Here’s a little cautionary tale for those of you who avoid going to the dentist. I’ve always been a little afraid of going to the dentist; you know, the drill, the noises, the smell. As I gained massive amounts of weight, I used my weight as an excuse to quit going to the dentist. I diligently brushed and flossed my teeth, but avoided making and keeping an appointment for a check-up. Why? Because I was afraid I wouldn’t fit on the skinny little chair that was designed for regular sized people.
The thought of plopping down on the chair, lifting my heavy legs over the side and laying with my big self hanging over the sides of the chair struck terror in my mind. I imagined the repulsion the dentist and his assistant would feel as they had to reach their arms around my big neck and face. Maybe they wouldn’t feel that way at all, but that’s what I thought they’d be thinking. I was worried I wouldn’t be able to use my lax stomach muscles to pull myself up and use the spit bowl, and also worried my weight would prevent the dentist from properly numbing my mouth. All ridiculous worries I know, but worries just the same.
I’d make appointments with the dentist the rest of my family used, but cancel them before the actual day arrived. I got numerous post cards in the mail cheerfully reminding that I was overdue for my check-up. Overdue was an understatement at that point, as I was overdue by several years. Everytime a little card came in the mail I’d look at it, rip it into tiny pieces and throw it in the trash. “No way,” I’d think. “No way I’m going to be embarrassed.” So I didn’t go.
As I got closer to my goal weight my lack of dental visits began weighing heavily on my mind. I knew I could go now, and not be worried about hanging off the sides of the chair or breaking something. Finally, I made an appointment with a new dentist and actually went. Because I was a new patient, I had to endure the “welcome to our practice, why are you here” talk. When he asked me about my last visit to a dentist I tried to just get away with mumbling some nonsense. It didn’t work. He pressed me, and I finally confessed that I hadn’t been to the dentist in over 8 years. He was shocked, and asked me why. I explained that I used to be obese and I was worried about fitting on the skinny chair and using the spit bowl. He just looked thoughtfully at me and said, “I see.” He also explained that during my eight year hiatus spit bowls had become passe and I didn’t need to worry about that part of the experience. “Wow,” I thought. “Technology has moved a long way while I was busy gaining 150 pounds.” Eventually our little chat was over and he turned me over to his assistant, to whom I also had to explain my long absence from dental offices. To her credit, she didn’t say much, but proceeded to x-ray my teeth. I was understandably nervous when the dentist came back into the room. He said, “Didn’t you say it had been eight years since you’ve been to the dentist?” I nodded, waiting for the bad news. And bad news it was because then he said, “Well, you’ve got eight cavities – one for each year you missed.”
So, the point of this little story is encourage you to not only get regular check-ups with your doctor, but also to check in regularly with your dentist. If you don’t, you may be missing some great new technological advances and missing some teeth! Just another expensive reason to lose weight, get healthy and stop being afraid of things! Diane
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The person I feel sorrier for than the dentist is my gynecologist. Seriously, having to gaze in between these mammoth thighs…
Hanlie,
I’m not even sure what to say about that – so I think I’ll just let that one go! Have a great day!
Diane,
This article grabbed my attention because my husband currently is a dental student. He will graduate as a dentist in two years.
He has just begun working in the student clinic at the university and they have actually had problems with one or two patients who were morbidly obese. One lady threatened the student doctor against making any faces at her 350+ lb. daughter because the young woman was, understandably, very embarrassed about her weight. Another man wasn’t able to be seen because the chair wouldn’t lie back with him in it due to his weight. A repairman said the chairs do have weight limits and won’t tilt back if you’ve reached that limit. The chair would break and they don’t want the patient to be in any danger of falling.
Both these scenarios were eye openers for me seeing as I’ve never gained that much weight. They are very serious and I pity both that young woman and the man for not being able to deal with such a simple task as going to the dentist. Like you said, it’s one more reason to get healthier and lose some weight.
Hopefully some day one of those two adults will be able to share a testimony such as yours.
Leah – Thanks for the insight – I guess I inherently was worried about breaking the chairs, as well as the embarrassment involved in the whole visit. It makes me sad to see obese people these days, as I know what they are feeling and going through. The other day in church we saw a beautiful little girl who was so overweight that she had to sit down during the singing time. My heart broke for her. One good thing about having been obese for me, is that now I have even more empathy than I normally would have. Thanks for the great comments.
I’m with you. I waited 5 years before going to the dentist when I first started losing weight the last time. I used that chair as a 6-month check on how much I’d lost, each time it felt more comfortable. And yes, I was surprised you don’t need the bowl anymore, either! I also didn’t go get my hair cut for nearly five years. I had my daughter trim my hair instead. Not only were the stylists chairs uncomfortable, I had to look at myself in the mirror, too. Ugh.
I got around the “not able to spit in the little sink-bowl” problem by asking the dentist/hygienist for a second paper cup. I would use one to sip from, and spit in the second one, and then pour it into the little sink-bowl.
The dentist I have now no longer has the sink-bowl thingy, just an assistant with a thing that sucks all the stuff out of your mouth.
@Lynn – I hear you on the hair cutting issue. I did go get my hair cut, but not by a good stylist, as I felt I wasn’t attractive enough for the fancy salons. Once I lost weight I did get my hair cut properly and it was a good feeling! It was also nice to sit in the dental chair and fit properly, and not worry about being too big! Thanks for the comment, and I’ll bet your daughter doesn’t trim your hair anymore either!
@ Deb – Good work around for the spit bowls! Your two cup approach reminded me of being in the hospital as an obese patient. I would ask the nurse for two gowns, one to put on backwards to cover the backside and one to put on frontwards to cover the front. Problem solved! I’m glad the spit bowls are gone – aren’t you? They were kinda gross! Thanks so much for commenting and for reading!