Excerpt

In between all that excitement, I had a small dental problem. I think I am cursed and all my savings will be swallowed up by my mouth. If I had only used gold for fillings, I might have retained some of my riches.

I was having some sensitivity and pain in my right canine and suspected a gum problem. Another cruiser directed me to an Indian dentist he had used.

I went along and was ushered in immediately. It struck me later that dentist offices are like Chinese restaurants. If the place is empty, there is a good reason and its best to seek out another. I thought of this later, of course. In a moment of discomfort, I was pleased not to have to wait.

Dr. Naida was a pleasant, no-nonsense woman. I was in the door and reclining in her chair within two minutes. I told her what I thought was the problem as she stifled a yawn and picked up the little mirror and mini ice-pick that are the eleventh and twelfth digits on a dentists hands. It seemed like she made only one or two pokes at the teeth I suggested might have problems before promptly diagnosing two cavities. I swear she took less than thirty seconds. She told me the price, and I had no sooner agreed than the drill was in her hand and whining menacingly.

Being a considerate Doc, she asked if Id like a needle. Oh, yes! Im no hero. I cannot honestly say if it was a disposable needle. She had the wicked thing in my mouth before my head had stopped nodding. It was like she had a premonition I was coming and would ask for the jab. Time will tell about the needle. It was also an interesting sensation to feel and taste real fingers for she didnt wear latex gloves.

This particular doc was dentistrys version of a chess master who challenges a dozen people at once: takes a look; makes an instant decision; moves and goes on to another player. She had both rotten bits drilled out within a minute - two cavities. The fillings were white. That was a relief as I had resigned myself to silver never dreaming that the latest technology had made it to Fiji. The only part of the process that she did at a normal pace was the hardening of the fillings. This is determined by 3M and cant be hurried.

I was out the door within twenty minutes of arriving. The fillings werent polished to a pearly smooth surface, but they seemed to be OK. The pain was largely gone but the occasional tingle and twinge made me think Id be redoing them in the future. My dentist in Hong Kong would be ill to learn what she charged: US$40 for everything. I assume hed quote the old Chinese saying: If you pay peanuts, you get monkeys. Even at that low rate, my outboard mechanic, Jack, claimed Id been ripped off because of my skin color.