Herman by Jim Unger for May 21, 2024

You know the drill.

Had root canals, mine were more pleasant, not much!

Ah, those were the days… long gone thank dog!

In 1954, my mother, brother, sister and I were at Fort Hamilton, NY getting shots and dental work prior to boarding a MATS ship for Morocco. I am sure I cried over the shots (which would have been numerous in a short time period), but the dental work had me screaming! 70 years later, I don’t remember the pain, but I do remember the screaming…

Another hand tool aficionado.

I’m afraid to think what he uses for anesthesia — a blow to the head with a mallet?

Scary part of the story is that his brother is a proctologist.

I’m afraid I’ll have to disagree with you on that one, doc.

8 decades or so ago, my visits to the dentist were thought in terms of ‘why don’t my parents like me?’ But thing change.

Just a couple decades ago had a half dozen crowns set. Get molds of the tooth, send them off, then grind down tooth, temp crown, etc. Took three visits over a month and all kinds of painful. But nothing like the early years.

Last week, took 3d pics, ground the tooth, sent pics to 3d printer, hour later new crown with new ‘glue’ that set solid in 15 mins and went home. All in 2.5 hours. No residual pain, just ache where jaws were stretched.

Kind of amazing. I’ll take it.

My dentist used a belt driven drill LONG after compressed air drill became common. I found a better dentist.

And the spit basin on the left – long gone. I miss it. They never quite get my mouth rinsed with the spray and vacuum method.

LOL, and I am scheduled for a root canal on Thursday. Same side and apparent position on the lower jaw.

This reminds me of many members of various car communities. They just can’t accept the improvements in technology.

Thank you Dr Yankum for embracing “new” technology. ;-}

I beg to differ with you, Doc.

He forgot to mention they used that drill to search for crude in the North Slope

It would be even more life-like if the dentist and his foot & knee on the patient’s chest. (Rio Lobo-John Wayne)

OK, I’ll go with the old ways, I’ll use a door knob instead.

THIS is why more people don’t go to their dentist!

Seymour: What’s that?

Orin: A drill.

Seymour: It’s rusty!

Orin: It’s an antique. They don’t make ’em like this any more. Sturdy. Heavy. Dull!

Little Shop of Horrors (1986)

Have you tried the more modern methods?

I still miss being able to rinse and spit.

Ahhhhh, the good old days!?

Have an appointment tomorrow for a couple fillings in the back. I didn’t need to see this

My dentist tries to pull anything like that on me, he’s out of business.

Agree to disagree!

I’ll have another dose of Novocain, Doc.