AT THE DENTIST'S

I have lots of teeth. All but one wisdom. So I have had a lot of dentist visits over the years.

Roy Miller was my first dentist. He was a friend of my dad's, so that's where we went for awhile. He was a starter for the MTV Rams 1920 State Championship basketball team. That's right--1920.

His office wasn't totally unlike the one in the picture. I got to ride in my first elevator to go up to the 5th floor of the JB Rodger's Building to his office.

All I remember about him was that he hurt me whatever he did to my mouth.

My next dentist was Dr. Vaught who lived two doors down the street from us. I don't know if Dr. Miller retired or if we just switched. Dr. Vaught didn't seem to hurt as much. Once he took out a tomato seed from a tooth. No amount of brushing, picking or gouging (I'm so old that we didn't have floss in those days) would get at the wedged in seed. Afterwards, the doctor would let me pick out a charm, the kind that used to be in penny machines. One I snagged a charm shaped like a hunk of ham. It didn't take much to satisfy me back then. He also gave me a dentist mirror, crooked so I could look at my back and upper teeth.

My next two dentists, Drs Neal and Woodrome, I played a little golf with, so they took it easy on me. Well, at least Dr. Woodrome who is related to me. Then his son who was a student of mine.

On to Az where Dr. Itkoe sings to me while working on my teeth. He told me he doesn't care if he sounds bad to me; he only sings well to his lady patients. And for two root canals, I've seen Dr. Shyck. He is the easiest of all. I went to sleep both times. He wants me to give a testimonial to how a root canal is not such an ordeal.

Their offices are a little nicer than Dr. Miller's. And I think their tools and technology have come a long way, too.

I still kinda miss the charms though.