I'm a dentist and I vaguely resent

[PCIntern]

the sarcasm with which everyone, including KO, is poking fun (with sarcasm in the extreme) at the two dentists quoted by * in his hissyfit.

Whatever is going on with them, whichever side you want to agree with or disagree with, the denigration of dentists as individuals is obnoxious. If you want to say that these two dentists are way off base, I'm with you 100%, but I'm not too fond of being written off professionally, that how could a dentist know anything at all about anything?

I and many other dentists know plenty about a lot. People would be surprised I guess. We're many things perhaps, but dumb we ain't across the board. I taught in University for years and met some extraordinarily bright, talented, intuitive, and downright brilliant people who attended dental school.

Thank you for your patience and consideration.

[BuyingThyme]

1. Anti-Dentites.

[HCE SuiGeneris]

10. ...

BT -- you kill me. I am having my consultation right now.

[Miss Chybil]

12. ROFL! nt

[eleny]

2. A dentist without a sense of humor is scary

[PCIntern]

11. No no...

it's not that I dont' have a sense of humor:

If I said...what would there two FEMALE bloggers know...? You'd all be very upset right? Well, there ya go. This isn't funny, trust me. making fun of dentists or any other person for their profession or job is just not right. I don't do it with garbagemen, or Senators, or lawyers, or engineers. this is what you do, not who or what you are. My father was a postal worker...with 7 Masters Degrees in everything form Linguistics to English Lit to Philosophy. I rest my case - he never went 'postal' - he was a good and brilliant man who was a progressive liberal who could out-think just about anyone. But a postal worker nonetheless.

He never 'went postal'.

[TahitiNut]

60. On the other hand ...

[Horse with no Name]

83. This is the one that scares me

:scared:

[mondo joe]

3. Wow - I must have missed whatever anti-dentite furor there was.

I do know some incredibly sharp and extremely progressive dentists. :-)

[annabanana]

8. I don't want a "sharp" Dentist.... I prefer my Dentists

kind of soft & mushy.

[TomClash]

4. Well listening to Bush is like

pulling teeth.

[joshcryer]

5. I need my wisdom teeth pulled.

Still have them at 30. Got any good rates?

j/k

I have no problem with the doctor bloggers, and indeed, KO even pointed out that they came out somewhat 'against' Bush in their blog the after Bush mentioned them in that press release.

[joshcryer]

6. d/p

oops

[hlthe2b]

7. I certainly agree with the points you make about dentists... but

I don't have a clue what the issue is...:shrug: Can you clue us in on what KO (and everyone?) is saying and about whom?

[PCIntern]

14. sure:

there are 2 bloggers from Iraq who Bush quoted today. Everything's better blah blah blah. I'm NOT defending them or their viewpoint. what I'm saying is that KO and others are dismissing the report as "What TF do we care what a DENTIST says?" like they're subhuman. As I wrote to eleny, whom I like, how would you feel if they substituted the word which is WHAT YOU ARE? You'd be pissed in a way, and I'm pissed in a way.

That's all...I'm not mad, I'm not angry, I'm just pissed.

[Mika]

25. Ha! Let's see them work with Z250 building up a palatal cusp on #16!

;) :hi:

[PCIntern]

30. Kindred Spirit!

Today, I had a 25 y.o. female with a horizontally fractured #9 whose enamel and dentin is so translucent that you can see the pulp horns in all the teeth back to the premolars from the labial. Fortunately, I had the TS from the Opalescence kit and It wasn't too bad. I may have to break #8 and do that one as well!


Just kidding!

[wtmusic]

37. Ha! I will build your palatal cusp, and #17 simultaneously, in my sleep

So there!

[John Q. Citizen]

61. The pain of dental disease will eventually overcome the irrational malaise

being tossed around about dentists, and the dentists will win out in the end; The good, the bad, and the ugly. It's amazing how people will put up with an ugly dentist when their molar is abscessed.

The concept is comparable to being pissed at plumbers; it's a losers game.

What are you going to do? Are you going to do it yourself?

If life is better for a couple of dentists in Iraq, then I'm glad for them.

