In Which Bernice Attempts to Appeal to the Dentite Crowd

It must really suck being a dentist. Even though they cause pain, inconvenience, and horrible, crippling fear that something bad will happen to our teeth (Dear God!), I've started to feel bad for them. Here's why (with some Funneccessary tamil translation).

Everyone Hates Seeing Them. (எவேர்யோனே ஹட்ஸ் தேம்)
Straight up, nobody likes going to the dentist. Period. aside from the Bill Murray character in Little Shop of Horrors, I have yet to ever hear of someone who actually enjoys the leather gloves, poking, and numbness juice. But really, we don't really have that much reason to. Orthodontists aside, those with a DDS are actually really looking out for our health. Things like root canals and impacted molars are actually things that can really fuck you up and need serious surgical work. These are some talented mofos, like you know, real doctors. But we'll get to them later. Fundamentally, being someone who is essentially universally hated because of their medical career choice must be horribly depressing. But, the problem goes further. How many times do you bet dentists have to deal with patients freaking out at the sight of something sharp? Especially pediatric ones? I remember when I was young I tried to make sure that the my trip to the dentist was the closest possible incarnation of hell on earth for myself, my parents, and the guy who was being paid to look after my health. I suppose part of me thought that if I made the dentist hate me enough, then he wouldn't let me back and I would live a life of blissful dental ignorance. Also, how much would it suck if, on top of everyone dreading to see you, you were taking SOMEBODY ELSE'S patients for the day? All of the mutual trust that the patient and his regular guy would entirely vanish, and you would be left with the patient who wants to see you even less because he doesn't know you, and is therefore assuming you are a bad dentist, constantly second guessing everything you do or say, and no doubt continually comparing you to the other guy. Not fair.

They Don't Get No Respect. Let's face it, as much as anti-dentites like to say otherwise ("What do you call someone who flunks out of med school? A DENTIST!!!!!), dentists ARE doctors. they have doctorate degrees, and have passed some seriously strenuous schooling, and are liscenced to perform surgeries and generally be trusted with needles and things. Medical Doctors, however, are practically the kings of the world! They're ubiquitously loved, respected, and everybody is convinced that their guy is the best. If anybody ever said to me that his dentist was the best, I'd be shocked. Doctors command a (deserved, don't get me wrong) respect for saving lives Parents seem to dream of their child ascending the educational and social podium to that shining title: Doctor. Nobody I've heard of watches their four-year old and remarks how good little billy would be at drilling teeth. It seems to have the stigma, even for a child with all of the possibility in the world, of a second option.


Ultimately, it just seems odd that society has so much against people who have to look in mouths all day for a living. It doesn't seem a stretch to me that most people would rather their actual doctor do a bunch of mysterious tests (Cough!) and "tell it like it is" than have a similarly dressed dude rub paste on a senseless part of your body. But who knows, maybe it's just the bibs.