Phobics prefer blondes - no, gentlemen!

[FrightenedJerk]

I definitely prefer a male dentist. I have had a few female dentists in the past and I have experienced their moods/pmt/personal problems and general womens troubles whilst they are treating my teeth! sorry but us women are a mass of hormones and I think men are more focused on the job in hand, while women can have a thousand things on their minds, no thanks! plus men are gentler. Thats my opinion.

But don't you find that men tend to be more judgmental about your dental problems? That's what I fear. You do make some good points, though.

[FearfulInMA]

I go to a male dentist and have never found him to be judgmental. I had originally had very strong feelings about wanting to see a female dentist, but am really glad that I kept an open mind. I do find female healthcare providers, in general, to be less sympathetic and less kind than male providers. I think i may have more to do with the sexism they experience during their training than anything else. That being said, I also had a really great female dentist many years ago.

[FrightenedJerk]

I'm really indecisive about this. The points you all are making are pretty good. I guess some of it has to do with men knowing what men are really like, and women knowing what women are really like, and not wanting to experience that attitude in someone who performs delicate operations on your mouth. Without question, people behave differently around those of the opposite sex than they do towards their own, and doctors are no different.

[V26P]

As a female dental student reading this has really opened my eyes to patients opinions. I have been treating patients since my 2nd year and have never come across a patient that has chosen to not have treatment by me purely based on my gender. I think female healthcare providers are actually more sympathetic than male, and I have never experienced any sexism during my training years so far. You do get some older male patients who are adamant that they do not want to be treated by 'a young girl' but once they realise that we are technically able to carry out treatment as well as our male counterparts they are more willing to accept treatment.

Also to add my own opinion, I'm only 5 ft 3 and I have never not been able to pull a tooth out! Its a pushing motion not a yanking out one, so with practice it isn't that difficult

[griffinej5]

I am going to a dental school. Last year, my student dentist was a female. I really liked her. I went to a male dentist prior to her. He screwed up a root canal. Prior to him, I always went to male dentists. I was kicked out by one, and the first one I remember as a child giving me anesthesia, and it hurt so bad when he did that , that I actually refused anesthesia the next time I had a filling. The endodontist who repaired my root canal at the dental school was a female, and she was okay. My intake appointment was with a male. I liked him pretty well. He actually had done an internship at a place I used to teach at, so he was able to keep me talking pretty well. He was also able to keep me pretty calm as I was gagging and vomiting on the xrays. I've had both male and female faculty dentists come check over the work.