It seems obvious to me that in Iraq the US proscription is dismemberment of Iraq into small more easily managed ethnic enclaves. They just need a revenue sharing deal to cover the Sunnis, and they need some outward appearance of a non-autonomous Kurdish North to soothe the Turk's absolute refusal to tolerate a free Kurdish state contiguous with the Kurd areas in Turkey.

[northofdenali]

36. Understood and HUGS!

Stereotypes aren't fun at all. Just because * chose two medical professionals to uphold his idea of success does NOT mean that particular medical profession agrees.

[hlthe2b]

44. I see your point.... it has happened in similar settings before

with members of other "disciplines." Whether or not they were dentists would seem to have no bearing on the whole issue of whether they are representative of opinions among Iraqis and give a valid appraisal on the current situation in Baghdad.

[sutz12]

73. I'll admit that KO overplayed the 'dentist' angle a bit..

But this has been a funny thread. :evilgrin:

[tbyg52]

74. I completely agree with you.

The way I put it is: "I don't like sweeping generalizations, in any form."

[Cha]

84. Oh, I get it..no one

answered my question but glad to see it revealed here.

That sucks. I hate it when they freakin' say that about actors and anybody..as if they don't have a right to speak out.

[eleny]

88. In my case it would be "Who cares what that retiree has to say?!"

One humorous twist here is that my first more serious part time job when I was in college was as a dental assistant. I completely forgot about that until just now. Go figure. I also have the memory of a retiree.

Don't feel so badly about all this. Dentists are one of those professions that we make fun of because we're usually so frightened of them. Just a way to deal with the fear, I think.

I learned that the best way not to have that fear is to be a flosser. Take care of the choppers n' gums and you love going to the dentist. (Btw, I go every 4 months, too, to have them cleaned.) You should see the shocked look I got from the hygienist and doc when I told them I love visiting them. I mean really. They both stopped in their tracks with frozen faces.

:hug:

[IChing]

16. The pResident quoted two iraqi blogger, who are dentists in a speech today

that said how great things were going in Iraq. The irony is this is how he is getting his information on Iraq.
I didn't see it as a slam on dentists.

[rusty charly]

9. i think the intent is

national security is not a main concern of dentistry. one of my best friends is a dentist and he's one of the smartest people i know.

[Frustratedlady]

13. Now you know how the cave men feel on the Geico ads.

I guess the fact they were talking about dentists went over my head. I was busy at the time and listening with one ear.

Too bad Riverbend didn't have a current posting, but we all know he wouldn't repeat it if she did.

Sorry your feelings were hurt. I think we've all had our turn.

[PCIntern]

17. Exactly re: the Geico ads. Very astute of you!

I know everyone's had their turn...I'm just remarking when it's mine. Bandwidth is cheap lately.

[HCE SuiGeneris]

19. I can empathise with those cavemen

[Frustratedlady]

28. Did you see they are getting a chance at a TV pilot?

They aren't that funny, but they might be a hit. I just hope all the men don't try to look like them.

Talk about needing a dentist.

[tbyg52]

79. They aren't slip-on-a-banana-peel funny,

but I do find them very appealing. I have been saying for some time that someone should give those guys a good job. Especially the one that doesn't "have much of an appetite" at the restaurant. Not necessarily as a caveman, mind you. Just as an actor.

[Wickerman]

15. oh yeah, well I know a dentist who is a bigoted, racist, RW Screeching

advertisement for freeper land, but enough about my uncle... :D

Dentists do get some undeserved flack, and its a shame. They are, as a lot, hard-working, highly educated, intelligent and certainly do a job I can't imagine doing. I recently saw the movie Wild Hogs (don't ask, ok?) and they attacked dentists throughout the movie to jab the William Macy character. Sad.

Anyway, I'm in your corner. :thumbsup:

[PCIntern]

22. thanks...

and I know quite a few of those too.

I had an endodontist I used to send some people who live in a certain neighborhood here in Philly to for Root Canal. Once the rubber dam was on, the guy spouted RW BS continuously. Rush was too liberal for this guy.

No one ever wanted to go back, that's for sure.

[rug]

18. Touched a nerve, did they?

[PCIntern]

24. Funny! Kudos to you!

[IChing]

26. IS IT SAFE?.....IS IT SAFE?......TELL me is it Safe?

is it safe in iraq?

