Why do dentists always try to chat with us when our mouths are stuffed with a cheek retractor and other tools, making it impossible to reply? /u/Financial-Bus-5660 No such thing as stupid questions

This has been bothering me for years. Why do dentists insist on talking to you when they have your mouth full of equipment and your replies come out sounding like complete gibberish

I had been putting off my dentist appointment for ages, but finally, I showed up. After the usual small talk, the assistant strapped those cheek retractors into my mouth—my least favorite part. Suddenly, I was mute, unable to speak or even nod properly.

And yet, my dentist (very senior person in his 50’s)—completely oblivious to my predicament—started chatting away, asking me about my week and giving me random recommendations. I tried to respond, but all I could do was make muffled sounds and awkwardly blink at his face. I’m sure he noticed, but he just kept talking as if we were having a normal conversation. At one point, he even patted my cheeks, seeing me blink at him cluelessly, and laughed. “You’re just so cute when you’re speechless kid” – I just silently cursed the cheek retractors that had me at his mercy.

This has been bothering me for years. Why do dentists insist on talking to you when they have your mouth full of equipment and your replies come out sounding like complete gibberish

I had been putting off my dentist appointment for ages, but finally, I showed up. After the usual small talk, the assistant strapped those cheek retractors into my mouth—my least favorite part. Suddenly, I was mute, unable to speak or even nod properly.

And yet, my dentist (very senior person in his 50’s)—completely oblivious to my predicament—started chatting away, asking me about my week and giving me random recommendations. I tried to respond, but all I could do was make muffled sounds and awkwardly blink at his face. I’m sure he noticed, but he just kept talking as if we were having a normal conversation. At one point, he even patted my cheeks, seeing me blink at him cluelessly, and laughed. “You’re just so cute when you’re speechless kid” – I just silently cursed the cheek retractors that had me at his mercy.