Dentist

So, I grew up in the third world. That means lots of houses made out of bamboo and rice paper, unpaved streets, and...KGB-trained dentists (anyone remember Marathon Man with Dustin Hoffman?). I never had numbing on any fillings. The office was always shiny steel and cold porcelein. There seems to have been a lot of spitting and pain.

To my joy and delight, there are dentists in the U.S. who actually give numbing stuff for a filling - a new and wonderful experience. No pain! Novel, yes?

There seems, however, to have been a gap in the training of hygienists. Is it impossible for them to be gentle? Doesn't it seem like they just shove that floss in there even if your teeth are close together? And what's with that dental pick? Would it be possible for them to clean that nasty plaque without also catching tiny pieces of gum?

A lovely subject, I know, but this Valium I'm on has loosened my tongue - the Valium being another benefit of my dentist who actually responded when I told her of my dental fobias. ;-) I hope all of you have a dentist as nice as mine, but a hygienist just a little gentler.