I still remember the dread that was invoked at the very mention, 70 years ago and more, when I was a schoolchild attending Manning Avenue public school in Toronto -- across from where my immigrant parents rented a flat in a house -- of Orde Street public school. That was back when public health authorities in the city looked after the welfare, dental and hygienic, of children coming from underprivileged backgrounds. When children whose parents could not afford to feed them breakfast, or had no access to modern bathroom facilities, were given meals at the school, and the opportunity to shower, also at the school. I wasn't included in that demographic, my parents were the working poor but we ate well.

At that time children were given inoculations against various diseases right at the school by the school nurse. And yearly dental examinations were also carried out at the school. Children whose teeth needed work were informed to attend Orde Street school where the dentist there (yes, it appears a dentist was actually installed there complete with office and equipment, and his reputation for cruelty was a formidable one among children, though it was fear as much as his clumsy  handling of children that gave him that reputation of a tooth-terrorist).

Dentistry has come a long, long way since then. I can recall sleepless nights of tossing and turning, imagining what the next day's visit to that dentist would gain me further in experience I would far rather avoid if I could. I can recall copious amounts of blood spat into a vessel, though not acute pain to accompany it. My husband's experience was very similar. I've yet to meet an adult who might enthuse about going to the dentist. We both tend to put off regular dental office visits even for regular teeth cleaning.

Having done so for far too long, we recently relented and made appointments for having our teeth cleaned. A few weeks back I realized that one of my top-back-right molars was loose. I've since waited for it to fall out, hesitating to go to the dentist about it. The dental technician yesterday informed me in her gentle manner that it was in actual fact a crown that was loose, over an old root canal. That root canal must have been done at least 45 years ago, and the procedure has stood up well since then. It's so long ago that I'd forgotten about it.

Now, the loose crown is stuck between two teeth holding it in place, so it rattles about if it is provoked. I've an appointment to dislodge the crown so the dentist -- an affable young woman whom we've seen as our family dentist since our old one retired fifteen years ago -- can evaluate the condition of the tooth underneath, and whether or not it will be feasible to install another crown over the tooth.

Interesting, the kind of unexpected fastballs life throws at us from time to time, stirring memory.

Orde Street Junior Public School (GR. JK-06)

 Consistency…Simplicity…Continuity

Orde Street P.S. is located in central Toronto, just east and north of Chinatown. Our school was built in 1914 to accommodate the influx of immigrants into the community and it continues to represent the diverse population of the global community that is Toronto. The school has just celebrated its 100th Anniversary.Students come from over 30 countries, representing many different languages and cultures. Orde Daycare is located on-site and provides excellent before and after school child care. Orde offers daily instruction in Mandarin as part of the TDSB International Languages Integrated Day Program. Our school is used by our local community for many activities such as the Toronto Japanese School on Saturdays with over 200 students  Toronto District School Board