Well, not quite. But close!
Tasha and I went to the dentist for the first time since we’ve been here in Denver (shameful, I know), and I was somewhat bewildered by the level of technology that they used at this office. For starters, their office is “nearly paperless” which immediately meant a lot of computers. Tasha got her cleaning first, and the hygienist had a voice operated system for logging a series of numbers related to gum health.  She then produced A LASER on the end of this little pick that goes off like a metal detector when it finds cavities.
Just when I thought I couldn’t get any closer to Sick Bay on the Starship Enterprise, it was my turn to get my teeth cleaned. They had to take x-rays for me (Tasha was exempted due to pregnancy) and they explained to me that in this office they use digital x-rays. The normal little film slide was replaced with this ping pong ball sized contraption that I got to bite down on several times, and they took the x-ray with the same apparatus I was used to from my last dentist. The doctor came in and explained that they don’t have to develop these x-rays, and popped them right up in front of me on an HDTV which was conveniently located right above the exam chair.
He whizzed through the x-rays, claiming they looked really good. He then took a look a turn with the laser and found two cavities in my molars. “Forty minutes is all I need to fix those!” he said, and I have another appointment on Monday to get that work done. A long 30-year streak of no cavities ends, but at very least I got to see some wicked-cool technology in the process.
I wonder if they’ll use hypospray to numb me up…
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