Summer Wear

 It took weeks....

 

 and after many naps on the porch and much time to ponder about it,

 Rowdy finally decided that he liked wearing clothes!!

But all that is ancient history now since his stitches where the cyst was removed finally healed up nicely and he is once again wearing only his fur.  Good thing too, since summertime temperatures can be beastly around these parts and a pup wearing people clothes, simply put, is NOT a great thing.

 I saw just the cutest pair of white Keds on the internet, but of course I wanted to try them on first before buying, so I took a trip to Steinmart only to find that they had a few pairs, none being in my size.

 I did try on a pair in a half size smaller than I needed and decided that my true size would be a fine fit, so went home and ordered them off the internet.

 Loving my new Keds!

White shirt, white Keds, white teeth.

My dental appointment went well yesterday, and once again.... NO CAVITIES.

We have been busy this past week and looking forward to some fun in the near future.

A trip to the coast perhaps?

Crown Me

I'll be going to the dentist tomorrow, Friday, and I AM NOT happy about it.

I've been seeing the same dentist since 2008, and his office is an hours drive from home, but I chose him because he advertises as being a dentist who provides 'gentle dental' care.  

I always saw the same tech that cleaned my teeth, for six or more years and I built a repoire with her so she knew exactly how gentle I needed her to be, and the dentist provided whatever my needs were to keep pain at bay.  I only had one cavity since seeing him.  

THEN

about a year or year and a half ago he suddenly let all of his employees go and without any announcement I had a new tech.... then another tech, and then another tech.  It's as if they were all part time employees and I never knew who would be cleaning my teeth when I plopped down into the dental chair.  It was unnerving to me and I would have to explain my fear and sensitivities and how careful I needed them to be at every six month cleaning appointment.

At my last appointment I began to choke uncontrollably when the tech used too much of the analgesic for the numbing of my gums.  She had used so much that some of it entered my throat which numbed it and my own saliva caused me to choke and cough.... so the appointment was ended abruptly and they made a second appointment time for me to come back a few days later to complete the cleaning. 

Now.... I don't know about you, but when a patient has driven an hour each way twice to have her teeth cleaned, you would think that the same girl that started the cleaning would finish the cleaning.

Nope.

When I returned to have the cleaning and polishing of my teeth done I once again had a new person.

Prior to her completing the appointment I mentioned to her that one of the crowns that the dentist had put in less than a year prior, seemed to be loose and I could feel it pull up and down when I ate.

She checked it, said that the seal had not broken and all was okay with it.

Today the crown came off.

*hoping the dentist is as nice as the building*

I refuse to make the drive, an hour each way, to have it re-attached, so today I called a dentist that is only five miles from home, hoping that he will also be gentle and that I can have all files transferred to him and proudly call him my new dentist.

I want a dentist with techs that will listen to me and not piss me off by causing me to choke.

AND

I want the same tech at each appointment.

We don't have dental insurance but instead pay cash for their services and for that I expect perfection in the dental chair.

Wish me luck!

I Can't Say It Enough

 I really cannot say it enough.

The importance of dental care in your life may be essential to your long term health, the health of not only your teeth, but your gums, AND your heart!

If you happen to have bleeding gums, your heart is being over-worked to constantly pump more blood to make up for the blood lost.

Not a good thing to have happen to you.

Our hearts, as I well know, after recently having heart palpitations, being placed on medication, and an expensive visit to the cardiologist, do wear with age, and some of it is normal and can't be helped, but do yourself a favor, get your mouth taken care of and in a healthy condition, and some heart problems may be averted.

 In all honesty, I went a decade without any dental care, simply due to a fear of the dentist after experiencing crappy, mean spirited dentists as a child.  He didn't care if his prodding around in my mouth hurt or not, I was simply supposed to shut up and take it.

Not the treatment parents put up with these days in the way their children are treated by a dentist, but back in the day things were a wee bit different than now.

In 2007 I finally bit the bullet and decided that I was being foolish and found a wonderful dentist that advertised as being a gentle dental dentist, and so I made the appointment and went.

I was treated with kid gloves and given wonderful care by he and his staff and they did whatever it took to keep my from experiencing pain. 

In 2012 I took it one step further and had braces put on simply because I was not happy with the way my teeth had become disaligned  over the decades, and also, I was beginning to speak with a lisp due to the teeth crowding my tongue.  I can honestly say that even though this work was quite expensive due to us not having adult orthodontia coverage, that it was SOOOOO worth it in the end.

Now, I know that there are others of you who also fear the dentist, and your mouth may or may not look and smell awful because of your avoiding proper dental care, AND even with insurance some of the procedures necessary to get your mouth into a healthy state with a beautiful smile, can be VERY expensive.  Speak to your dentist about this prior to him or her doing any work in your mouth and see what can be worked out.

The last thing I want to mention is that in many areas of the country there are free dental clinics.

My current dental technician said that on her days off from my dentist's office job, she works at a free dental clinic.  They don't provide every dental procedure, but they can do a  LOT to get your mouth on it's way to health and beauty.

Do a GOOGLE search for 'free dental care for whatever city, state or county you live in and see what comes up.  Here are a few for random areas of the country, but DO GOOGLE a search in your area if this is something you need to take care of.

XOX

Free Dental Care in the State of Iowa

Free Dental Care in the State of Arizona

Free Dental Care in the State of Virginia

HERE is the website to search for free dental care by State.

Please pass this information along to anyone you know who is in need of free dental care.