Semitoics Essay, Research Paper

The phone rings and I answer, Thank you for calling Radio Shack in Fairlane Meadows, how can I help you? The voice on the other end asks for Ali Salamey and I reply, speaking . The voice says she is calling to remind me of my 10:45 AM dental appointment that next morning. I sigh and tell her I will be there. I have never had a fear of the dentists office but this was a follow up to my cleaning. I had my first cavity, and it needed to be filled. I woke up early that morning to run some errands. I will never forget that oozy feeling I had standing outside the building. Once in the building I immediately smell the mixture of wintergreen-flavored toothpaste and bleach out in the hall even before I got into Dr. Guindi s office. As soon as I open the outer door, the blast of cool stale air from the air conditioner hits me in the face making me shiver all over. I walk in and signed my name on the sign in sheet. The gray-hared woman behind the white-frosted glass slide window sees me and says Doctor Guindi will be with you in just a few minutes . I waited and watched the young attractive intern in her white uniform to call out my name. I then grab a magazine sitting on the coffee table and while flipping to the first page am suddenly startled, only to see pictures of decaying teeth and gums. I quickly close the book and shudder at the thought as I roll my tongue over my teeth and thank god they are all there. The nurse calls my name… I enter the inner office and sit in the brown leather chair looking at all the shiny stainless steel equipment. As I sat down the bright overhead light momentarily blinds me… I began thinking to myself; It s our nature to have an uneasy or disturbed feeling when someone such as a dentist gets so close to you that there hovering just inches off you face. It could also be that feeling of entrapment when your sitting in that cold leather chair with those warm bright lights and the feeling of interrogation having to surrender your self to the powers of this supposedly legitimate individual. This must be the reason why most people develop a fear of the dentist at such an early age. This was my first filling where most people have this same procedure done at a much earlier age. That distinct stale smell, the bright lights and the sharp shiny tools they pry your mouth open with while smiling and showing you there pearly whites; saying open wide , psychologically conditions your mind to dread that current situation. Thereafter any recurrence of this situation in your everyday life will be embedded in your mind reminding you of this apprehension. Such as the television commercials of decaying teeth, the smell of bad breath and movie plots that take place in doctors office’s in general remind us of the responsibility of taking care of our teeth.

I start regaining my sight. With my vision still slightly blurred I notice the nurse reaching over and grabbing a large, sharp, abstract looking tool that she then begins picking with at my teeth. While in a state of muddle I began grasping my thigh intensively. Dr. Guindi then entered the room wearing a white mask covering his nose and mouth making him resemble some kind of serial killer. I close my eyes; his heavy breathing didn t help the occasion much. About half an hour later my horrific experience was over. I had survived. That following night while brushing my teeth I glanced back at my reflection in the mirror and smiled, I have some pretty good looking teeth I thought to myself. I then subconsciously realized the psychological effect that your local dentist has on most of society. I never noticed the people that affect us most in our lives all seem to have perfect teeth. The movie stars, models and most people we look at, as role models seem to have taken exceptional care of their teeth. It makes you wonder if they had gone through the same experience I had at some point in their lives or if they are currently in pursuit of the same occurrence. (727)