I have been going to the same dentist for approximately ten years now. L - O - V - E him! Love my dental hygienist, love the staff, location, everything. Never ever have I had a problem. Dr. Dainty-Drill has always been fantastic - and gentle. I'm one of those odd people who actually enjoys getting her teeth cleaned - and I do not fear the drill (should it occasionally be necessary).
Dr. Dainty-Drill has decided to retire. Who can blame him? I'd retire if I could. So he has brought in a young lad - whom we'll call Dr. Drill-Bit. Dr. Drill-Bit has been there for almost a year now. Great guy - easy to get along with - seems very thorough in his check-ups.
Well last Monday, at my regularly scheduled cleaning, two tiny cavities decided to appear. So my appointment was this morning to get that little indiscretion in my mouth taken care of. Dr. Drill-Bit did the honors.
I no likey anymore.
Dr. Drill-Bit is now going to be Dr. Drill-BITE. If he tries to stick any electrically powered instrument in my mouth, I will bite. He was so rough in pulling my cheek and mouth, that it is raw in the corner of my mouth. The Novocaine shot hurt so bad it made my eyes water (that's a first at the dentist - even though I am terrified of needles). My jaw hurts so bad right now I could barely chew my tuna-fish sandwich which was on soft white bread. (Notice the past tense of that sentence... I made do and painfully gobbled it down anyway.) I really would not be surprised if my jaw and/or cheek are not bruised later on today. And it's not like I have a small mouth that has very little room to work. There should be ample space in there.
I have never had such an uncomfortable experience at the dentist - even as a child.
So here's the quandary. I WILL get a cavity again in my life. That's just the way my mouth rolls. I still love the staff, hygienist, location, etc. And I still like Dr. Drill-Bite's personality and bedside manner. It's his execution that I take issue with. So when that cavity appears - do I go to another dentist? It's like going to a new hairdresser - you don't want to cheat because they ALWAYS know.
I think I am going to speak to my hygienist (whom I'm friends with) and let her know what's going on. Maybe I'm not the first to complain. Maybe I am. Oh such a slippery slope. I really do not want to go to a new dentist. And another fear? If Dr. Drill-Bite really is that rough, there is no way in *bleep* that I am going to send Ukulele there. Fuhgetaboutit.
What would you do?
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5 comments:
ACK! that sounds awful!
i had a similar experience last year.. at a chain type dental facility which i will NEVER go to again. i have a very small mouth and ended up with tears at the corners of my mouth. OUCH. sounds like talking to the hygienist is a great idea.. but after my event i freaked out at the manager and demanded my records.. but i had never been there before so i didn't have feelings for the people there.. ugh..
For Ukulele, I would find a good children's dentist. Even people with great bedside manner aren't always well-suited for kids, esp. very little ones.
For you, I would switch. I have had my share of terrible dentists, and once I found a great one I vowed never again. Now I am very loyal to my dentist -- even though I've lived 3000 miles away for a few years now. Luckily for me, when he retires I can go to his son, who joined the practice recently and is just like his dad.
I know what you mean, we have a very gentle, wonderful hygenist right now and the last time J went to the dentist that particular guy was on vacation and he had someone else. J was NOT happy about that. I think if our hygenist switched practices we'd switch with him! :) I hope you find a solution because otherwise you're at risk of becoming one of those people who dreads the dentist! :)
I'd talk to the dentist too. Maybe if you explain to him that you have a very sensitive mouth and that he hurt you the last time, he will be more gentle. You'd be amazed that most of the time, Drs really do want to make their patients comfortable and don't want to hurt you. If you get a bad response, or if he still is too rough, find someone else.
I agree with talking with him and making a point to tell him that you've never, ever experienced such excruciating pain as the kind he inflicted on you...or something like that, only more tactful. Good luck! It's difficult to find a good dentist with a good staff that you like...it took me a while to find that.
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