture"
Me thinking: Filled with food?? hmm..but today I just had my lunch and coffee too before I came...so weird
Me speaking: " Ermm..well..its really scary.."
Dentist: "Nm we will proceed with the filling for the other holes first"
Me: " oookkkk" (nervous)

*zeeeeee.....spish....spush.....* (sounds from the filling process...)

While in the midst of the filling the holes

Dentist: I seriously think you need a surgery. You better think about it. you will get 5 to 7 days MC and you can pay through Medisave or you can claim through your company"
Me: "errrr..." (the minimal sound I can make with my mouth wide opened as he had used some cotton wool thing to prop open my mouth)
Dentist: "Yes, you should make an appt with the nurse later"
Me: "brrrr...." (still with my mouth wide opened)
Dentist: "Anyways I will continue filling your other tooth first"
Me thinking: Yes you should have done that long ago, instead of doing ur Sales Talks in the middle of filling my TOOTH with my mouth stretched wide opened like a HIPPO!

At the end of the gruelling filling process while awaiting to leave the room....

Dentist: "Please make an appointment with the nurse for the surgery of ur tooth"
Me thinking: " What??? I havent even said yes yet!!"
Me speaking: "Errr...But i just resigned last week and I dont think they will let me take mc for 5 to 7 days in thie handover period..and besides I'm leaving the country to ___ work"
Dentist: "Oh really?..when is that?
Me: "Well in about a month's time?"
Dentist: "tts a waste, you cannot claim from your current company. But its ok, its only 600 bucks and you can pay by Medisave. And....you do not really have to take 5 to 7 days MC if its just paper work?"
Me: "Ermm..I think I need to talk quite a bit at work especially with all that handover etc"
Dentist: "Well..hmm..nonono..You can still talk lah..A bit of swelling only. And I tell you, if you do not do it now, you will lose the other 2 molars beside that tooth. Do you want to suffer now and get rid of these problems? or do you want to lose 3 teeth? And besides I do not think you want to do the surgery in ___country? For you, we can do the surgery this Friday. You better make an appointment with the nurse"

*Scare Tactic*


Well..my conclusion is that..this Dentist is just too pressing in his 'sales pitch'! Well I can understand that maybe my poor tooth really needs surgery, but he doesnt have to be soooo pressing and pushing? To the extent of the above?

aaarrggh..well..I intend to go for a 2nd opinion, maybe to Madeleine (my sec sch fren who's now a dentist!) to check if I really do need surgery as urgently as how the dentist put it above..If I really do need...I will not have the full set of 32 teeth anymore which I proudly have now! (ermm.well..maybe 31.5 since that decaying molar is only half out) =( Booooo

N...my phobia of visiting the dentist...will never be dispelled..i think.....