From: ???????????????????????? (Steve Masticola)
Subject: At The Dentist

[ Originally on alt.smokers.*. -S. ]

Yesterday I went to the dentist (Reba, Steinberg, and Dodd, in
Plainsboro, NJ) for a cleaning and check-up.  Matt Steinberg, my
regular dentist, was on vacation, co I got Michael Dodd for the
check-up instead.

The hygenist who cleaned my teeth noticed some stain, and asked if I
smoked cigarettes.  I replied, with some trepidation, "I drink coffee,
and smoke a pipe once in a while."

Dr. Dodd came in to give me the exam.  After some preliminary banter,
he asked "You smoke a pipe, maybe socially?"

Uh-oh, I thought.  Here it comes.  The Lecture.  Am I going to have to
change dentists?

"About one or two a day," I replied, hackles rising in preparation.

"Good!"

<HUH?>

"Gives you something to do with that chewing urge that's not eating,"
he continued.  And went on to say that, even though he was not a
smoker, he liked going into smoke shops, looking over all the Manly
Stuff, and smelling the tobak.  I just sat there, a little
dumbfounded. 

It was a _tremendous_ relief not to be treated like Typhoid Mary!
And, up to a point, actually accepted!

So, friends, if you're in Plainsboro and need a dentist, look up
Dr. Dodd. And

					Smoke in peace,

					~\U Steve.

P.S.  The final result was one deteriorated filling and one that
looked shaky.  And nothing else. :-)


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