[PhilipShore]

41. It is not safe

:rofl:

[crappyjazz]

20. 9 out of 10 dentists recommend this thread

:hide:

[OwnedByFerrets]

21. I heard every word KO said...........

and I certainly didnt hear anything denegrading to dentists. When the transcript comes out, would you mind posting the transgressions?
TY

[PCIntern]

23. Transcripts don't do the 'snide'

That's why the WH request even with transcripts is insufficient ofr the Rove/Miers interviews.

And it wasn't just KO - I've been listening to it all day.

Sorry if I'm sensitive - most people claim that they're as sensitive as a toilet seat until something's said about them and then all Hell breaks loose.

[PhilipShore]

27. I agree

I don't watch the news or TV, so I have not seen the story, but -- I recently went to my dentist, and she did a wonderful job. I don't think I have ever watched a KO story -- and I don't understand, why all the "hysteria" over him here at DU.

He does not seem to be like that great of a reporter -- if one at all -- because he appears to be -- more like a second rate talk-show pundit.

[wtmusic]

29. Fill in the blank, piss someone off

You would have to be a moron to not appreciate the dedication and smarts of a good dentist. On the other hand, you'd have to be a little insecure to get that worked up about an offhand comment.

[PCIntern]

33. what do you do for a living?

Let's have some fun...

Just kidding...it's not about insecurity, it's about dignity, competence and intellectualism and FAIRNESS. To everyone.

[wtmusic]

42. Throw the dignity overboard

Never did anyone any good anyway.

I'm a web designer. Have at me.

[PCIntern]

47. No that's not my point...

my point is, we don't condone making light of anyone's profession, background or whatever. who cares, for example what the background is of one of the troops? what KO and others should have said was two bloggers who happen to be dentists (or carpenters or doctors, or web designers) were quoted by * today.

Sneering is not an argument, and I think that many of these pundits who are on our side are sneering an awful lot lately since we've emerged the victors, at least in the 2006 elections.

[WiseButAngrySara]

31. I missed the dentist reference? My brother is a dentist and

one of the most brilliant people I know.

[LSK]

32. dude, you think if they were plumbers or architects it would have been any different??

Its not an attack on dentists. Not even close.

If it was computer programmers or accountants the same could still be said.

The occupation is irrelevant.

[PCIntern]

35. Yes you're right...

and that's my point ...congratlations. No one should be denigrated in that fashion. No one.

[EstimatedProphet]

53. Well, they may have been on Jeopardy

/Weird Al off

[Cha]

34. O Kay..what was said about

"Dentists"? I love my dentist..gave me back my smile! :)

[kestrel91316]

38. Don't feel bad. Lots of folks hate us veterinarians on general

principle, too.

:hug:

[WiseButAngrySara]

46. DU loves you kestrel91316! Especially after the recent

pet scare. Your devotion to the subject was truly heroic. My wonderful dog of 16.5 years died in September, being ill only twice in her life until right before she died, and my guess is that she had ARF ...I've wondered if it was at all related to her Science Diet food. You couldn't help her, but through your posts you helped a lot of friends and neighbors.

Cousins who are vets and a brother who is a dentist .... all wonderful people!

:hug: to vets and dentists!

[kestrel91316]

50. FWIW, I'm pretty sure Science Diet has their own supply line

for all their stuff. They have pretty strict quality control standards, and I think it shows in how few of my patients on it ever get diet-related problems.

I DO happen to think it was unwise to ever sub out their feline Savory Cuts manufacture, regardless of whatever controls they exercised. This has tainted their name, and unjustifiably IMHO. Menu Foods manufactures mostly generics. By definition that makes them suspect in the quality department.

[WiseButAngrySara]

63. Thanks! But I read several recent posts about concern even

with dry dog food, and Science Diet was one of the ones implicated. I know a lot of pet owners whose pets died 'naturally' are concerned about this recent news, and might be attributing their deaths to the food, when that is not actually the case. I understand that the suspect was the gluten produced in China, which should not be in dry dog food, but nonetheless I think that the rat poison might have just pointed a dirty finger at a much larger problem.

