Today I am thankful for potassium iodide.
Well...I would be if I could find my stash.
I'm eating so much kelp that I wouldn't be surprised if I woke up green tomorrow.
What happened?
Well....it started with a prayer to the Goddess Lakshmi.
I asked for help finding a job to help the downtrodden improve their lives.
I fell asleep and woke up with the most horrific pain in my mouth.
I grind my teeth at night and I figured that, perhaps, I had broken a tooth. I can see where it chipped. I'm in pain. I have horrid insurance. I went to the nearest dentist.
He was late to his office.
I stood outside talking to a 76 year old man from Nepal.
He's an interesting soul.
It was his first dental visit.
Let me just say that there isn't enough time in the world to talk to the interesting people among us. I've seen him around the neighborhood, maybe we'll get to talk again someday.
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I went inside. I spoke to the receptionist. She was Indian as was the dentist. They had just bought the practice. They do a lot of charity work.
Long story short, I think they do things differently in India. I had 18 x-rays today. It was the kind of dental x-ray machine I remember from my youth. I'm used to seeing high priced dentists, the kind that use fancy scanners that circle around your head.
This was old school. I did not wear a lead vest for several of them. I had to remind the dental assistant to grab the vests. I was shocked she wasn't wearing one either.
It seems to me that this would be less than ideal.
So....I'm sucking down all the iodine I can find.
It wasn't a bad thing.
The dentist didn't charge me a dime nor did he want my co-pay. He'll just take what the insurance gives him. I wondered if he saw my car and felt sorry for me.
I don't know.
His staff tried very hard to find the problem. There were no cavities. He said my teeth were clean. I don't have gum disease. He couldn't see anything wrong.
He said the problem is most likely that I brush my teeth too hard and pushed my gums down around that particular tooth. He gave me a toothbrush and some desensitizing toothpaste.
He told me to call him in two weeks if the pain did not go away.
He offered to sell me a $1,000 night guard for $250.
I am grateful but felt like I was taking advantage of him. As I left, I asked if they accepted other forms of insurance. It turns out that they do, they just like to help those in the community with the least.
I went across the internet and left him stellar reviews. I called a neighbor who needs a crown to tell him to visit the new dentist two blocks away. Crowns have a huge mark-up. I'd like to help him profit.
I didn't know what else to do to help him promote his practice.
I don't know....
As I made my way to the car, I wondered if this was Lakshmi's doing. Lakshmi is the generous Hindu goddess of abundance in all things such as love and wealth. She helps people succeed in business but only if they help those with the least. We must, as the prayer goes, do good things with her gifts.
I have to find a way to pay it forward.
Love ya,
S.