An Escape to the Dentist? A Wall Street Journal Story on Parents' Alone Time
Peter J. Strauss’s life as an attorney, speaker and single father of four children ages 1 to 10 leaves him little time for himself.
He catches a break in a place most people try to avoid: “I love going to the dentist,” says Mr. Strauss, of Hilton Head Island, S.C. “It’s 45 minutes when I know nobody is going to interrupt me. You can’t reach me and you can’t ask for anything,” says Mr. Strauss, author of a book on self-insurance for businesses. Although he has perfect teeth, he gets them cleaned three times a year instead of the usual two. The visits are so dull that he sometimes falls asleep in the chair.
We shared this article in early 2018. In February 2018, The Wall Street Journal published a feature on the creative ways busy parents find a little time to themselves. One father described his dental cleanings as a rare stretch of time when no one could interrupt him, and he admitted to sometimes dozing off in the chair.
We are glad to hear it. Our goal is for every visit to feel calm and unhurried.
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About the author. CJ Henley, DMD, is a general dentist in Jacksonville whose practice focuses on cosmetic and restorative dentistry, dental implants and dental care around head and neck cancer. Meet Dr. Henley.
CJ Henley, DMD, PA · 3675 Hendricks Avenue, Jacksonville, FL 32207 · 904-398-1549
Updated October 2026.
Sources
The Wall Street Journal, An Escape to the Dentist? Parents Confess Their Secret Ways to Get Alone Time, February 2018.