ANNARCHY - Latest Comments in Relax and Open Wide: Dentist vs. Doctor

Re: Relax and Open Wide: Dentist vs. Doctor

Klynne — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 04:25:33 -0000

Why I like having the gyno better? She is in and out. Done within a few minutes. The oral cleaning takes 30 minutes and it sucks. Going to the dentist tomorrow. Ick.

Re: Relax and Open Wide: Dentist vs. Doctor

Robin Maner — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 22:52:33 -0000

I would rather go to the dentist than the urologist in the matter of awkwardness. People often realize how important it is to have dentists around after some good visit. As long as there are bad set of teeth, there will always be dentists to take care of them. Everyone in the profession of examining sensitive and private parts of every patient deserves high respect, of course. Just imagining life without them makes me cringe. Hehe!

Re: Relax and Open Wide: Dentist vs. Doctor

dentist lexington ky — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 01:52:50 -0000

Sometimes going to visit to these practitioners is scary. They look like the ones in horror films. Good comparison though.

Re: Relax and Open Wide: Dentist vs. Doctor

Jen DelMonaco — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 20:57:55 -0000

As I have undoubtedly the best dentist in the whole tri-state area, he wins, hands down. Painless, quick and hilarious. How I like all my dates. I mean, appointments with professionals. I'm a big weenie at the gyno's office. That didn't come out right...

Re: Relax and Open Wide: Dentist vs. Doctor

Shama — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 13:53:58 -0000

The doctor. Once a year! Yayy.

1 appointment with the dentist usually leads to a lot more!

Re: Relax and Open Wide: Dentist vs. Doctor

Martha Retallick — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 16:47:54 -0000

@Andrea Learned, I can't help thinking that you're on to something. And that something is that dental X-rays don't seem to be all that necessary.

Unless they're trying to make some sort of X-ray-based diagnosis, why in the Sam Hill do they need to keep doing them? To keep up the payments on the X-ray machine?

Re: Relax and Open Wide: Dentist vs. Doctor

Roshan — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 13:37:03 -0000

I must say that I admire women for all that ob-gyn stuff that they have to put up with. It's something that a man will never know and we would probably mess it up if we had to go through it.

Re: Relax and Open Wide: Dentist vs. Doctor

GiGi — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 20:20:10 -0000

Prefer the dentist but always say I *might* be pregnant to avoid the x-rays...my dentist has caught on, though. If you write a book or blog about funny lines that women hear, please use these two from the gyno that always make me laugh, "Scoot down even more" and "relax." The other funny line at the mammo appointment is always, "don't move." As if!

Re: Relax and Open Wide: Dentist vs. Doctor

pprlisa — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 15:48:31 -0000

Ann,

First of all, HILARIOUS post.

I have had this discussion in my head many times, and I tell you I would rather get a mammogram or visit the GYN every week than go to the dentist once a year. I hate the pain, but worse, I hate the judging - the judging actually makes me avoid going. Also, its impossible to zone out - in a mamm or gyno visit - you can go somewhere else in your head - but not at the dentist, there is NO avoiding thinking about what they are doing in there.

Also funny - Jim Sutton in your comments links to the Straight Dope website - and I recognized the question about dentist suicide right away - my sister asked that question about ten years ago on that site - Terey Allen. How random is that :)

Keep making us laugh-

-Lisa

Re: Relax and Open Wide: Dentist vs. Doctor

Kristen Hamilton — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 11:46:35 -0000

I never considered this debate before, but how timely as I have to make appointments for both this week.

I will dread the dentist more. My anxiety is greater and the pain inevitably is greater at the tooth man.

My other appointment, while unnerving, is rarely painful and done with a midwife that is like a second aunt to me.

Exposure in and of itself, remains awkward. :)

Re: Relax and Open Wide: Dentist vs. Doctor

Joanie — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 16:02:04 -0000

Dentist, definitely. Compare the duration of an ob/gyn exam to the endless forever of a root canal...

Re: Relax and Open Wide: Dentist vs. Doctor

FindMeSexy — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 11:48:33 -0000

a little Twitter bird says it is your birthday. Happy birthday

Re: Relax and Open Wide: Dentist vs. Doctor

Andrea Learned — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 08:26:50 -0000

I just went to the dentist last week and jumped all over the hygienist when she said something like "you know, your xrays are long outdated" ... ARGH. Just like you, Ann, I am on top of this toothcare thing and any new dentist I start with looks with awe and wonder at how well I've taken care of my mouth over these 40+ years. But it never is good enough. They want you to spend another $200 just to be sure or "just to have a baseline." So - the irritation level is high with the dentist but the actual procedures don't bother me that much. In the meantime - the other doctor we are discussing... her office is so nice and she is like a friend and so the appointment/time spent is pleasant, BUT for those specific 5 minutes.

