What’s Up Now?
Open Wide
Eeew! The dentist! No one likes going to the dentist in any language! We don’t want to offend dentists out there, but we bet even dentists don’t like going to the dentist. Still, it’s one of those things that must be done. Most dentists recommend a checkup every six months. The hygienist will do a cleaning, and the dentist will check for any problems and make sure the mouth looks healthy. But you know it’s bad news when you wake up with a throbbing headache and a pain in your mouth. What a nightmare! There’s no time to wait for your regular checkup appointment; you need to have it checked out immediately. Oh, come on; it’s not so bad. Don’t think of it as 20 minutes you’re spending with your mouth wide open, while someone puts sharp instruments in it and pokes around. Think of it this way: you’re spending 20 minutes in a big comfy chair while someone else is home taking care of the kids! (Somehow, we think you’re not buying that . . .)
DR. SMILEY: Hi, Lia. What seems to be the problem today?
LIA: I hope you can tell me! A chunk of my tooth broke off yesterday.
DR. SMILEY: That’s not good. Did you bite something hard?
LIA: No, I didn’t . . . that’s the weird thing. It just kind of fell out.
DR. SMILEY: Did it hurt when it broke?
LIA: Yes, it did, just a little; but it started to hurt like crazy this morning.
DR. SMILEY: I think we’d better take a full set of X-rays . . . Okay, open wide. Let me take a look. Oh, boy. Yes, it looks like you’ve exposed the root on your left molar.
LIA: rgscht rfghsh!! ghs gtfhhkj?
DR. SMILEY: Sorry. I’ll be done in a minute. I’m afraid you’ll have to have a root canal. I can put in a temporary filling, but you’ll have to come back in two weeks for the procedure.
LIA: Do I have to have a root canal? My tooth doesn’t really hurt too much.
DR. SMILEY: If we don’t take care of this quickly, it may become infected, and it will hurt a lot. I’ll tell Dina to set up an appointment, and I’ll see you back here in two weeks, on Tuesday, the 14th, at 3 p.m.
LIA: Will the procedure hurt?
DR. SMILEY: I’ll give you medication so that you won’t feel any pain. Relax! It’s not so bad!
Tip 1: Regular visits to the dentist can prevent problems from happening. The dentist is your friend! Yes, really!
Fun Fact!
At your regular dental checkups, the hygienist will usually give you some freebies: a new toothbrush, some floss, and maybe some new products to try. Maybe they just want you to keep coming back . . .
GRAMMAR REMINDER 1: The Past Simple Tense—Short Answers
For short answers to past simple questions, don’t repeat the verb. Simply say: Yes, I did or No, I didn’t. We usually use the contraction in short answers.
Examples:
- Did you bite something hard? No, I didn’t.
- Did it hurt when it broke? Yes, it did.
Remember: The answer will be different with that wacky verb to be!
Examples:
- Were you eating something hard? Yes, I was.
- Was it very painful at the time? No, it wasn’t!
GRAMMAR REMINDER 2: Prepositions of Time
Use the prepositions in, at, or on to talk about time.
Examples:
In is used for periods of time.
in two weeks; in three months; in ten years
At is used for an exact time.
at 3 p.m.; at noon
On is used for days and dates.
on Tuesday; on August 6
VOCABULARY
bet: be pretty sure
checkup: an examination to be sure everything is healthy
chunk: a big piece
cleaning: removing anything that is on the teeth
comfy: comfortable
exposed: open
filling: substance put into a hole in the tooth to protect it
freebie: something special you get without paying
have something checked out: have something looked at or examined
hygienist: professional who cleans your teeth with special tools
I’m afraid: unfortunately
infected: filled with bacteria and very sore!
instruments: special tools
like crazy: A LOT!
medication: medicine
molar: large tooth in the back of the mouth
not buying: not believing
offend: cause someone to feel angry or upset
oh, come on: really!
open wide: open your mouth (so I can get these dental tools in there and find the problem!)
poke: touch, in a sharp way
procedure: process of repairing something
root: the base part of the tooth, under the gums (mouth tissue)
root canal: dental procedure removing material around the root of the tooth
temporary: for a short time
throbbing: aching, almost vibrating
we’d better: we should
weird: strange
Let’s See...
