P
Pbandj10
Junior member
- Joined
- Mar 31, 2022
- Messages
- 3
- Location
- Ohio
Over the course of my 50 plus years, I have had extensive restorative work done — crowns on every molar. Fillings on my upper front teeth. 2 extractions, including post-procedure ER visit An implant. A gum graft. I’m not afraid of dental work— I was wide awake during the gum graft and implant. Bit I am embarrassed by how much I have neglected my teeth, and I can’t handle being made to feel even worse.
For this reason, I’ve also had 4 dentists (and also a dental school where the supervising dentist shamed me in front of the students) over the past 12 years. Despite all of the work that I had done, I couldn’t seem to change my poor oral hygiene.
The last time I looked for a dentist, I just wanted someone who wasn’t going to make me feel worse than I already did. So I did a google search for ‘nonjudgmental dentists’. One name appeared. I looked at their website and leaned that he has an annual free community dental day where he extracts or repairs teeth for people without insurance coverage. I reasoned that he probably saw a lot of patients with neglected teeth.
On his building, there’s a sign with his name. And right below that, there’s another sign that says ‘compassionate care with q non judgmental approach.’ I just knew I was in the right place.
He came up with an initial treatment plan that was implemented over 2 years, and he has done other work since then. During that time, his staff would give me ‘tips’, but they gave the same tips to every patient so I never felt judged.
But last year, I finally achieved my holy grail— the dentist examined my teeth and said ‘I’ll see you in six months.’ It was the first time in over 15 years that my semi annual cleaning didn’t lead to additional restorative care.
At that point I became determined to hear those words again. So I became obsessive about brushing every night and flossing every day. And yesterday, I had a repeat visit. It’s now been over a year since I needed any restorative work, and I am thrilled.
But I credit this dentist. I know that if he had said anything that made me feel worse than I already did, I would have spent a few years again avoiding dental visits. I’m so grateful that he gets it.
For this reason, I’ve also had 4 dentists (and also a dental school where the supervising dentist shamed me in front of the students) over the past 12 years. Despite all of the work that I had done, I couldn’t seem to change my poor oral hygiene.
The last time I looked for a dentist, I just wanted someone who wasn’t going to make me feel worse than I already did. So I did a google search for ‘nonjudgmental dentists’. One name appeared. I looked at their website and leaned that he has an annual free community dental day where he extracts or repairs teeth for people without insurance coverage. I reasoned that he probably saw a lot of patients with neglected teeth.
On his building, there’s a sign with his name. And right below that, there’s another sign that says ‘compassionate care with q non judgmental approach.’ I just knew I was in the right place.
He came up with an initial treatment plan that was implemented over 2 years, and he has done other work since then. During that time, his staff would give me ‘tips’, but they gave the same tips to every patient so I never felt judged.
But last year, I finally achieved my holy grail— the dentist examined my teeth and said ‘I’ll see you in six months.’ It was the first time in over 15 years that my semi annual cleaning didn’t lead to additional restorative care.
At that point I became determined to hear those words again. So I became obsessive about brushing every night and flossing every day. And yesterday, I had a repeat visit. It’s now been over a year since I needed any restorative work, and I am thrilled.
But I credit this dentist. I know that if he had said anything that made me feel worse than I already did, I would have spent a few years again avoiding dental visits. I’m so grateful that he gets it.