Finished With Fillings

Finished With Fillings

The new lenses for my glasses weren't ready yesterday when we went for them, so we made an appointment for this morning at 9 AM.. When we arrived at 9 this morning there was a fellow there waiting for us. He made a phone call and seemed to be double checking what he was supposed to do. No one else was in the building. He took my glasses told us to wait there and that he would be back shortly. He left in his car and we were left holding down the office. Pretty funny. We looked at each other and just laughed, this would never happen in Canada. They wouldn't trust anyone enough to leave them in the building with all of the merchandise, without a staff being there. We sat and waited and in less than a 1/2 hr. he returned with my glasses and we were on our way. Just when you think you are getting used to things, something like this happens to remind you just how different things are down here.

We had lots of time to kill before my dentist appt. at 11, so we walked down to the water at the Statue of the Pescador (fisherman) and then over to the plaza to sit and people watch for awhile.

We then walked back down to the dental office, we didn't want to be late. This dentist has little slips of paper for your appt. and on the bottom of the slip it asks you to be punctual. Different, punctuality is usually not a big deal here. We walked in and it was a different receptionist from the other day, she asked if I had an appt. and I told her at 11, and then pointed out my name in her book. OK, a couple of minutes later the dentist called me into the room. I love it when they expect you to be punctual and they are too. No long wait in the waiting room looking at old magazines. He picked out part of the temporary filling and then dabbed in some more de-sensitiser before putting in the permanent filling. When he finished he grinned at me and said, "see all done, quick and no pain". I grinned and agreed. He also told me that the office will be open until Wednesday if there are any problems. Then they will be closed for Semana Santa. Finished. Yahoooooo!!!

We did notice some of the stores had signs on their doors stating that they will be closed from April 2 to April 8th for Semana Santa.

Dentist

Dentist

We picked up Roys glasses on Tuesday and they seem to be working out fine for him. We also purchased a licuadora (blender), an Oster brand, so hopefully it will be a good one.

Yesterday morning I went to the dentist. I had been told that he spoke english, which I thought was good as my spanish fails when things get too technical. I waited for a few minutes in the waiting room and then was ushered into the room by the dentist himself. He began speaking to me in spanish and I explained why I was there. We discussed it for a minute until I couldn't understand a couple of words, then he just automatically switched to english. Pretty funny. He asked me if I wanted Novocaine and I told him yes. I told him in spanish that I am very afraid of dentists and in english he replied, "me too", and we both had a good laugh. Apparently there were two old fillings that needed replacing, hmmm... the other dentist said 3. So he began to drill. There was a bit of decay starting under one of the fillings he said; but not too bad. He put in medicated temporary fillings to deaden the sensitivity that was present and told me to come back on Saturday. He very nicely told me that he would not need to drill on Saturday as he just picks out part of the medicated filling and then puts the permanent one on top of that. Pleasant news for me. All in all a good experience. He worked quickly, gently and hopefully did a good job. Who knows?

Differences from a dental visit in Canada: 1. no long wait in the waiting room. 2. no extensive xrays 3. no assistant hopping up and down and doing the little things for him 4. cost of 2 fillings--$800 pesos or about $80.00 (400 pesos each--$40.00).

The novacaine always zonks me out, so I spent part of the afternoon having a nap. I didn't feel up to my spanish lesson so Roy went up the hill and told the teacher that I would be back on Friday.

Today we have a day off, no appointments or grocery shopping or anything.

Friday I need to pick up the new lenses for my glasses and wait for them to put them in the old frames, then back to the bank and later in the afternoon my spanish lesson. Between new glasses, dentist and rent the cash from Monday is gone. Boy, that was quick for down here. It usually lasts for about 2 weeks. Saturday morning it is back to the dentist. After that we should be good for awhile on the medical side of things.

Medical costs this week: New lenses for me and complete set of glasses for Roy--2900 pesos (about $290.00 dollars). Two dental fillings for me--800 pesos (about $80.00 dollars).