Elevator Music

The dental hygienist was adjusting my chair into the reclining position when I heard the familiar notes of “Going to California.” Unlike the insipid “elevator music” that we hear in such fine venues as the local supermarket, department store, or office lobby, the original by Led Zeppelin lifted my mood right away. The hygienist was busy positioning dental instruments in my mouth but the gentle acoustic riffs put me at ease and I managed to tell her that the song was “un auf my faybrits.” She nodded polite acknowledgement but being the consummate professional, she was concentrating on descaling my incisors. My hygienist is much younger besides, so the music might as well have been from the 101 Strings or Mantovani.  

Though I’m not particularly a nervous patient, I can see where familiar tunes could really help those who are, and it reminded me of a Bob Marley quote about music: “…when it hits you, you feel no pain.” At least I think he was talking about music.

I don’t think my dentist’s office adjusts the piped-in music according to age of the patient but that may not be a bad idea. Or perhaps a choice of genre selected by the patient; might help whenever drilling is involved. Although a lot of head bobbing during a root canal may not fare so well. 1970's era acoustic rock was the background theme for my tri-annual cleaning and it seemed appropriate that the youthful overtones of “Going to California” should begin my session, and by the time my hygienist finished polishing and flossing, I heard the high tenor of Neil Young and “Old Man” that prompted my toothy smile, a segue to cue the dentist.