the shrewdness of apes

going to the dentist today for my first teeth cleaning in 10 years and a few (minor) fillings to boot, i figured i was in for at least a couple of hours worth of torture. instead i was headed out the door whistling only 60 minutes after i had arrived. the cleaning was a breeze and the fillings required no anaesthetic.

the only problem that arose was in being given the choice between the classic silver fillings and the newer composite (white) fillings. straight up, the composites would be an easy choice since they blend into your teeth's natural color and require less drilling, although the procedure tends to take longer. and of course, the silver amalgam fillings contain mercury which it usually pays to avoid putting into your body. but insurance doesn't cover the whole amount of the composite fillings (thanks, Aetna!), so i would have been stuck with a tab of over $240. i could tell the dentist was disappointed that i chose the el-cheapo route, but too bad. he'll have to get some other sucker to subsidize his new boat.