I can’t feel my face when I’m with you…

So, for the record, that is my least favorite Radio song right now.  But it was totally appropriate for this post.  The reason that I can’t feel my face has nothing to do with loving someone and everything to do with the fact that I had two cavities filled at the dentist this afternoon.  It’s always the weirdest feeling.  And I couldn’t get that song out of my head since it was so relevant.

I’m writing about my dentist experience today because dentist anxiety is totally something that I struggle with.

Backing up to the beginning.  I was a South Korean orphan baby, in the 80s.  So for the first sixth months of my life, I survived sans nursing or Enfamil.  It is what it is.  But I doubt that it helped give my teeth that nutritious start they probably should have had.

We had a great dentist growing up.  Dr. Mark Lange was so good to our family and his office had a cool fish tank.  My sisters and I loved the prize box and the new tooth brushes we’d get each visit.  Unfortunately though, I was a child with lots of cavities and I also was a night time teeth grinder (which my sisters couldn’t stand though they had no choice since we shared a room).

Fast forward to adulthood and marriage and moving to New York and not having dental insurance.  Jeremy and I found one of those “Dental Plans” that unfortunately came with dentists that were less than great.  One dentist that I found numbed the wrong side of my mouth and would yell at me about how bad my teeth were as he drilled away.  I pretty much was on the verge of tears every time I visited that office.

Thankfully, a few years ago,we finally connected with a wonderful dentist.  We were on a Missions Trip to Puerto Rico when Jeremy was having tooth pain.  A friend of mine who read my blog told us to come and see her husband who was a dentist as soon as we got back.  We did, and the rest was history.

I still have dentist anxiety.  But little by little, it’s gotten less and less thanks to our wonderful dentist Dr. Sal Lotardo and the incredible staff at Bella Smiles.  Their beautiful office Bella Smiles is located in Riverhead (and there is one in Nesconset too).  Dr. Sal is so kind and has an incredibly calming presence.  He does an incredible job and I could not have a higher recommendation for a dentist.  I had two cavities filled today and am happy to report that I had very little anxiety about the whole thing (I prayed a lot before my appointment, so I know that helped).  Dr. Sal worked quickly and efficiently.  He checked in to make sure I was okay and it didn’t hurt at all.

I write all this to share that even though my smile is a bit lopsided (thanks to the novocaine), I’m so happy that my visit went well.  If you are local to Riverhead or Nesconset and looking for a great dentist, please go and visit Dr. Sal at Bella Smiles.  He does a lot of things including Cosmetic Dentistry, Implants, Root Canals and Braces and is overall a fantastic dentist for everyone in your family.