See here. A regular visit to the eye doctor is another important step in keeping healthy, but when it comes to taking care of your vision, things can become a little fuzzy. Not all eye care is covered by health insurance. Many health plans will not pay for glasses, but most will cover medical care of eye diseases. Three kinds of professionals specialize in care of the eyes: opticians, optometrists, and ophthalmologists.
An optician is a professional who makes the glasses that an optometrist or ophthalmologist prescribes for a patient.
An optometrist can examine the eyes and prescribe corrective lenses. He can also treat some eye problems. An optometrist is not an M.D., but he has completed pre-med courses at a university and graduate courses at a college of optometry.
For serious eye problems, you should see an ophthalmologist, an eye professional who is an M.D. and who can perform surgery on the eye if necessary.
LIA: Hi. I’m here for my eye examination. I know I’m a little early. My appointment is at 2 p.m.
DR. SPECS: That’s fine. Is this your regular checkup, or have you been having any problems?
LIA: Well, I’m about due for my checkup, but I’m a little concerned about some headaches I’ve been having lately.
DR. SPECS: Hmm. Have you been under any extra stress at work or at home lately? That could cause some of your symptoms.
LIA: I’m always under stress! But maybe that’s all it is.
DR. SPECS: Let’s just check things out to be sure there’s no underlying problem. How about your family history? Any eye problems that you know of?
LIA: Actually, my grandmother had glaucoma, and my dad takes drops to control his eye pressure. Oh, yeah, and my mom had cataracts removed.
DR. SPECS: Well, I think it’s important to do a thorough exam. I’m going to check your vision, look at both the inside and outside of your eyes, and measure the pressure. I’ll need to dilate your pupils, so it’ll be a little while before you can drive home. And we’ll check the prescription for your glasses.
LIA: I’ll feel much better to know everything’s okay. Now that you mention it, maybe my prescription needs to be changed. Could that be causing my headaches?
DR. SPECS: Sure it could. We’ll check it out. If everything’s okay, I’ll see you back in two years for a regular checkup.
Tip 2: If you need to get glasses, there are plenty of places to get the prescription filled. But remember, you also can find anything on the Internet! There are websites that will take your prescription and send you exactly the cool frames you want—usually at a much lower price than the stores in your local mall. Yay! We love a bargain!
Fun Fact!
You can’t sneeze with your eyes open! It’s impossible. (Try it, if you don’t believe us.)
VOCABULARY
cataracts: cloudy spots on the clear layers of the eye
concerned: worried
dilate: make the pupil of the eye open wider
due: expected
frames: the metal or plastic part of eyeglasses (that can make you look like a rock star!)
fuzzy: blurry; not clear
glaucoma: a disease of the eye that causes high pressure inside the eye
M.D.: Medical Doctor, or physician, who has completed medical school and hospital training
pressure: the force of something pressing
pre-med: courses leading to a medical doctor’s degree
pupil: the small black opening in the center of the eye
stress: tension caused by worrying
thorough: complete
underlying: below; not easily seen
WOOF!
Are you a pet lover? Do you share your home with a furry little friend who wags his tail when you come home from work, or who jumps in your lap and purrs? Do you share your ice cream cone with little Rover? Is he snuggled in your comfy chair? Pet lovers will tell you that their little friend is like one of the family . . . Woof! That means that little Rover gets lots of TLC . . . just like the kids! The upside of pet ownership is that no matter how bad a day you have, little Rover will be excited to see you. The downside is that you are committed to taking care of one more creature with aches and pains. In the United States, a doctor who is specially trained to treat animals is called a veterinarian. What’s the matter? Can’t say that one fast? Ha! Neither can most Americans! Because it’s such a tongue twister, most people refer to an animal doctor as “the vet.” We can all say that one!
VET: I haven’t seen little Rover here for quite a while. What seems to be the problem?
LIA: I’m really worried about him. You know he’s always been a very active dog, but lately he seems to be very stiff in the back legs. If he’s been lying down for a while, he has a tough time getting up. When he walks, I’ve noticed that he limps.
VET: Has he had any type of injury?
LIA: No, just the usual running and jumping. Nothing else.