[kestrel91316]

90. Concern about dry foods in general and Science Diet in particular

appears to be an internet rumor at this time. No big surprise given the general state of hysteria over this, and the known habits of pet food manufacturers to plant fake stories about their competitors products.

You can't blame MOST everyday illness and death on poisoning, let alone all of it. Vets themselves are confident at this time that their legitimate poisoning cases are coming from the recalled foods.

[WiseButAngrySara]

91. Very reassuring. thanks again! ....n/t

[PCIntern]

51. I don't feel hated these days...

not for a long time. what I feel is that people can act as though we're glorfied body-and-fender workers and believe me, if you've ever had work done on your car, they're remarkable as well.

I never ever judge anyone by his or her occupation alone.

[Jonathan50]

39. My favorite dentist of all time..

[AlCzervik]

40. well if it makes you feel any better----

i love my dentist, he literally changed my life and has changed the lives of many other people as well.

[flyarm]

43. ahhhh i have had a toothache all day today...seriously...and i would never

put down a dentist in this pain!!


the pain pills are not working!!

gotta go visit my lady dentists tommorrow..........no jokes from me!!


fly

[PCIntern]

45. I wish you well with this...

don't wait too long, even if the pain goes away a little.

[dflprincess]

48. Dentists are easy targets because so many people are afraid of them

(remember Steve Martin's song in "Little Shop of Horrors".) But really, when was the last time a trip to the dentist really hurt? Even the novacaine shots don't hurt anymore because they do such a fine job of numbing the gum with a topical before they give you the shot. (Of course, I get my teeth cleaned 4x a year - twice with the dentist and twice with the periodontist and I've been told that perio patients develop a higher pain tolerance.)

And, dentists figured out long before doctors, that prevention was the smart way to go. When I saw my periodontist earlier this month we had a good laugh about MDs finally waking up to the idea that the health of your teeth and gums may have an affect on the rest of your body, he said he was taught that in dental school years ago.

[PCIntern]

49. True fact...

many of the bacterial colonies discovered in coronary artery occlusions are dental in nature.

Should scare the crap out of most folks here in the US.

[dflprincess]

67. When I started my 4x a year cleainings 20 years ago it was with the idea

that I needed to do that to keep my teeth (early 30s and I already had some major bone loss) now I do it - along with the daily flossing - not just because I want to keep my teeth but because I assume it's good for my heart as well and it's heart disease that runs in my family. I was told that periodontal disease as severe as mine was as young as I was is probably a genetic problem which makes me wonder about the cause of the early heart disease on my dad's side of the family.

You'd like me - I'm a very obedient dental patient. My periodontist just told me that when he first saw me he would have bet that I'd have dentures by now and it's my keeping to the cleaning schedule and becoming a born again flosser that has kept all my teeth where they belong.

[bananas]

81. Booze and red peppers will clear your arteries, too

Let's hear it for bartenders, mexican cooks, and dentists!

[Ilsa]

72. Topical? Even with the topical it still hurts like hell, IMO.

Had it yesterday. Hurt as much then as the one twenty years ago.

Aside from that, everything else has progressed technologically quite a bit. My dentist designed my crown in the office and I was on my way in 90 minutes. No temporary.

[Berry Cool]

52. I don't get the upset here.

I think KO's point was that a couple of dentists are not necessarily experts on what is going on in Iraq. Because they're not. Not any more than a couple of lawyers are, or a couple of doctors, or a couple of brain surgeons. Has nothing to do with their intelligence; it has to do with their authority as experts in a particular area.

It's like the "Drink this soft drink because I'm an NBA star" ad pitch. Why is an NBA star who has been handsomely paid an expert on which soft drink you should buy? He isn't. He may be a master of basketball, but he knows no more about soft drinks than you or I.

I am sure that if KO had a raging toothache, the first person he would consult about it would be a DENTIST--not a foreign policy expert. In fact, when his DENTIST told him back in the summer of 2005 to get a spot in his mouth biopsied for cancer, he listened, and he did. (It was negative.) I am sure he didn't do that because he thought his dentist was stupid.

