Dental manners.
 

The recent rash of dental related posts, in combination with yesterday's wide eyed robot dental patient has lead me to a new poll.

Do you leave your eyes open and watch or keep them shut and imagine yourself in your happy place when you are at the dentist?

I always shut mine when they are working, and open them when they are not. It's kind of creepy to be that close to someone I don't know even if they are buried underneath a facemask and eye shields...plus, I hate to be watched when I'm trying to work, so I figure I'll not make the person with a very sharp pointy scraper nervous if I don't have to...

I keep them open, but don't stare into the eyes or face of the hygienist. There are plenty of things to look at in the room. There's a cool aquarium screen saver on the computer they use for the charts. It's right in my line of view. Probably on purpose. Also, the fluorescent ceiling lights are covered with light diffusers that have transparent pictures of a blue sky with puffy white clouds. They have a huge picture frame on the wall, filled with old dental related advertisements from magazines like 50 - 100 years ago.

I just think of the @#$%^& bill.

closed for all the drilling and shit, open for cleaning etc. Plenty to look at other than dentist, plus I won't know when "mr sucky" is coming if I have my eyes closed and I hate it when he takes me by surprise :lol:

I always looked for designs on the ceiling tiles, or in the coverings on the lights, plus my orthodontists would constantly talk with me while they were working, telling me what they were doing before they did it, and why they were doing it while they did it, I always thought that was cool.

Open, but not looking at the dentist ... most have pictures or something to look at to take your mind off the events in your mouth. I like wilderness landscapes best - look for good hiking trails, campsites, and such.

How the hell do dentists understand what people are saying to them?
D: So, what do you do?
P: I-a a aeeii i-o-a-ii
D: A marine biologist, interesting.

Monster, this might be taken out of context:

Open, but I stare at the ceiling. My dentist needs to do something more interesting up there -- it's just boring acoustic tile.

Bring a sharpie with you next time, and if they leave you alone in the room, stand up on the chair and write something really small up there. For future patients to look at.

"Get out if you still can!!!"

My dental hygienist uses an ultrasonic cleaning tool, which sprays a lot of water, so I usually keep my eyes closed.

my dentist has those really cool things that look like sunglasses, but when you put them on it looks like you are at the movie theater. i watched the bourne supremacy last time i was in.

he said he went and bought those for each station one time when he realized he'd been working all day with something kind of hanging out of his nose.

freakin' awesome.

No, really? :eek:

My dental appointments are usually one hour or less. Do they let you stay and finish the movie?

i've never tried. i'll have to ask next time. although it is the orthodontist so the appointments do run a little longer.

Open, but I just stare at the ceiling and try not to blind myself on the giant ass light that looks like it is from War of the Worlds.