Not sure why I'm so cranky.. but am I ever

I've been going to the same dentist for probably 10 years.  I don't much like them but, it's a dentist, I don't like any of them so who cares?  The cleanings every six months are included in my dental plan and the dentist does lean towards not trying to make my teeth perfect.  I drink lots of coffee and am 70 years old so we are way into maintaining the decay.  Much like working out in the gym.  I'm not going for the perfect body, I'm going for not too much worse not too fast and everything still functions.

I've got an appointment today for which I have, so far, received three or four texts, a couple of emails and a phone call.  If they have that much trouble ensuring that appointments are met maybe there's something else going on.  Anyway, the last text I got was a link to a form that was a new patient, actually a potential patient, form asking all of the stuff that will likely end up on the dark web once the service they use is hacked.  They asked my name and address and asked, twice, about the possible conditions I have and all my medications (also twice) and the usual HIPAA form that says they won't give my information away to my wife without my permission when it will likely be for sale in the next six months.  And do I want fluoride.  Which I do.  But the method they use requires me to have an appliance in my mouth covering both sets of teeth full of a gel and for me to stay there uncomfortable trying not to rip them out for 10 minutes.  So, no, no fluoride.

I think old people become so impatient as we have seen the same crap so many times that when we are presented with it by happy, shinny people who ask us to repeat thing we've done for 70 years it is a little annoying.

But that's just me.

Looking forward to my appointment at 2.

Even more annoying, the in office experience was the best ever

I may still get a chance to complain about the notifications but I've now gotten a permanent tech 'Erick' to take care of me.  And he is excellent.  He is happy being a dental tech.  At about 22 or so he's found his niche, at least for now.  This dentist has had a revolving door of temp dental techs.  In my experience the dental tech is, visit to visit, more important than the dentist.  Until, of course, time for a crown or whatever.  Then the dentist is more important.

The dentist here is an acquaintance of mine from the BNI networking days when she was just getting started.  She is a Romanian immigrant who, with her husband, has opened two offices and survived covid and is now, apparently doing well.  She now has hired permanent dental techs instead of just the itinerant ones that were the definition of hit and miss.  I told her Erick was a keeper so maybe he will stay on.  He was gentle and as painless as cleaning can be.  Plus he did one thing that I've only had happen once my entire life.  He complimented me on what I was doing with my teeth.  He said a couple of times that 'fortunately, you left a bit of tartar so I have a job'.   Even if it is not true, I've always thought that positive reinforcement is the one thing that dentists suck at.  Erick had it down.

So, I'll put up with the admin as long as Erick is there.  Nothing is perfect.

Down side, August will be at least one crown.  Cracked tooth.  Fortunately they do them all at once.  None of the fitting and come back next week for the permanent one.  They make them there.  So, sucks, but best possible way to suck.

I envy my dog.  General anesthetic for any dental work.  That is the way to go.