Dr. Haltrecht's Clinic

I was born with a set of bunny teeth. My 2 incisors protruded unevenly. My parents searched for a teeth blacksmith who would forge my teeth into a set of straight teeth.


The orthodontist that they found was Dr. Earl Haltrecht, his clinic situated near Fairview Mall. He is a man that would smile, flashing a set of perfect teeth. If only I had those…

Surprisingly, he gave us a discount! Since I was the second child, he set the price lower.

When talking with my dad, his light creases around his eyes intensified.

“Come, sit down,” he invited us.


When I was actually settled, I noticed how big his nose was. It was shaped like a parrot’s. Big and arched with a pair of glasses that rested on top of it. He had a head of grey hair with white streaks running through it.

Every time he leaned in to begin an operation, I’d always catch the scent of coffee.


Whenever I first enter the clinic, Anna is the first to meet me. She has glossy black hair, big eyes that twinkle and shine, and a smile as big as the moon. She also has a set of beautiful teeth.

She answers all the phone calls with a light, upbeat tone, ending each call with a slight laughter.

Afterwards, she'll look up at the waiting patients and check them in with a warm smile.

In the waiting room, they have a screen that plays a slideshow of pictures and a few jokes. One picture showed them all dressed up for Halloween. The next slide showed:

Why did the vampire visit the orthodontist?

Because he wanted to improve his BITE!

And the next…

What did the orthodontist do on the roller coaster?
He BRACED himself!

Overhead, they projected a radio station that plays the most popular songs of the month. The volume is turned down low so it wouldn’t bother the people who do not wish to listen.

Lisa, Dr. Haltrecht assistant, would be the one who does most of the operation work. Even though, it is Dr. Haltrect who she would turn to for help.

Coming from another patient, his blue latex glove would slip off and a new one slides back on. He changes them as he walks, like magic.

He’d reach over and probe my mouth for a minute, and then everything would be done.

“Is everything all right?” we’d ask.

“Oh, ya ya”

“So we’ll just come again in 2 weeks?”

“Oh, ya ya” he’d repeat.

It’s been a year now and many different appliances have been inserted into my mouth. Now, with a prettier set of bunny teeth, Dr. Haltrecht put in braces. How much longer until my teeth look like his? Who knows? Going to his clinic has been incorporated into my daily life. The final result? I’m still waiting.