She sat down in this chair and said, please do not look

in my mouth yet.

Twelve years since she had seen a dentist.

Not because she did not care.

Because the last time went badly, and every year after that it

got harder to walk back in.

That is how it works.

Avoidance compounds.

So we did not look in her mouth.

We sat in this chair and talked for twenty minutes.

No instruments.

Nothing on the tray.

I did not even put gloves on.

She booked a second visit before she left, and that is the

one where we actually started.

If it has been years, I already know.

I am not going to make you feel bad about it.

That is not a treatment plan, that is just being unpleasant.

Come sit in the chair.

We will talk first.