Putting The Action In Distraction

When I was little — about five years old — my mom took me to the dentist. Our dentist’s office was in a converted house which became a commercial building once it got surrounded by other businesses. It was a welcoming atmosphere.

When my time came to go back, the dentist came out to the lobby, called my name, and then, noting I shared a name with a spokes-cartoon for a popular cereal, he started calling me “Tiger”. He’d end up calling me “Tiger” for the next few years.

When he inevitably found I had cavities, he used some effective distraction techniques. For example, he pinched my gums where he was about to inject with Novacaine, repeatedly saying:

Dentist: “Just a little pinch here, just a pinch.”

Then, when the actual shot went in, he’d repeat:

Dentist: “Just a pinch.”

Because of this, I thought he was just pinching a little harder. He also had me look up so that he could get the syringe to my mouth without me seeing. Or when he started drilling, he said:

Dentist: “Here comes the tractor.”

And in my head, I’d just imagine a farm tractor, not realizing my teeth were getting drilled.

Years later, my mom worked for a different dentist, so I started going there. This doctor had no compunction about letting me see the needle, drill, or other implements. I got so nervous once when I needed two molars extracted that he had to give me a sedative in my arm so I’d be calm enough for the dental procedure.

I sure missed going to that other dentist…