i arrive on time for my scheduled appointment, sign in, and sit in the waiting room for 15 - 35 minutes. i'm taken back to a chair by an assistant, where i wait for another 5 - 15 minutes. a technician eventually comes in and attacks my teeth and gums with considerable repressed anger, informing me that i need to floss more. after the full cleaning / picking / scraping routine, the actual dentist swoops in and peeks in my mouth for 35 seconds, declares things to be in working order, and swoops back out.pretty normal, right? because i've been to a LOAD of different dentists (i've had 3 jobs since i've been down here, and about 5 different insurance plans) and it seems to work about that way each time.
the technician polishes my teeth, has me wait around for a while longer, then sends me up front to pay.
WELL. yesterday i arrive for a 3pm dentist appointment at a newish place, where i've only been once before. i'm also about a year late for my exam, accidentally. apparently i was busy in 2007. so i'm expecting a decent amount of chastising for both the length of time between visits and what's sure to be the sad state of my teeth by this point. i'm.. uh.. not a flosser. I KNOW I KNOW so important gum health etc etc etc. i just... i don't know. i never get around to it. I'M SORRY.
anyway! i arrive at about 2:59, and as i walk in and smile at the receptionist, a technician comes out from the back and says "alice? come on in." i literally had not finished writing my name on the sign-in sheet at this point. i actually was concerned they thought i was another patient at first, because they hadn't even looked at my name on the sign in sheet! they hadn't asked if my insurance had changed or if i'd moved! i hadn't even SAT DOWN and had the obligatory wait! but i followed docilely anyway, hoping that if they DID have the wrong patient, it wasn't someone who was scheduled for a root canal or something.
the tech got me situated in a chair, arranged all her tools, then... sat back. because the ACTUAL DENTIST came in within seconds of my arrival, chatted with me about my job for a few minutes, then did the cleaning HIMSELF. with his own hands. personally. the full exam and cleaning, in my mouth, done by the actual d.d.s. (!!)
he informed me that a filling in one of my molars had a tiny chip on the corner, and that since it was one of his that he'd done in 2006, he'd go ahead and fix it up real quick right then and there. FOR FREE. and he did.
then he finished his exam, told me everything looked really good (except that i need to floss more) and then left only the polishing to the tech. i was out of the office within 45 minutes of arriving, and that included getting a filling replaced.
i don't know if i should be rueful that i'm so blown away by this experience, or just grateful as hell that there is one medical professional in the greater metro area that doesn't suck. either way, i'm still sort of in shock.
How I wish this dentist was near me. I also was somehow "busy" in 2007, and I'm not looking forward to finding and going to a new dentist. The things we have to make ourselves do!
ReplyDeleteVery nice. Last time I went to the dentist, it was the dentist's day off, so he didn't even check my teeth, but he would review what the hygenist did and I would get a call if there were any problems. I felt ripped off until I realized I saved a decent amount of money by not having him look in my mouth for 30 seconds. I'm hoping I'm scheduled on his day off again next time. :)
ReplyDeleteWhoa. Is this...MADE UP? It sounds made up.
ReplyDeleteI haven't been to the dentist in almost THREE YEARS, and that, right there, is a TRUE STORY.
Wow. You make a trip to the dentist sound RELAXING and GLORIOUS.
ReplyDeleteOh man, hang on to this dentist! There is nothing less desirable than a trip to the dentist. You have found something rarer than a good man, you have found the elusive good dentist!
ReplyDeleteOh wow. That is an awesome dental experience. I'm totally jealous. I have a good dentist that I really like, but I do have to wait and the cleanings are not done by him. You totally hit the jackpot there.
ReplyDeletethat sounds like the BEST DENTIST VISIT EVER. I would even go TWICE a year if it always was that awesome!!
ReplyDeleteWell, how lame is it that I am green with envy over here? No, really?
ReplyDeleteI've been going to my dentist since 1992. It's way out of the way but well worth it. As evidence here when my hygienist left. Nothing beats spa dentistry though ... nothing.
ReplyDelete~Jef
Treasure this experience while you have it. And hope it's not like the new restaurant who lures you in with great prices, decent portions and great service, only to see all go downhill 6 months later. :-)
ReplyDeleteNo way! The actual dentist?! AMAZING!
ReplyDeleteI am also not a flosser. I used to just make my appointments and the kids' at the same time, but this last time with a mobile toddler and three older ones who needed a cleaning, I couldn't do it. So I took the kids in and told them I didn't see when, if EVER, I would be able to have an appointment myself, so I would just have to do a better job brushing and maybe add a little flossing into the mix.
Oh, hi. I will be moving to your area so I can start seeing your dentist.
ReplyDelete(Word verification is all three of my initials in a row, followed by two unrelated letters---OR ARE THEY??)
wow that's amazing alice! talk about a nice dentist, did he give you a sucker after?? : )
ReplyDeleteI'm a brusher and flosser, but I still have lots of cavities (probably related to my disorder). I'm too embarrassed to share how long it's been since I've been to a dentist though. In my defense, I would like to go (and I need to go), but I have neither dental insurance nor $2,000 lying around to pay for even one root canal. When either of those situations changes, we'll be seeing each other in your awesome dentist's waiting area-- but probably only for a second, since they're so efficient over there and all. ;)
ReplyDeleteYour description of the typical dentist visit is EXACTLY what I have experienced every single time I go to the dentist. Maybe I will start making the commute to DC for my next dentist appointment! Also, you reminded me I haven't seen a dentist in over a year. Dammit.
ReplyDeleteAfter maaaaany dentists who ascribe to your scenario #1, I finally found one like your scenario #2, and I nearly cried. Hang on to that dentist, man. Hang on for dear life.
ReplyDeleteI haven't been to the dentist in 17 years. I'm only barely kidding.
ReplyDeleteA dentist that does their own work and stands behind the work they've done? That's crazy talk, Alice. Are you sure they didn't ply you with nitrous oxide just to make you think those things?
ReplyDeleteI need to fly down to you and visit your dentist ;)
ReplyDeleteFYI: I had a temporary crown put in. Temporary as in it shouldn't stay there and is supposed to be replaced by the permanent one. I was supposed to go back for that in January... Yes that's right. JANUARY. I'm gonna be so screwed when I finally do go in! But THEY SCARE ME!!!! :P