There was a general lack of doctors, specialists and surgeons in Luanda for a couple of years after the independence. At least, until the Cuban doctors turned up……but that is another story.
I’ve always been very healthy (fingers crossed, touch wood) so my problem was just trying to find a dentist. My ex-mother in law suggested someone who had taken over the dental surgery where she used to go before 75. My sister and I booked an appointment.
The “doctor” gave me a local anesthetic before starting the treatment – I think it was very strong, as I felt totally numb not only in my teeth, but also in my whole face and neck. In order to allow you to understand what followed, I have to explain that the “dentist” had a handicap in one eye, he had a glass eye. So as I’m sure you can understand, it was very uncomfortable, embarrassing and even scary to keep looking at him – so I closed my eyes. However, after a while feeling absolutely nothing, I decided to check what he was doing. He was definitely NOT treating my tooth, the *@#&* was kissing my nose!!!! Today I laugh, but at the time I was furious! Needless to say, I never went back. I discovered later, to my horror, that before 75 he was only a helper at the dentist, and I suppose I should consider myself a very lucky person as he did not kill me with that anesthetic.