Swiss Dentist, U.S. Style

I have had a nagging problem with one particular tooth. I should say before I go any further that I tend to avoid dentists at all costs. Despite the fact that my wife always tries to get me to go in the U.S. during our annual Christmas visit I always seem to find an excuse.

Lately, I could not continue with excuses. I had some pain, and it was time to go.

The last time I was at the dentist was in 2006 just before I moved to Switzerland. At the time, I figured I should go for one final checkup while I knew I could still communicate in my native tongue. During that visit the dentist found something, and said, no problem, just leave it. It is small and you should be fine for now, if it doesn't hurt you should leave it. Well, three years later, the time Had come.

I choose a dentist in Nussbaumen, close to Baden. The prime criteria, English of course. Added bonus, Dr. Dehn at AGZD graduated from the same University in the U.S. that I did. What can I say.

While Dr. Dehn did a good job of solving my problems and was a very nice Dr. it was a wierd but not uncommon conversation we had. A mixed English / German conversation. I know that if you have never lived abroad you may not understand what I am talking about but if you have you know exactly what I am talking about. Even though we were both two native English speakers, you just use some local lingo cause that is how it is.

'Hello Mr. XXXX how are you today? You have a very unusual last name, how do you say it," replied the Doctor.

'Yes it is Strange but in der Schwiez people can pronounce it,' I replied.

'Yes, yes, I see so you are here about a possible Karie?' he questioned.

'Yeah, I have had this pain in my tooth, and I think the Karie is on the lower left side,' I mumbled as he poked around.

The strangest thing that I had never experienced was when he handed me a mirror to take a look at something in my mouth, just before he was going to drill something. I was a bit fasinated because I had never been offered to look into my own mouth at the dentist. I was so caught up at staring into my own mouth, that as he started putting the drill back in I didn't put the mirror down. It took me a split second to realize 'Hey, that's me he is drilling, I better put the mirror down, because I don't want to watch!'

Don't take that the wrong way, as the Dr. was really great and I feel much better now. If you are looking for a english speaking dentist near the Baden area I would recommend Dr. Dehn in a second.