Every six months, the phone will ring and I hear "Deeebbbbiiiiee, it's Ellommmma--time for your dental cleaning (just imagine a cheerful sing-song voice)! Why do we dread the dentist's office? It's not like I have lots of bad memories; I didn't have my first cavity till I was about 30. It's just that they have all these instruments of torture--I mean cleaning tools! They look very dangerous and painful. But actually, Terri, my dental hygienist, is very gentle and it is mostly painless. And she is fun to talk to. Well, she does most of the talking and I just say "Uh-huh" and "Huh?" My teeth feel so nice afterwards, and I'm free--for another six months!!