One more thing: If you don't watch TV and you've never seen KO, you have no business having an opinion on what he "seems to be" to you or saying you don't understand what people like about him. Talk about a false appeal to authority.

edited for typo

[PhilipShore]

58. I disagree...

In liberal politics -- many people have careers other then being a full time professional agitator, but nevertheless are outspoken anti-war experts: For example, Dr. Benjamin Spock a medial doctor founded a nuclear Freeze organization, and was and activist to end the Vietnam war.

And, he actually responded to one of my letters, and sent me a note back giving me advice, shortly after a graduated from college.


Wikipedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Spock">Link

Benjamin McLane Spock (May 2, 1903 – March 15, 1998)

Politics

In 1957, Spock was one of the founders of The Committee for a Sane Nuclear Policy. Spock was politically outspoken and active in the movement to end the Vietnam War. In 1968 he was prosecuted by then Attorney General Ramsey Clark, alongside four other men, on charges of conspiracy to counsel, aid, and abet resistance to the draft. Spock and three of his alleged co-conspirators were convicted although the five had never been in the same room together. His two-year prison sentence was never served, as the case was appealed and in 1969 a federal court set aside his conviction.



Dr. Benjamin Spock and MLK

[Berry Cool]

59. We're not talking about Spock here.

If we were, doubtless these dentists would be better known.

[spanone]

54. I wouldn't take it personally or professionally

the fact that bush* was quoting bloggers alone was inconceivable and the fact that they were both dentists or proctologists or dock workers only increased the absurdity of it all. IMHO

p.s. I really like my dentist!

[Lex]

55. I'm a lawyer and vaguely resent

all that stuff too, but I've gotten used to it over the years!

:hi:

[DefenseLawyer]

89. Oh come on now

All those jokes where the punchline is the brutal horrible death of a lawyer or better yet a bus full of us- That's gold, Jerry. Gold!

[EstimatedProphet]

56. I watched the clip, and I don't think it was that bad

He did emphasize the word dentists. But I think it was in reaction to the fact that Bush should be looking at blogs from government officials, police, military, etc. rather than a strictly civilian occupation if he wants to get a realistic appraisal of what is going on there. It would be the same as if he said electricians, or professors, or restauranteurs.

[Berry Cool]

64. I had recorded the show, and just watched this segment again.

Yes, KO did say they were dentists, and I think his intention was to say that if their sole qualification for making their statements was that a) they are in Iraq and b) they are dentists, and these are the two people Bush is holding up as some sort of experts on what life is like on the ground there, he is grasping at straws.

But really, the discussion was mostly about the reality of Iraq and about how while there may be pockets of improvement in daily life here and there that may be observed by some people on the ground, they're not neceessarily reflective of the overall picture, and it is deceiving to blow them out of proportion. The attitude was not on "Oh man, can you believe Bush is quoting dentists? I mean, could he stoop any lower than to quote those idiots?"

[EstimatedProphet]

77. Yup, that's how I took it too

[alittlelark]

57. Off topic - but do you have any patients

with abnormally placed nerves? My mother, sis and I all seem to have the same problem - we are VERY difficult to get numb. I've been going to the same dentist now for 15 years, so he 'gets it' and allots extra time, and waits between shots testing until I'm numb. I spent 20 or so years HATING dentists due to the pain of even minor fillings - they thought I was being hysterical, and kept giving me gas. Well the gas was

My dentist says he has only seen a few ppl w/ this problem.

[MH1]

66. I have a similar problem...

takes many shots to get me numb. I sometimes worry about what all that 'caine might do to me.

I recently had a small cavity and my dentist said he could fill it on the spot. I opted to go without the novocaine at all and it wasn't too bad, and I was out of there a lot quicker.

My current dentist is absolutely excellent though. (The previous one...not so much.)

[Wiley50]

62. I'm sure that getting any respect for dentists is like pulling teeth

Sorry, Just couldn't resist

As a 51 y o disabled man living on SSI with full medicaid but absolutely no dental coverage
and advanced gum disease that flairs into a serious infection that is getting harder and harder to put down with antibiotics about twice a year,

Man I just wish I could find a way to get rid of all of them

But even the clinic at the dental college here is out of my price range

I'd respect any dentist who would do something to help me

But they only seem to be interested in the big buck cosmetic patients
and folks like me die of dental infections

[WiseButAngrySara]

65. LOL on the joke. And I'm so sorry to hear about your dental

problems... no joke there. Can't you just have them all pulled and be fitted for dentures? Surely that would be covered?

