Going to the dentist has never been on my list of favorite things to do. It was merely an obligatory calendar date every six months to avoid dental problems. The success of this strategy has been confirmed over the years. Of the people my age in Spain, I am one of the few that does not have false teeth, implants, or a bridge of some sort. This has a simple explanation. It is only necessary to journey back 50 years ago to the rip-roaring days of Franco, when dictators were dictators.
When I first arrived in Spain in the late 1960s, it was before globalization. At that time, Spain and the USA were two different planets. There were deep cultural differences, which I would progressively discover when I decided to live there. However, initially, I was struck by the fact that many young people of my age had such bad teeth. Sometimes a smile showed teeth that were brown or black, or even gaps where teeth were missing altogether.
To my astonishment, I discovered that no one ever went to the dentist unless they were in unbearable pain. Dentists were regarded as the modern-day reincarnation of Torquemada, the Grand Inquisitor of the 15th century. Anyone that voluntarily visited the dentist for a check-up was suspected of being a masochist or a likely candidate for psychiatric treatment. People only went to the dentist to get a tooth pulled.
Some of my Spanish friends were surprised that at the age of 19, I still had all of my teeth. And I was surprised that they were surprised.
I had come from a world where even baby teeth were filled if they had cavities. Bi-annual visits to the dentist were the rule. Elementary school teachers taught dental hygiene with a plastic mouth and a large toothbrush. Lots of my classmates had worn braces to straighten their teeth.
Now suddenly I was living in a place where fillings were regarded as high technology, and people only went to the dentist to have their teeth pulled when there was no other solution. In Spain, one of my friends worked as a dental assistant. She complained that all of the teeth on the floor around the dentist chair crunched when she stepped on them. Apparently, teeth were only swept up at the end of the day.
My persistent wish to visit the dentist twice a year for no apparent reason was regarded as a quaint sort of oddity, and gently tolerated because I was a guiri (slang for a foreigner) from a a far-off country where people were prone to do weird things.
However, much to my delight, I discovered that Spanish dentists did know how to fill teeth quite well. When I visited the dentist and asked for a check-up with an X-ray, it was possible to get one. However, first it was necessary to revive the dentist, who had fainted from shock at such a strange request.
Fortunately, this state of affairs eventually changed. Over the years, as I kept going to the dentist, I was saw how attitudes toward dentists gradually evolved. Today there are dental clinics on every corner, whose publicity trades on the social value of having a beautiful smile. Everyone wants to take an attractive selfie.
I have colleagues of a mature age, who have whitened their teeth and even put braces on them. Some have had implants to replace the teeth that they so blithely pulled in their youth. Globalization is not all bad.
However, in Times of Coronavirus, a visit to the dentist is no longer quite the way that it used to be. Dentists here have also had to adapt to the ‘new normal’.
I discovered this yesterday when my dental clinic finally opened again after the quarantine. An appointment that I had in March was cancelled because of the lockdown. This left me with a temporary filling, which should have only lasted for a week but miraculously lasted for three months. My appointment was finally rescheduled for yesterday at 10:00.
Since the clinic is on the other side of town, I felt as though I would be journeying to Nepal. It was my first expedition outside my neighborhood since confinement began.
Even though Granada is still in Phase 0 of the de-escalation process, and most businesses are still closed, it is permissible to go to the doctor or dentist. Although the dental clinic was about an hour’s walk, I decided to take the bus because it was supposed to rain. This was also my first bus ride in three months.
Masks are now obligatory in public transportation, and everyone must keep a social distance. Since there were so few people going anywhere, the number of people was not an issue in the bus. However, one would-be traveler was left stranded on the bus stop because he was not wearing a mask. Fortunately, he was able to scuttle off to a pharmacy to find one because now masks are widely available.
When he could not get on the bus, he did not start screaming about civil liberties or his right to infect others. Whether one agrees or not, masks are obligatory in publication transportation. This is the law throughout Spain, and no one is above the law.
The bus ride through town was like a trip through the ‘Wasteland” of T. S. Eliot. Almost all businesses and hotels were closed and many had ‘For Rent’ signs in their windows. The ride took a much shorter time than usual because there was no traffic.
Arriving too early was a mistake. Since the dental clinic no longer has a waiting room, everyone must arrive exactly on the dot or wait outside on the sidewalk. Only one patient is allowed in the clinic at a time. I would have waited at a café, but since there are no cafes open, I opted for a walk around the neighborhood.
The clinic is near the bullfighting ring, which normally would have had various bullfights scheduled because of the ‘Feria del Corpus Cristi’ in June. However, this year, neither the feria nor the bullfights are going to happen. I have my doubts that there will be any bull events in the near future since even the running of the bulls in Pamplona was cancelled. I wonder how Hemingway would have handled social distance.
The neighborhood around the bullring was even more desolate than mine. The only places that seemed to be buzzing with activity were the pharmacy, grocery store, and funeral parlor. There was a small square with a statue and benches, but no one was sitting on them because it is not allowed.
Although this rule is often broken, today everyone seemed to be obeying the law. Perhaps it is because all of us wish to get to Phase 1. However, not even the creative math of the government has been able to disguise the fact that the numbers are not improving. At best, they are staying about the same.
After checking out the bullring neighborhood for twenty minutes, I returned to the dental clinic, and found that I had arrived at exactly the right time. When I was able to enter, I had to stand in a taped-out square in the doorway where my temperature was taken two times. I thus discovered that my temperature was 35.9ºC. Fortunately, there is no penalty for having a temperature lower than normal.
