A few weeks ago I had to go to the dentist for a crown. I'll tell you right up front I HATE going to the dentist. I HATE needles and all the other stuff. I had to take 2 Valium, happy gas & shots. Hubby Kanga had to drive to & back since I was doped up.
Today, I had to go my dentist to replace my crown. This time I went by myself since no needles should be involved. I left work at 3pm for a 3:30pm appointment. Once I was in the chair the dental assistant removed my temporary crown & cleaned/scrapped the cement off. I was doing well. Then I had to wait in the chair for over an hour while the dentist, who was to install the new crown, worked on at least 2 other patients. My anxiety started building. I got mad. I got impatient. Yes, I don't have a PHD, but my time is just as important. I started to tear up as I do when emotional. I mentioned to the assistant that it had been over an hour. She could tell I was upset. I was trying so hard to hold it together. I couldn't talk, I couldn't look at him. I closed my eyes trying to get my shit together. Tears rolling down my face. Mad at myself for crying, ashamed. At least I wasn't sobbing. He apologized a couple of times and asked "How can I make it up to you?". I said I couldn't talk right now. He gave me his cell number to call him tonight. I told him that I couldn't talk tonight. He said for me to call him tomorrow. I said I didn't know. It was 5:45pm. I cried all the way home. How can he make it up to me? How do you measure my anxiety? My anger? My shame? My tears? How?
11 comments:
Sorry you had a bad day. Hope you got a big hug when you got home.
You need to be angry about this and you need not make any excuses for yourself or your reactions.
It's scandalous, cowardly and disrespectful greed that has trained American medical professionals to treat their patients with the same humanity that one might expect from a Greyhound bus driver or commuter train conductor.
You have choices - especially when it comes to decisions as stressful and traumatic as dental work. Believe it or not there are places out there that really, really get it. You owe it to yourself to look around and to let your dentist know why.
That said - I'm sorry you had a bad day too. I don't know Kanga at all but I'll bet he did his part to help make sense of this mess.
How can he make it up to you?
Well, I'd say a free bleaching might do for starters. Take the free stuff from him and then follow Stinkbait's advice, get a new dentist.
I love my dentist. Well, I like her as much as you can like a dentist. What I'm saying is that, as far as dentists go, she's pretty darn good.
Let me know if you're looking for a referral.
A friend of mine goes to a no-pain dentist somewhere along the plaza and loves it. I guess they actually specialize in making the dentist visit a comfortable experience. The guy used to freak out every time he went to the dentist and now doesn't mind it one bit. If it sounds like something you'd like to check out let me know and I'll get the info for you. Either way, it sounds like you need to get a new dentist pronto!
I've been seeing my dentist for YEARS. A small little office, but I've never had to wait like you did.
I'm sorry you had such a crappy experience. I agree with the others...find another dentist. There's plenty of them out there.
Ditto everyone else.
You shouldn't be feeling shameful, darlin'. It's your dentist that should feel the shame. And shame on him for treating you like that! It's just wrong...
((((hugs))))
Thanks everyone! You've made a big difference. I appreciate it! Hugs & kisses to all of you.
I think a free tank of nitrous for you to bring to the next blogger meet-up would make for nice compensation.
I used to go to a dentist in Blue Springs who was adamant about only seeing one patient at a time. It was just him and his receptionist. When you were in his chair, you had 100% of his attention.
Dr. Swee. He'll take good care of you.
I agree, find a new dentist. I too hate going but finally found one that's good and helps me with my anxiety.
You don't have to have a phD to be important; you simply ARE important because you are you.
XO makes a good point. Free nitrous all around for the bloggers!
I get teary whenever stuff like that happens to me too. Especially when I go to a doctor and I feel really out of sorts - I get weepy and strange. I can't tell you how many times I've ended up crying while seeing a health care professional.
Change dentists for sure. An hour in the chair with no action is too long.
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