Out of a Dentist's Mouth

By Charles Reap

Vignettes about a number of personal happenings while practicing dentistry—some happy, some otherwise. Over the years I have collected quite a collection of anecdotes. This volume contains just a few. Who says one cannot be happy in the dental office?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Gypsy Shadow Publishing
• Release date: Mar 10, 2020
• ISBN: 9781619504721

Charles Reap

Charles A. Reap, Jr., DDS, was born in Albemarle, North Carolina, 1931. Attended Duke University, 1948-51. US Air Force (dental assistant, hygienist, laboratory technician), 1951-53. University of North Carolina School of Dentistry, 1954-1958. Dental faculty, 1958-59. Private practice, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 1959-1998. He is a former newspaper reporter and columnist, a dentist and a lecturer. He has authored two dental textbooks and two published novels (Amazon.com). His illustrated children's book Destiny has just been released by Gypsy Shadow Publishing. Also among his accomplishments, Reap is a Nesta award winner and has received Preditors and Editors Readers Poll recognition. Stage and film actor. Writer: screenplays/stage plays. Music composer. Hobbyist boat builder.

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Contents

Copyright Page

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

About the Author

Out of a Dentist’s Mouth

by

Charles Reap

All rights reserved

Copyright © January 24, 2015, Charles A. Reap, Jr., DDS

Cover Art Copyright © 2015, Charlotte Holley

Gypsy Shadow Publishing, LLC.

Lockhart, TX

www.gypsyshadow.com

No part of this book may be reproduced or shared by any electronic or mechanical means, including but not limited to printing, file sharing, and email, without prior written permission from Gypsy Shadow Publishing, LLC.

ISBN: 978-1-61950-472-1

Published in the United States of America

First eBook Edition: May 1, 2015

Chapter 1

During the many years of my practicing dentistry, one of the things that kept life interesting was the many varied types of patients I treated. Working with the general public, one sees about every kind of personality—some very good, some very bad.

As an aside, I must admit that several jokesters suggested to me that my life as a dentist must have been a real grind! I retorted that actually, it was very filling! I had to say, however, that on occasion, I’d feel rather down in the mouth! One bright guy told me that if I happened to be Chinese, I should be a periodontist named, Dr. Sub Gum. Another fellow told me that surely I must have been a drill sergeant in the service!

(By the way, you’d think that after practicing for forty-some years, I’d have learned how. Now, wouldn’t you?) One serious problem I have now in retirement, and having filled cavities for that many years, whenever I stroll around my yard, if I find a depression-cavity—I feel the need to fill it and smooth it over! Okay, with dirt, not precious metals.

* * *

Back to my subject, although I found nearly all of my patients interesting in many respects, some of these people were much more interesting and challenging than others. I’ve purposely omitted their names, of course. I am mentioning these particular patients so you, dear readers, may take a good look at yourselves and, hopefully, not emulate the bad side of any of them.

* * *

Poor Mrs. X. One almost had to feel sorry for her. She was the widow of a gentleman who owned, or at least was a major stockholder of a railroad in the Northeastern part of our country. She had no offspring that she ever told me about. She entered my practice one day and from then on, each and every one of my employees found themselves in tears at one time or another—solely because of her demeaning attitude. She had the sourest outlook on life that one can imagine. And, I think that she wanted everybody around her to feel the same way. When any of us looked at the appointment book and saw her name, we knew we were not going to have a good day! She apparently considered herself to be a queen. She acted as though she resented having to lower herself to associate with us normal commoners. Although she immediately let my assistants know that she was wealthy beyond anyone’s wildest dreams, she wasn’t going to part with any more of it than absolutely necessary. Oh, she always paid my fees, but we