Re: Relax and Open Wide: Dentist vs. Doctor

Ad Broad — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 23:57:20 -0000

Love this beautifully written, er, exploration, Ann. My favorite part: "I nodded mutely, the taste of latex in my mouth." Brings me right there with you, supine in that vulnerable--why do they call it chair? It's more of a chaise lounge. But I'd rather be there than at the gynocologist. And yours does have a point about mammographers. A field that had to have been invented by docs without breasts. I mean, can you imagine making a guy hold his breath while you smash his most vulnerable body part under glass?

Re: Relax and Open Wide: Dentist vs. Doctor

Zil — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 14:33:19 -0000

Surprising but true. I have to say I dislike the dentist much more than I dislike my visits to the gynecologist. I've just had so much trouble with my teeth for the past 20+ years. Even though they look great on the "ouside" they have brought me so much physical, financial and psychological hardship! Luckily, on the other hand, that has not been the case at the gyno (knock wood, throw salt over my shoulder, don't cross the path of a black cat, stay away from ladders.....)

Re: Relax and Open Wide: Dentist vs. Doctor

Desarae A. Veit AKA DesaraeV — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 13:52:49 -0000

HAHAHA! The fun/ny things we do out of boredom. Although, I might have to agree with a previous comment... it may be best if we (the public) don't know what people are cognitively wondering into while we are sitting bored together.

Desarae
http://www.dveit.com

Re: Relax and Open Wide: Dentist vs. Doctor

Ann Handley — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 11:20:14 -0000

Here's what I love about blog feedback: Claudia's comment above made me think about "exposure" generally.

When she says...

"For this one, I think that the underlying debate is about how and when you want to give access to your 'true' inside. But well thought I don’t think that dentists and gynecologists know the truth of the world! So even if they have the power to make you 'open' for them, and that’s why I think it is difficult to say which one we dislike less, they touch only like a superficial intimate."

.. she raises a key point. The truth is that I'm way more exposed on this blog than I am in any exam room. And that's probably true of a lot of us who write personal blogs. Thanks Claudia, for furthering my thinking!

Re: Relax and Open Wide: Dentist vs. Doctor

David Reich — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 11:11:57 -0000

My preference is the dentist. The only negative is that my health plan doesn't have dental coverage, so it costs. I'm in the midst of some dental work that's going to cost around $2,000, all out of my pocket.

Visits to the urologist, which I hate despite the fact that I like the doctor just to chat with about non-urology stuff, cost only a $20 co-pay.

Ah, the joys of our health care system.

Re: Relax and Open Wide: Dentist vs. Doctor

Julie — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 11:06:53 -0000

I made the mistake of going to a dentist who is now part of our social circle. Embarrassing. They can see the whole history of your life right there. I told my husband, "He's been in my mouth." He didn't like that joke. But the dentist has the most gentle hygientist -- it's like a tooth massage. Cleaning is painless and she compliments my lack of tartar and flossing. I never floss. She told me that hereditary plays a big part in how your teeth hold up. Thanks Grandma.

Re: Relax and Open Wide: Dentist vs. Doctor

vickivanv — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 00:50:01 -0000

Dentist. At least I can kind of see what's going on--and in--during a dental cleaning.

Re: Relax and Open Wide: Dentist vs. Doctor

Sonia Coleman — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 15:46:13 -0000

I prefer the gyno because she is really kind and caring, plus she brings babies into the world.

The dentist is always telling me I brush too hard also. What? I tried so hard to take care of my teeth that I wore off my gums! Why didn't they give tooth brush lessons in school and warn us of the danger of over-brushing? Safe sex but not safe brushing? Soft bristles!

Re: Relax and Open Wide: Dentist vs. Doctor

Jim Sutton — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 15:36:46 -0000

Obviously, I am not in a position to answer your question, but reading your blog made me google dentists and suicide rate. I found this somewhat interesting post at http://www.straightdope.com...
No one likes going to the dentist, but even more would we dislike and suffer if we didn't have good ones. A dentist I know personally told me that I was one of the few patients she ever had who keeps his eyes open throughout the procedures. It's true that I like to try and keep track of what's going on and keeping my eyes open keeps me engaged even while I am trying to dis-associate from the pain.
I have liked them a lot less since they started demanding payment at time of service instead of trusting us to pay the bill.

Re: Relax and Open Wide: Dentist vs. Doctor

Janine — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 14:13:12 -0000

The gynecologist, no question. They don't speak to you as if you were six years old. Dentists out there, take note! Your reputations are at stake.

Re: Relax and Open Wide: Dentist vs. Doctor

Stacey Pfeifer — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 13:45:10 -0000

A debate my friends and I have had for many years with no final decision. But I am curious why men are so skittish about the topic even as they generously comment on your post. I get it, girl-stuff, but what's REALLY going on with the profound discomfort? I'm truly curious.

Is it their primal urge to help women colliding with a deep layer of collective unnamed masculine guilt?

Men...wanna shed some light on this examination?

Re: Relax and Open Wide: Dentist vs. Doctor

Amy Stewart — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 13:43:45 -0000

I dislike all things gastro-gynecological for sure, but the dentist is the one who always makes you feel bad for not living up to their expectations. In that way, you could say that visiting the dentist is a bit like visiting your folks.

But the most space-invading doctor is definitely the shrink!