I forgot to add

that my new best friend, the dental hygienist, told me that I need to use a particular kind of prescription toothpaste from now on and said she'd give me some. When I got home last night, I looked over the bill and saw that I'd been charged $17 for the "free" toothpaste! Seems she should have mentioned that I had to pay for it. It's being returned.

And my gums are in good shape in spite of the fact that I've totally ignored them.