VET: I know he’s a pretty active dog, but hip problems are quite common in that breed. Let me check him out thoroughly. I think we’ll need to get some X-rays to see what’s going on here. I’ll have to sedate him before doing the tests. Is that okay?
LIA: Sure, do anything you have to do. Can you do the tests now?
VET: No, you’ll have to bring him in tomorrow. It will take a little while for the sedative to work, and then he’ll need some time to wake up from it.
LIA: My poor little Rover!
VET: Let’s plan on tomorrow morning, first thing. Is that OK for you?
LIA: Absolutely! I’ll have him here first thing. What time do you open?
Tip 3: Health insurance is such a great idea for people that someone figured out it would be just as good for people’s pets. Yes, you can buy health insurance for Rover! Your vet will have all the details. That’s de—TAILS. Haha!
Tip 4: Make friends with the doggie next door. You never know if he’ll be a millionaire one day. Haha!
Fun Fact!
A very wealthy woman in New York City left $12 MILLION in her will for her little dog. Woof, woof!
MORE FUN WITH IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS: Teeth, Eyes, Dogs
sink your teeth into something: do something in an excited way
→ This is a well-written book about an interesting subject. I can really sink my teeth into it.
lie through your teeth: lie about something everyone knows is false
→ He was soaking wet, so he was lying through his teeth when he said he had not gone into the lake.
by the skin of your teeth: just barely manage to escape a big problem
→ Wow, that was close! I missed crashing my bike into that car by the skin of my teeth.
like pulling teeth: do something with a lot of difficulty
→ It was like pulling teeth when the woman tried to get her cell phone company to discuss a cheaper rate.
bite off more than you can chew: take on more work than you can handle at the time
→ She bit off more than she could chew when she agreed to work extra hours on the busy holiday weekend.
a sight for sore eyes: something that is wonderful to see
→ Lin hadn’t seen James for months. When he came home, he was a sight for sore eyes.
in the public eye: able to be seen by many people
→ When the newspaper wrote about the politician’s mistake, he was not happy to be in the public eye.
look someone straight in the eye: look at someone without shame or embarrassment
→ After the waiter spilled the woman’s soup, he was so embarrassed that he couldn’t look her straight in the eye.
not see eye to eye: disagree
→ They couldn’t see eye to eye on their vacation plans. He wanted to go to the beach, and she wanted to go to the mountains.
turn a blind eye: pretend not to see something
→ He wasn’t supposed to have cookies before lunch, but his grandmother turned a blind eye when she saw him reach for the box.
as sick as a dog: very sick
→ I missed the party because I was as sick as a dog; I just stayed in bed.
fight like cats and dogs: fight or argue a lot
→ They’re best friends now, but when they were young kids, it seemed that they always fought like cats and dogs.
raining cats and dogs: raining very hard
→ The hurricane left the area, but it was still raining cats and dogs.
you can’t teach an old dog new tricks: it’s very hard for someone to change the way they do things
→ Margaret tried to teach her grandmother how to use e-mail, but her grandmother just couldn’t figure out the computer. Grandma just said, “I’d rather just write a letter on paper. You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.”
going to the dogs: getting bad
→ His lunch business started going to the dogs when the stores next to him closed.
VOCABULARY
absolutely!: for sure! of course!
breed: type, kind
committed: decided to do something
creature: animal
details: all items of information
figured out: had an idea; understood
first thing: as early as possible
furry: covered in fur
hip: the bone joint between the waist and the legs
ice cream cone: a serving of ice cream in a cone-shaped cookie
injury: hurt caused by some event
limps: walks with difficulty because of a hurt leg
one of the family: as if an actual member of the human family
purrs: makes a vibrating sound (that’s a happy cat!)
sedate: make calm, tranquil with medicine
sedative: a medicine that puts you to sleep
see what’s going on: see what the situation is
snuggled: sitting comfortably
stiff: hard to move
tail: the back part of an animal (it’s what the dog wags!)
TLC: Tender, Loving Care; what we give to those we love
tongue twister: a word or expression that is very difficult to say
veterinarian: animal doctor
wags: moves from side to side in an excited way
wealthy: rich; having lots of money
will: an official paper that explains what must be done with your money after your death
