#584 this redhead didn't get along with her dentist

I was checking out the headlines online at MSNBC.com today when I saw something that caught my eye in the Health section. It was called "Why Redheads and Dentists Don't Get Along."

The gist of it is something about redheads being immune to some type of painkiller that dentists use or something. The reason it got my attention is because I don't really like my dentist. I don't mind going to the dentist; in fact, I love to have my teeth cleaned. I just don't like my dentist.

I was supposed to have an appointment with him a couple of weeks ago, but the more I thought about it, the more I just didn't want to go to him. He's always talking about money - how much he used to make, how much he's making now, what he's doing to cut costs to make more money, etc. Who wants to hear that?

Plus, he bought the practice from the dentist that I used to go to that I really liked, and when I first met this new dentist, he spent a few minutes bad-mouthing my previous dentist. For example, he asked me if the other dentist, Dr. H, had put in my crown. I said no. He said, "Oh, that's a good thing. I've seen a lot of crowns he put in that went bad really fast and I had to replace them." I never had any problem with Dr. H or his hygienist, Mike. I thought Mike was terrific, but the new dentist said unflattering things about Mike, too. Not cool.

So I decided to make a change. I called the dentist's office.

ME: Hi. I'd like to cancel my Friday morning appointment.

RECEPTIONIST: Ok. Is it the time or the date that doesn't work for you?

ME: Um, it's the dentist. I just don't like him. I'll be finding a new dentist. Thank you.

I guess I didn't think that through very well, and I was a little more blunt than I should have been. I mean, after all, MT still goes to this guy (although he agrees with me that the dentist is kind of a jerk.) The receptionist really didn't know what to say. She ended up with, "Oh! I'm sorry. OK." What else could she say?

Anyway, I'm now in the market for a new dentist. I am due for a cleaning, so I think I'll try a new practice in our neighborhood. I'll let you know how it goes.