06 May 2010

R: Set-up for tomorrow's Spring Arts Festival has begun, and as usual, I'm too preoccuppied with perusing the kids' art to be of much use decorating. At a table full of clay sculptures, most of the work looked pretty Pollock and Picasso-esque with jumbled features and paint splattered everywhere. But a few pieces stood for their carefully handcrafted features and meticulous painting. They were all done by the same boy, and of course I was immediately drawn to his terosaurus. I love it.

C: I tried to be a creeper this morning and take a photo of my dentist's office. I left the Harvard Dental School because they are always overbooked, they don't care about who you are, and I hated their facilities. How can such a world-class institution have such dinky facilities? I miss my DDS in Roanoke, Dr. Coots, and their bright white rooms, with cloud-art light boxes above the chairs to stare into while they scratch plaque out of your teeth.

I found Dr. Thomases through a Google search last year; the fact that he has rave reviews online was a clear sign that he is an extraordinary dentist. First impression of his office - I thought I had made a mistake. The exterior is completely paneled in wood, and the reception has a slightly damp feel with harsh fluorescent lighting (I attributed the dampness to it being garden-level; we are in Boston after all). All of the dental furniture is in muted shades of either mauve or scrub green. The cabinetry in the room I was in today was coral pink - veneers, not painted wood. I almost died this morning when he showed me the room for dental x-rays. The chair was mauve leather with a worn wooded footrest. The machine itself was clearly a GE antique circa 1960s. However, as he placed the heavy lead vest over me, I felt at easy about it again, only to be anxious about how much I was actually being exposed to radiation when he'd count down to zero, when he would duck out of the room just before it snapped a shot of my teeth and gums.

Despite the archaicness of it all, I really like the guy and trust his work. He clearly remembers who I am, even calling me by my nickname and asking me specifics about work and school decisions. Whereas other dentists praise my naturally straight teeth and generally good hygiene, he gently chides me for my failure to floss regularly and brush more efficiently ("Stimulating the gums is very important"). He obviously takes pride in his work and is serious about getting everyone in the best oral health. Meeting him you would never believe that dentists have the highest suicide rates.