People often joke about being afraid to visit the
dentist. However, it is no laughing matter. The sound of drills, the
pointy dental instruments, and the thought of pain terrify millions of
people to such an extent that they neglect their oral health for years –
sometimes decades or more!
In this audio file Mr. MacEnroe goes to the dentist.
He knows he should visit the dentist, but fear does keep him out of the
dental chair because he is not very good at tolerating pain.
Click on the speaker and listen while you check the
audio transcription. Enjoy this informal conversation !!
ASSISTANT:
If you just could wait in here a moment Mr. MacEnroe.
MACENROE:
Thank you very much... Good afternoon.
SMITH:
Good afternoon. Are you here to see the dentist?
MACENROE:
Yeah, unfortunately. I hate going to the dentist. This is like a nightmare
for me.
SMITH:
Really?
MACENROE:
Yeah. Have you been to this dentist before?
SMITH:
Well, uh, not actually, but I've seen, uh, several others in this city
and, uh, unfortunately I've had some, uh, very bad luck.
MACENROE:
I'd rather prefer you not to talk about it, but...
SMITH:
Well, let me just...
MACENROE:
I'm feeling a little nervous you know.
SMITH:
Let me just tell you. It, it, it, uh, just a few stories. All right?
MACENROE:
Can you make them short?
SMITH:
Of course. Of course.
MACENROE:
And with a happy ending or something?
SMITH:
Of course. Of course. Of course. Um, well, uh. just about two months ago I
was going in for a simple cleaning. Right?
MACENROE:
Yeah.
SMITH:
And, uh, well I was having my teeth checked and cleaned and before I
know it I'm, uh, being put to sleep because the doctor thinks I need a root canal. Right?
MACENROE:
Huh? "I need a what"? Oh, don't, no, don't, don't carry on.
Tell me, tell me another one 'cos that sounds too
complicated.
SMITH:
No, no, no, no, no, no. Not bad. Anyway, he puts me to sleep, right?
MACENROE:
Well, I supposed that's an advantage if you're, if you're asleep then you,
you don't realise, but I suppose the worst thing is when you wake up.
SMITH:
Yeah, yeah. At the moment you don't, but as soon you wake you realise
that, um, something horrible and tragic has happened.
MACENROE:
No?
SMITH:
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
MACENROE:
No. I'm sure it can't be as bad as you're... you're saying it is.
SMITH:
No, that's it, well, yeah it can be. It can be even worse. Yeah.
MACENROE:
Oh.
SMITH:
Yeah. Yeah.
MACENROE:
You're making me feel much better actually 'cos, 'cos when I came in the
room I was feeling nervous and now I'm like hysterical really, but never mind if
you, if it makes you feel happy to carry on telling me these stories and make me
feel worse then, then go ahead.
SMITH:
May I?
MACENROE:
Yeah. Well, why not? As long as you're enjoying yourself, then that's the
only important thing really.
SMITH:
Anyway, all right. I, I, I had the root canal, right?
MACENROE:
Yeah.
SMITH:
I wake up and I realise that, uh, my , um, you know how they, they put
the
bibs on when you go to the
dentist to...
MACENROE:
Yeah.
SMITH:
to to sop up the...
MACENROE:
Well, I haven't been to the dentist for a while, but, yeah, tell me.
SMITH:
Anyway, they put these bibs on you, right? To sop up any saliva or spit
or... or blood that, y'know, that might come out of your mouth.
MACENROE:
Blood?
SMITH:
Yeah, blood. And perhaps some...
MACENROE:
Have you, did you go to a dentist or did you go to a butcher?
SMITH:
Well, um, he called himself a dentist, but, uh, what he did to me was, was
really the work of a butcher.
MACENROE:
All right. It's been quite nice weather recently. Hasn't it?
ACTIVITY 123:
Match the following definitions with the names
choosing the appropriate alternatives from the menus. Then
check the answers.
1.
A napkin tied under the chin of a patient while
being assisted
2.
Absorb, soak up or take up as if with a sponge
3.
Dental appliance consisting of substances
inserted into a prepared cavity in a tooth
4.
An incrustation that forms on the teeth and gums
5.
Removal of unwanted substances from teeth
6.
A clear liquid secreted into the mouth by the
glands
of the mouth
7.
Clear liquid expelled or ejected from the mouth
8.
The fluid that is pumped by the heart
9.
The tissue of the jaws that surrounds the bases
of the teeth
10.
The passage inside a tooth through which its
nerve and blood vessels enter the pulp cavity
Pobre MacEnroe !!! Qué paciente
molesto le tocó en suerte en la sala de espera !!!
En la próxima página tendrás las últimas dos prácticas de esta
lección ...
