At the dentist with Mom

No one really likes visiting their friendly dentist, but for me I have grown used to the needles and probing. The other day I accompanied mom to her dentist and as I sat there listening to the dentist and her assistant chatting softly and clinging and clanging their instruments, I began to try and visualize what was going on. Of course, I could tell some things but not the important ones.

I could tell, of course, when they were swishing water around in Mom’s mouth and when they were changing instruments, but nothing more. So at some time during the session I got up the nerve to ask if she had as yet received her injection. The dentist chuckled and said yes!

It was an uncomfortable feeling for me to sit there and not quite be able to tell what was going on and I had to really use all of my hearing and concentration to focus. I tried not to imagine my poor mom in any pain and I kept making conversation so as to try and gauge her comfort zone. Most of the time she would give a short laugh to let me know that she was okay.

Ah yes! The joys of being at the dentist.

I’m Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly accessibility advocate, wishing you a terrific day and inviting you to go out there and share my words with others. Visit www.nfb.org to learn more.