[dweller]

76. that should not be his only option

having some basic dental care should be covered.

he does have a point though about the perogatives (as i've seen them also) of dentists. The costs of any dental work is exorbitant, imo.

i think the OP has a valid point, and so does Wiley.
dp

[Ilsa]

68. I love my dentist! He and his staff are sweet and understanding

that I didn't have good dental care (or nutrition for that matter) as a child, but he appreciates that I spent alot of my own money getting braces as a young adult when I got out of college. Ever since then, I have been playing catch-up on replacing old fillings, etc.

I'm an RN, but I don't think I could handle going into the dental field, so dentists and their assistants and hygienists have my respect when they are kind and caring to their patients. Poo-poo on anyone who dengrates the profession. :pals:

[BlackVelvet04]

69. I'll agree with you.....

(can I get some discount work?) ;-)

I sent roses to the dentist who cut out my wisdom teeth. As much as I hate going to the dentist because I hate needles I have to say that the last two I've been two were good looking, smart and kind. They knew I was scared and they gave me good drugs.

[WinkyDink]

70. Iss it SAFE?

[Jamastiene]

71. Dentists are people just like non dentists are people.

There are dentists that are great people and there are dentists that are jerks. "All" dentists are not one or the other but often something in between the two, just like the rest of us.

[BeHereNow]

75. I tolerate "dumb" and kind a great deal more than condescending and holier than thou.

I have had nothing but bad experiences with dentists where I live.
I have postponed much needed treatment to preserve emotional wellness.
My last dentist was an arrogant son of a bitch who made me feel
like DIRT everytime I visited the office because I was a smoker.

Those who have never been addicted to nicotine should really shut
the hell up.
Especially dentists.
If you aren't helping, you are harming.

Not accusing you in particular.

Fact is, I really need a dentist right now, but I would rather
die than go back to the SOB I have been seeing.

I guess what I need to say in response to your post, is this:

I don't care HOW smart a care giver is,
if they have no compassion or empathy for
a patient, if they can not deal with people's
fears in a humane way, they would be more useful
to society as garbage collectors, smart or not.

Can you sense my past experiences and subsequent feelings about dentists?
LOL
BHN

[ToeBot]

78. Ok, Ok, just don't go all Orin Scrivello on us, n/t

[Bucky]

80. I abhore dentist jokes, too. By the way, how many dentists does it take to screw in a lightbulb?

By the way, it's a well-known proven scientifical fact that dentists have the highest suicide rate of all professions (depending on how you define "lathe operators"--the second highest profession).

[Eric J in MN]

82. Some DUers quote Iraqi bloggers, too.

Bush citing Iraqi bloggers was perhaps blown out of proportion by Keith Olbermann tonight.

[hiaasenrocks]

85. You gotta admit, KO really drilled those guys.

[treestar]

86. Not to worry, we lawyers are with you!

We get scapegoated for everything and anything!

I make it a point not to be scared of dentists. And in fact, their profession has done more to ease the modern fear than any other profession.

[TexasLawyer]

87. as a lawyer-- and the butt of a thousand jokes, I've gotta say:

I hear ya!

[Goblinmonger]

93. My wife is an attorney

and, ironically, attending a video conference for CLEs on lawyer jokes today.

[bluedawg12]

92. Glad you got to the root of it. n/t

[DrDan]

94. in the words of a very bright woman . . . "calm down"

no one is speaking evil of dentists . . . some of my best friends are dentists . . .

[Ellen Forradalom]

95. I care very much what an informed citizen has to say

Whether Dentist-American or of any other classification.

[madinmaryland]

96. I see it a bit differently.

KO is referring to two Iraqi's that are blogging, who just happen to be dentists. The point is that there apparently are very few people in Iraq that are even mentioning that things are going well. Kind of ironic that Bush could only find two bloggers who have something positive to say. I don't see him making fun of dentists, just that they are two bloggers, who apparently have not gotten a lot of hits until KO made mention of them.

Lighten up!!

[earth mom]

97. So-what's your position on Mercury in fillings & Fluoride in the water? nt