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Visiting a Spanish dentist

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05/11/2009Visiting a Spanish dentist

Blogger Chris Showers experienced a cultural shock upon his first visit to an outspoken and talkative Spanish dentist.

The chanting monks of Santo Domingo de Silos Abbey

Back in the USA, I went to the dentist twice a year to have a routine checkup and to get my teeth cleaned.

In April, I was due for an annual cleaning and I decided that, since I’m living in Spain, I may as well get it done here. As it was my first visit to a local dentist, I was a little unsure of what to expect. Nonetheless, I figured it couldn’t be that much different from the USA. While the checkup itself wasn’t, the dentist’s personality sure was.

My dentist in America barely talked to me. And the truth is that I am quite used to going in, having my teeth cleaned, and leaving without much more than a “How are you?” being exchanged.

Here in Spain, however, the dentist that I saw had a bit of a different “approach” to dealing with his patients… I guess the best way to put it is that he was quite outspoken.

In fact, the first thing that he said to me after taking a quick peek inside my mouth was “joder” (fuck).
Now, “joder” is something that you never want any doctor to say the minute he lays eyes upon you. When I heard this one little word, I instantly began to fear the worst.

I immediately asked the dentist what was wrong and he began to explain to me that I had the largest teeth he had ever seen in his life. He went on to say that he hoped I never have to get a tooth pulled because those big chompers of mine must surely have some humongous roots and therefore yanking on them would hurt a lot.

After the “big teeth” conversation was over, the dentist began the examination and cleaning. The exam itself was just like what I am used to having in the USA with one small difference.

My talkative Spanish dentist never stopped asking me questions while he was performing the exam -- something that I had never encountered at my dentist in the USA. I soon found that responding to the Spanish dentist’s questions put me in a bit of an awkward situation. After all, it’s pretty hard to pronounce Spanish with a bunch of dental instruments in your mouth. I managed as best I could to nod and respond with a simple “sí” or “no” and this seemed to satisfy my new dentist “friend.”

In any event, once the exam and subsequent cleaning were finished, I paid the receptionist my EUR 30 and went on my way.

It wasn’t a bad experience at all and I’m sure I would go back to the same dentist when I am due for another routine checkup. But I sure won’t forget my Spanish dentist’s first word to me: “joder.”

5 November 2009

Chris Showers / Expatica

Chris Showers is an American expat who left his life behind in the USA to move to Spain and start a career as an English teacher. His blog, Abroad in Spain: Travel Blog , gives a uniquely American perspective on Spanish life -- with a touch of humour.