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- Read Cathy's local affairs column every Saturday in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer (see link below).
- Her national affairs column appears every Tuesday exclusively at cathysorbo.com.
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I'm back in the chair after two years of professional dental neglect, and my recent rounds of long needed undergum scraping got me thinking about my history of tooth-abuse.
As far as I can determine, it began in my in my first year of life with a good ole shot of Tetracycline. This made me cry, and also discolored my permanent teeth a yellowish-beige and pathed the way to a life of oral torment.
In my early girlhood, I was shuttled to a dentist for cleanings, fluoride treatments and the like. Not a bad place, I thought. I was lulled into a false sense of comfort by the tick-tocking of the clock shaped like a cat. I can compare it to being on hold with the IRS while something delightful like Debussy plays in the background. You almost forget what you are waiting for.
I loved the after-treatment trinkets that were kept in the bottom drawer of a metal, white medical cabinet. Sometimes I would get lollypops. That?s a good way to keep a tot's teeth in tip-top rotting shape. I?m surprised they didn?t suggest using Red Vines as dental floss.
Then a bit later (because I was allowed to chomp on roll after wand-like roll of Sweet Tarts every Friday night while I watched The Partridge Family and Love: American Style) came the fillings. These appointments included visits to Trippyfufu Land, courtesy of nitrous oxide. I enjoy the effects of nitrous oxide as much as I I enjoy fever-induced dreams. Which is a lot.
While languishing in pre-teenhood, the subject of orthodontia arose. Great. Just what one needs before entering the evil hellhole that is junior high school. Pull four teeth; add 21/2 cups of metal and cement firmly to all surviving teeth. Be sure to inflict many doses of pain and discomfort along with several styles of full head-gear for good measure. And another thing, it is very important to use a bonding cement that damages the tooth enamel when the braces are removed. This ensures the crowning of six or seven teeth later in life.
Now chunks of my real teeth that are surrounded by my vintage fillings are falling out faster than Ted Danson?s hair, but luckily I have secured the services of a great dentist. No insurance, mind you, but a lovely dentist who works swiftly and gently. When I have the cash, I happily go in for work. I don?t care how long it takes, I am determined to have a mouth full of nice-looking realistic teeth.
Now, as bad as my dental hell has been, it ain't nothing compared to what my friend's dentist has been busted for. This guy, a Dr. Wodja (pronounced 'voida', as in avoid-a this guy) had been busted in Boston in 1999 for giving a ride to a 16-year old girl, driving her to a secluded spot, and not letting her go until he attempted to get it on with her. She was able to get away, and he was charged with kidnapping, attempting to rape, indecent assault and battery, threats, and assault and battery according to The Boston Globe. He ended up pleading guilty to assault and battery, served some jail time, then came to the Seattle area where he began a practice.
My friend (I will call her Ann, as that is her real name) had been seeing the dentist who had originally owned the practice. She noted that when Wodja bought the practice, the entire staff left. Suspicious, no?
Now here's where it gets twisty -- Wodja had scheduled an after-hours appointment to treat a young woman for an abscessed tooth. He had prescribed the sedative / hypnotic drug Triazolam for her, and called her home to make sure she took 2 of them before she arrived. He also told her to be sure to bring the remainder of the prescription (4 more pills) with her. He mentioned that she should secure a ride home as she would be too groggy to drive. Her roommates heard the voice message and went to the practice to give her a ride home. There they saw her wandering around like a zombie in a sheer open-front medical gown with no pants or underwear on. She was fairly incoherent, but had mentioned that Wodja had touched her genitals.
Ann thought it would be a good idea if Wodja had simply been up-front with his desires, and offer a substantial discount for a groping. Ann figured she was out of his preferred age-range, but I suspect he knew she was too intelligent to fall victim to his crimes.
What a supercreep. Not only did Wodja not perform the dental services that his drugged-up patient needed, but that poor girl didn't even get to pick out a toy afterward.
That's just wrong.
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