Last year, my roommate and I showed up at 8:15am (the event started at 8am), but the line was so long we didn't get into the office before it closed. So this year, we were proactive, and showed up at the office at 6:30 in the A-M. It might seem a little crazy, but this is free dentistry work!!! For a person without dental insurance and a few aches and pains in the mouth, it is wonderful. Last year, the visit included a cleaning and whatever you needed done, but this year, in order to help more people, they were only offering fillings and extractions. My roommate and I were rewarded for our early morning attendance with the place of #21 and #22- far ahead from our #180-something position from last year. So we waited in the car until quarter til 8, and then we joined the growing crew inside a supposedly warming tent. Just before 9, our numbers were called, and we entered the nicely warmed building to find fairly comfortable waiting room chairs and a large flat screen tv playing Cars. I was quickly impressed, and then I remembered I was in Olathe which is in Johnson County which is one of the richest counties in America.
Just a few minutes later, the assistants called me back. A dentist was there waiting and asked what was wrong. I told her that my lower left side of my jaw had been hurting, so she took a look. I had an x-ray on that side of my mouth where they found a tiny cavity. However, the cause of my pain was actually a result of my previously unknown grinding of the teeth. (I will have to be more careful.) So the next 20 minutes were spent getting numbed, drilled, and filled. I left happily although not feeling the left side of my mouth and tongue.
And so even though I had a cavity and then had to go to work, I was so excited because I didn't have to pay for anything!!! The only thing that would have made this experience better would have been a sticker of a smiling tooth and toothbrush, but I'll take the fact that I had no bill to pay too. :)
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