Dentist anxiety!!!

[ksinger]

Date: 3/11/2010 4:42:05 PM
Author: kenny

Date: 3/11/2010 10:13:12 AM

Author: elrohwen

I''m not afraid or anxious about it, but I don''t really like it either!



My new dentist uses this ultrasonic water-pic type thing. Now, most people can''t hear in the ultrasonic range, but unfortunately for me, I can. The darn thing sounds like 100 nails scratching a chalkboard. At one point I lost all hearing in my left ear and could only hear ringing. Ugh. My dentist said that I don''t have to get that part of the cleaning if it really bothers me, but it''s so good for my gums that she really recommends I just tough it out. As people age they lose the ability to hear in the ultrasonic range, so every time I go I pray that I can''t hear it anymore - no luck so far! I think I''m going to bring ear plugs on my next visit.

Earplugs may not help.

There is a direct path from the throat to the ear, the Eustachian tube.

It is why yawning helps us equalize pressure underwater or at high altitudes.


Sound in the mouth can travel to the ear through this tube.

BTW, this is one reason teaching singing is difficult.

We hear our own voices primarily from the sound that arrived via these tubes.

We have to be trained to improve what we sound like out in the room.

Have you ever heard a recording of your voice?

It sounds different than you thought, and this is why.

Hmm...sounds like you and I had the same teacher for Voice 101. Lesson 1 - you CANNOT hear yourself correctly, SO DON''T LISTEN!! That''s MY job! You can listen again later, but for now, no.

And yeah, I''m one of those that hears/heard (I AM old these days, although I CAN still hear mosquitos and squealy TVS, so maybe not too old) dental pic ultrasonics, and it really was disturbing.