Sanitizer was sprayed on my hands. My germless hands were then encased in plastic gloves, which were also sprayed with hand sanitizer. This seemed like a bit of an overkill, but rules are rules. After putting on shoe coverings, I was then declared germ-free. This purification rite bore a certain resemblance to those carried out in Ancient Rome by high priestesses serving the Goddess Vesta.
I was then asked for my personal data by the receptionist. This information was duly recorded, after which, I had to sign a paper saying that I did not have any coronavirus symptoms. Even though this document was probably about as binding as a ‘pinkie swear’, it seemed to give everyone a good feeling.
The dentist and her assistant then came out wearing more protective coverings than a pangolin with a triple layer of scales. It was a bit eerie since the clinic has rooms for six patients, and I was the only one there. I had to leave my jacket, purse, and glasses on a chair outside the door. Only after all of this was I able to successfully get my permanent filling and finally return home from my exciting adventure.
I truly appreciate this post. I’ve been looking everywhere for this! Thank goodness I found it on Bing. You’ve made my day! Thank you again
ReplyDeleteDental Implants Brisbane
Thank you for the comment, which has made my day as well:-)
DeleteI really appreciate your work. I am very impressed by this post. I would like to suggest you that please keep sharing such type of info. Thanks...Rock Hill Dental Center
ReplyDeleteI am delighted that you enjoyed it. When anyone reads my blog, I am aways amazed:-)
DeleteThank you. To tell the truth, I started writing because of the lockdown in Spain and all of the sudden free time that I had. I really never thought that anyone would read what I wrote:-) Thank you for the comment.
ReplyDeleteThe information which you have provided is very good and essential for everyone. Keep sharing this kind of information. Thank you. Mobile denture clinic
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this article here about the dentist. Your article is very informative and I will share it with my other friends as the information is really very useful. dentist in ballantyne Keep sharing your excellent work.
ReplyDeleteI read your post and got it quite informative. I couldn't find any knowledge on this matter prior to. I would like to thanks for sharing this article here.denture clinic brisbane
ReplyDeleteI am attracted by the info which you have provided in the above post.dentist summerville sc It is genuinely good and beneficial info for us. Continue posting, Thank you.
ReplyDeleteYou have a real ability to write content that is helpful for us. Thank you for your efforts in sharing such blogs to us. Dental In Pendle Hill
ReplyDeleteIt’s great to come across a blog every once in a while that isn’t the same out of date rehashed material. Fantastic read. Best yarrabilba dental service provider.
ReplyDeleteYour article contains lots of wonderful information about Dental. Thank you for sharing such a good article here.Dental Cleaning Services
ReplyDeleteWow wonderful post. I am very much interested in this kind of blogs. This is truly helpful. Thank you so much for this interesting blog. Dentist hanford ca
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI found decent information in your article.Clear Dental Aligners Clinic I am impressed with how nicely you described this subject, It is a gainful article for us. Thanks for share it.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteWell written and thoughtful blog. Your dental specialist ought to be seen two times per year for profound, intensive cleaning. dental clinic in mumbai
ReplyDeleteExcellent information, I am heartily thankful to you that you have shared this information with us. I got some different kind of knowledge from your article, and it is helpful for everyone. Thanks for share it. dental implants cost charlotte NC
ReplyDeleteIt’s actually a great and useful piece of info that you have shared here. I’m happy that you just shared this helpful info with us. Please stay us informed like this. Thank you for sharing it.Family Dental Rock Hill SC
ReplyDeleteFantastic http://spellcaster-reviews.com I recommend
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteGreat article by the great author, it is very massive and informative but still preaches the way to sounds like that it has some beautiful thoughts described so I really appreciate this article. Best dentist armadale service provider.
ReplyDeleteThis is really a good source of information, I will often follow it to know more information and expand my knowledge, I think everyone should know it, thanks Best top dental clinic in kolkata Services Provider
I really like your blog in which you shared you best knowledge with us it's really effectful and impressive. thank you so much for this best dentist in conroe tx informative details.
ReplyDeleteVery good, This information is essential and informative which you have shared here. Read more info about Best Orthodontist in Bhopal. It is beneficial for beginners to develop their knowledge. It is very gainful information. Thanks for share it.
ReplyDeleteI am very thankful to you for sharing this excellent knowledge. This information is helpful for everyone. So please always share information about ballantyne dentistry. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for this best knowledge. I really like your work and research about dentist tauranga open saturday . You give us the best knowledge by your blog and I agree with your point of view, keep it up.
ReplyDeleteI liked your work and, as a result, the manner you presented this content about Invisalign orthodontist the woodlands.It is a valuable paper for us. Thank you for sharing this blog with us.
ReplyDeleteNice blog post so thanks a lot for sharing this great blog post.. keep more post for sharing.. have a nice day.
ReplyDeleteNotary Public Lawyer in Cambridge
Very nice post, impressive. its quite different from other posts. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteLandlord Tenant Dispute Lawyer in Ontario
Good Post! Thank you so much for sharing this pretty post, it was so good to read and useful to improve my knowledge as updated one, keep blogging.
ReplyDeleteNotary Public Lawyer in Cambridge
I am attracted by the presentation of this article. dentist in conroe texas It is a genuinely a gainful article for us. Keep posting, Thank you
ReplyDeleteInteresting to read your post. I can't wait to see your next post. Good luck for upcoming updates. This article is very interesting and effective. Thanks for sharing such a blog. Addiction treatment in Simi Valley, CA
ReplyDelete