Leave It to Beaver (TV Series) The Tooth (1959) User Reviews

Lessons Learned At The Dentist's Office

[ccthemovieman-1 · 8/10 · 20 January 2007]

Beaver gets his first cavity and has to have it drilled by Dr. Harrison. He was fine, until Clarence "Lumpy" Rutherford told him what happens when you have a cavity and made this loud rat-a-tat noise like a jackhammer. Now Beaver was scared to go. Before, the experience was nothing but good and he got a free toy. Now, he's petrified at the thought of a jackhammer drilling away at his teeth.

Ward takes him to the office and is disgusted with Beaver's scaredy-cat attitude. They meet Fred Rutherford and his daughter Violet (played by Veronica Cartwright) and Fred, in his nerd-and-ignorant style, makes things worse.

In the end, Beaver and his dad both learn some lessons. Ward, in particularly, reflects about being a good father and not expecting his kids to be perfect.

You will never get the whole tooth from Lumpy.

[pensman · 8/10 · 25 July 2017]

Beaver has a tooth that hurts so June is taking Beaver to the dentist. After a routine trip to the dentist, Beaver learns he may have to return if he has a cavity. While out with Larry, Beaver bumps into Wally and Lumpy. Lumpy scares Beaver by taking about the big hole the dentist will drill in the tooth to fill the cavity. When the dentist calls home, Beaver takes the call. It was the nurse from the dentist's office, Beaver claims the Cleavers moved to Alaska and hangs up. June takes the second call to learn Beaver needs to come in the next morning.

Beaver's imagination is at its best and Beaver thinks of the dentist's drill of being like a jackhammer. That night Beaver talks to Wally of what would happen if he misses his appointment. Wally says Lumpy was just giving Beaver the business. As usual June has decided to pass the Beaver to Ward, Ward agrees to take Beaver to the dentist.

Next morning it is as if Beaver were on death row. Ward tries to convince Beaver it isn't a big deal. In the dentist's office, Fred Rutherford is there with Violet. Violet had two cavities before and wasn't afraid at all. Everyone in the office can hear Beaver screaming before Beaver can even get onto the chair. Beaver tells the dentist that Lumpy Rutherford says he charges more so he can use the big drill.

The dentist tells Beaver if it hurts then Beaver can have the entire box of toys he has, Beaver figures if the dentist trusts him then he can trust the dentist. After it's all over, Beaver gets two toys. At home Beaver is concerned that Ward won't be proud of him anymore because he was such a chicken at the dentist's and that he cried. And Ward feels that maybe he put too much pressure on Beaver to act like a brave little soldier. Both are hoping for a chance to redeem themselves.

That night while putting Beaver to bed, Ward tells Beaver that he apologizes for putting pressure on him. Beaver tells Ward not to worry, Ward would have to do a lot more than that to make Beaver stop liking him.

What's difficult to figure out is that Wally, Ward, June, Larry, and Violet say filling a cavity won't hurt and yet Beaver chooses to believe Lumpy, a kid he really doesn't like.

Fear Of The Dentist

[StrictlyConfidential · 5/10 · 2 February 2021]

(*Ward to June quote*) - "Dear? My soft-boiled egg is a little hard this morning."

Beaver has a toothache.

"Lumpy" Rutherford puts the scare into Beaver about the dentist's drill.

Beaver tries to come up with any excuse he can to avoid going to the dentist.

Ward does the best he can to calm Beaver down from all of his mounting anxiety.