I went to the dentist

2025-11-07

I went to the dentist today. I really like the dentist, I really like how they make my teeth feel, so nice and polished. I think we should stop scaring children with nasty rumours of what it's like to go to the dentist.

Anyway, actually I went for a cleaning and filling. This was my first time having a filling. I actually felt a bit like I let them down, when they told me I had to get a filling.

The cleaning

They started with the cleaning. The lady that did the cleaning was lovely! I actually decided that today's the day I make casual conversation with strangers, so at a certain point I just asked "Hey, is it okay if you explain what you're doing to my teeth while you're in there? Just like, for my own personal interest".

Some interesting notes:

• Did you know that thing they use to color your teeth to identify plaque, you can buy that? It's this!
• To get the tartar out of the crevices between your teeth, they use an ultrasonic scalar. I hate these. But I like the other tools! I like on dental cleaning tools a lot.

• So in American films, you ofen hear of flossing, but here in the Netherlands (or at least, from my dentist), they recommend toothpicks! I use these.

  So what gives? Well, I asked my dentist today and they said that floss strings are very thin and thus, they don't scrape all the plaque that builds up in the spaces between your teeth, which are compartively much wider.

The filling

Then we went to the filling. This was quite interesting!

They injected anasthetic into my gums, on the upper left corner of my mouth. It's a bitter tasting thing, to my chagrin.

Wow, local anasthetic is quite something! If doing a filling is meant to be painful, I would've had no idea.

They actually offered me the choice for it. I really wasn't sure what to say actually, since it was my first time. I asked them if there's a reason not to use it and apparently people don't like the needle.

Actually the needle is quite interesting! I would've expect a sharp prick but honestly, it's quite a dull forceful sensation.

They also used a rubber sheet to cover my mouth with clamps and such! Very medieval. I did not care for the smell of the rubber sheet, it reminded me of a hospital.

Oh, and they asked me to close my eyes at some point. I initially thought it was because of the bright light the dentist was carrying on their forehead. Strange I thought since it was already turned on.

But I think it's actually some dental curing light I think! Funnily enough, I think she forgot to tell me I could open my eyes.

Concluding Remarks

I really enjoy going to the dentist! Now that I've purchased the plaque-searcher gum, I think I hope to go and just shock them.