Ruminations of an Expatriate

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Saturday, October 27th, 2007...5:06 pm

Dental Assistant

Those who know me know that I am a sucker for children. These shots are a bit on the dark side, as I took them in the dentist office with my cell phone camera.

Those of you who read my report on my trip this week to the dentist to translate for my gringo neighbor will remember that I mentioned the one year old daughter of the dentist and his wife was in the office with them. Her domain is a makeshift playpen in the corner, against the windows looking out on a balcony and Calle Clavijero.

Again, during the interludes of my translation duties I engaged in the typical type of mugging an adult (and with respect to myself, for the record, I use the term very loosely) performs for a one year old.

The little girl has a cell phone so I held my hand to my ear and said “Hola, Alexis”, to which she responded by putting the phone to her ear and speaking in Spanish baby talk with her normal wide, two-toothed smile.

Meanwhile, the dentist, Doctor Raul, took impressions of my neighbors teeth for production of a new bridge. I also learned that the young woman in the office, Alejandra, who I had assumed to also be a dental medicine professional, is actually trained as an attorney but doesn’t like working in litigation, thus her presence there. Though she seems to me to know quite a bit about dentistry, as Doctor Raul often asks for her opinion and assistance.

Assuming each offers a competent dentist, given the choice between a sparsely furnished office with a playpen in the corner and those in the USA with which I am accustomed, I’ll take the one with the child.

Another note on prices. I forget the name of the procedure, where the dentist excavates the horrible substances which have accumulated on teeth below the gum line, but it costs $700. pesos (about $65. USA).

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