"The Circle of Drills: A Dentist Dynasty and the Saga of Aging"

 "The Circle of Drills: A Dentist Dynasty and the Saga of Aging"

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Life has a funny way of looping back on itself, weaving familiar patterns with unexpected threads. Yesterday, I found myself facing one such loop—right in the dentist's chair. As I sat back, preparing myself for my yearly exam and cleaning, the young dentist introduced himself. "I'm Dr. Nico Scordakis," he said, followed by the revelation that he was the son of my dentist of the last 40 years or so.

Cue the existential realization: I'm old enough now that my healthcare providers are passing down their practices to the next generation. It's a moment that encapsulates the strange poetry of aging—an unspoken baton pass from one era to the next.

It's not just about the dentist; it's about the reminders that all things in life are quietly slipping through our hands. It's seeing the world evolve in ways that feel both comforting and unreal at the same time. The father-son duo represents continuity, a bridge connecting my past and my present. There's a reassurance in knowing some things stay the same, even as life sweeps us along.

But on a deeper level, aging has a way of humbling us. It's a process that teaches us to accept new faces, new chapters, and even new technologies (like the fancy dental chair that felt closer to a spaceship than a medical tool). It reminds us to celebrate legacy while welcoming innovation.

As I shook hands with the new Dr. Skordakis, I realized it's not so much about holding on to the past but allowing it to shape the future. Growing older is about recognizing that each wrinkle and gray hair is not just the passage of time, but the wisdom that comes with my varied life experiences. Meeting the next generation of dentists reminds me that getting older isn't about fading away; it's about watching life blossom in new, surprising directions—even in a dentist's office.