Nerves

Have you ever been nervous? What do you do? Do you get fidgety? Are you quick to anger? Do you get sick to your stomach? Or do you look like you are calm, only to feel like you are having a “war” inside? I have felt it all.

I've noticed, that another thing I do is talk a lot. This became clear to me upon my last visit at our dentist office. The only thing that stops me from talking more, in this situation, is that most of the time their hands are in my mouth, which brings me to my topic. How do you communicate at the Dentist office?

I find this subject to be of interest, not only because I have heard many jokes, and people talking about it, but also because I was a Dental Assistant in my youth.

It never fails that the conversation is very casual when you first arrive. “How are you?” ”Are there any problems?” Etc. However, when they start to work on your teeth, then you get the nitty, gritty questions like… “How’s your family?” “Where are they now?” “Do you have any Grandkids?" “Whom are you voting for?” Or…my favorite…”You use to be a Dental Assistant?” “Tell me about it.” The whole time you are trying to answer the questions without using your lips (since their instruments and hands are there). Sometimes you CAN get a word out (before the next question) and other times, you resort to sign language, mumbling, or just closing your eyes and pretending to sleep. Some offices now have headphones where you can listen to music or watch a movie. However things are going, my favorite is when you hear (either the Dentist or her staff say)…”This is not fair to ask questions when you can’t talk to us.” It is true, but being a Dental Assistant (a long time ago), I remember just trying to make things light and comfortable. It was easy to ask questions, not remembering that they really couldn’t answer it. I look back and think that I could have done things a lot different. I’m just hoping that the patients realized that I was just trying to be friendly and to help them to not feel nervous, just like my kind dentist (and her assistants) do for me.