Is it just me, or do almost all dental offices not have doors on the individual exam rooms?

Since my insurance was lapsing last month (thanks, layoffs!), I decided I should probably go to the dentist in case something was wrong that needed to be addressed. As it turned out I had three cavities, so I got those taken care of, and I also had an appointment with the hygienist. Somehow, even though my mouth was 75 percent numb by the time I saw the hygienist, what she did still hurt like hell — apparently they have this new tool that measures the space between your gums and teeth to determine if you have infections or other possible issues.

I don’t think anyone actually likes going to the dentist. It’s uncomfortable at best, and painful at worst. That new tool I mentioned hurt worse than the injections I had to have prior to my fillings. (The worst part of the fillings was the noise the drill made, and the constant fear of “what if the painkiller stops working?”)

Now that I’m on the marketplace (non-US readers: a place to purchase private health insurance because you aren’t getting it from your job, for whatever reason), I had the option to purchase dental insurance, but all the available plans that were also affordable were terrible. They covered preventative maintenance, and that’s it. For a few dollars more per month I could get a plan that would cover cavities, but only if I waited and kept the plan for six months, or root canals and other dental work — 12-month waiting period, though. One plan I looked at would give you one extraction and one root canal over the entire life of the plan, which seems a bit shortsighted — I’ve had three extractions in my life (and thankfully no root canals). American dental insurance is a giant joke; even if you have it, you still end up paying a fair bit out of pocket, and if you or your child needs braces or other orthodontia? Well, let me put it to you this way: my daughter had braces, and I had some of the best dental insurance money can buy, and it still cost us $3600 out of pocket.

I’m one of the lucky ones — I only have had cavities and the extractions I mentioned. Lots of people have it a lot worse — even people who do the maximum when it comes to brushing and flossing and going to the dentist for preventative care. Of my immediate family, I’m the only one who hasn’t had a root canal.

Oh, and — remember back in the day you could go to the dentist, be told you have a cavity, and have it filled the same day? Not so much anymore; you have to get an exam, and then come back later for the actual filling. Thankfully you don’t have to pay two co-pays (usually) but you do have to take more time off work, and if you work somewhere that’s loath to let you take time off, good luck getting your cavity filled.

Luxury bones indeed.

Go to the dentist. You won’t enjoy it, but it’ll be over in an hour.