Bestest Friend and I are doing a blog project. Each day we will write a blog post on a pre-determined theme chosen by a random noun generator. The theme for the eleventh day of the month is "Stranger."
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I had a periodontist appointment earlier this week in the nearby larger town. Every time I have been to the dentist since COVID (I go every three months), I have had a different hygienist. Actually, the last time I saw my family dentist, the dentist himself did the cleaning, which is the first time I've ever had a dentist do that for me. Anyway, I hate having new hygienists because I have to give them my whole history and it's embarrassing and I frequently cry. But this hygienist was so comforting and kind and spent the whole meeting nattering on about how she and her husband met at a bar and troubles her teen daughter was having at school, and pretended not to notice when I tensed up whenever she went near my trouble areas.
And for the first time I can ever remember, I actually relaxed in a dentist's chair. I wasn't waiting for her to tell me that my gums were in bad shape, that the mobility in my bottom teeth was getting worse, or that we might want to talk about options for replacing teeth. I wasn't waiting for a lecture about how bad things were or a recommendation for yet another thing to add to my cleaning regime. I imagine that this is how many people feel all the time at the dentist, but for me it was a real treat.
Was it the best cleaning ever? Who knows? I'll probably never see that hygienist again, but I will definitely fill out the patient survey to sing her praises.
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| Of course I went to the local library when I was finished with my cleaning and this little car outside the building was just so happy and cheerful. |
Have you had a positive experience with something that normally bums you out recently?
Every once in a while you discover someone who is VERY GOOD at their job and it's just such a treat. It sounds like this woman is really intuitive and thoughtful in her work. I love it. I am sorry you have such a hard time at the dentist. Dental stuff can be so fraught, and I know that your past has affected your present. I have had the most wonderful hygienist the past few times, but she is retiring and I am moving, so I guess I'll be on the search.
ReplyDeleteOh, searching for a dentist is such a struggle. I'm so sorry you'll have to figure it out, but perhaps you'll be able to get recommendations from people you know? That was one of the first things we did when we met people here - asked them for doctor and dentists recs because otherwise it just feels like a crapshoot!
DeleteI don’t think anyone gets giddy over going to the dentist, but I liked my last hygienist too. Like you, I would like to have him again.
ReplyDeleteI know a couple of people who say they frequently fall asleep while getting their teeth cleaned, so I do think it's relaxing for some people!
DeleteI empathize. I had a terrible dentist when I was a kid. He ignored my pain and fear, and he actually hit my hands with dental instruments to get me to unclench them from the chair. He was stingy with novocaine. Of course, I thought I was the problem, and I never told anyone. Much later, my brother confirmed my experiences. Now I'm so phobic of dentists that I have to have nitrous for any procedure and cry and tremble constantly. You are not alone.
ReplyDeleteOh, I'm so sorry, Nance. All the dental professionals I've encountered have been lovely and respectful, but it still unpleasant. I can't imagine how hard it must be for you to enter a dental office with those memories. Hugs and good dental luck to you.
DeleteI love this! I used to have a wonderful hygienist and then my practice changed the policy and you just sort of get who you get, and it's a range for sure.
ReplyDeleteThe practices where I go just can't seem to keep hygienists. I think veterinarians and dental hygienists are going to be in short supply in the next few years.
DeleteOh yay! I am so glad you had a positive experience! I have such awful dental anxiety, I feel so much empathy for you having to go every three months. How nice that you found someone who helped you relax. I am sure you already thought of this, but can you ask for the same hygienist next time?
ReplyDeleteI ALWAYS schedule with the same hygienist, but the turnover rate for that particular job seems to be insane, particularly in a post-COVID world. I definitely asked to make sure she would be assigned as my hygienist for our next appointment, but I am not particularly optimistic that it will come to pass.
DeleteThere is a lot of dental trauma in this world. This seems like it should be the subject of a book... I'm glad you had a positive experience and plan to write a positive review.
ReplyDeleteOh, I would NEVER read a book about anything having to do with the dentist, even if it did validate my experience. Ha. The audience would have to be for people who are made of sterner stuff than I am.
DeleteHmm! Maybe this is why dental hygienists are always so annoyingly chatty (in my opinion, that is.). They're just trying to put people at ease and distract them from their anxiety. I'm glad you had this experience! I hope you can get this same woman in the future.
ReplyDeleteOh, I guess I never thought about it. You'd need to be good at one-sided small talk to put people at ease, I guess. I just really liked that I didn't have to really think about what she was talking about and she wasn't making concerned noises about the state of my mouth. I guess those of us who aren't good at small talk shouldn't go into the teeth cleaning profession.
DeleteI have massive dentist anxiety and often cry afterwards too, although I don't think my history is quite as complicated (sounds difficult, and I'm sorry). There is one hygienist at my place that I like, but they've gotten so busy that I sort of stopped asking for her specifically, which has worked out horribly and I should stop. My daughter's BFF's mom is a hygienist and I'm sure she is fantastic - she gets all the special needs patients because she's so gentle and reassuring. I've held back on going to her thinking it might be awkward, but I think it might be time.
ReplyDeleteOh, it's so hard to find just the right combination of dentist/hygienist. I wish you luck in finding someone who will work for you. It makes it hard to make yourself go to appointments when the quality of care isn't quite what you'd like it to be.
DeleteI had a cleaning this week and while it wasn't pleasant, it was nothing like as bad as last time, thankfully. And yes, different hygienist! The last one made things worse. I hate going. Sigh.
ReplyDeleteHygienists make all the difference, don't they?
DeleteWell, small world I went to the dentist this week as well. This is my 2nd visit with this dentist and I was thinking about how much better this one - the dentist and the hygienist - are than a few that I've parted ways with. I've gone YEARS without seeing the dentist SEVERAL TIMES in my life because of unpleasant experiences. Yay for the good ones - especially when you have to be a frequent customer.
ReplyDeleteOh, I hope you're able to keep the same dentist/hygienist combo for some time so that you can keep up your dental hygiene. There's nothing worse than knowing you should go, but not going because you have had such bad experiences!
DeleteI hated the dentist until I found my current dentist. I wouldn't say that I love going, but it is so much more pleasant at the current office I go to. I have the same hygienist every time, we talk about our kids, the dentist herself is so nice and thorough and no one shames me for anything. They aren't in network, but they file all the paperwork for me to get reimbursed. My Husband wants me to switch to someone in network, but I can't imagine finding a new practice.
ReplyDeleteUgh at in network, out of network crap. My perio is not in network and I don't think there is periodontist in network at all. It was nearly $300 for my appointment last week and I paid it without blinking. I have no idea why we pay for so much dental insurance when it doesn't cover anything!
DeleteWhat a wonderful experience to feel comfortable in an uncomfortable situation. Maybe you are lucky and she will be there next time around.
ReplyDeleteFingers crossed I see her again.
DeleteI am glad you had a good hygienist for a change! It's too bad you don't see the same person each time - maybe you could request this one? I see the same hygienist but would actually prefer not to. Ha. She is very kind of but talks WAY TOO MUCH which makes the appt longer than it needs to be. I do not want to respond to a question when she has her tools in my mouth cleaning my teeth! I loved my previous hygienist but she moved into a different role.
ReplyDeleteHa! I guess what I liked about this hygienist was that she talked non-stop, but NOT ABOUT MY MOUTH. It was lovely. I've had hygienists natter on about how bad my mouth is for the entire hour and that is just stressful, you know? And it was clear I didn't need to respond to anything this lady said - she was just trying to distract me from what she was doing and I will adore her forever for that.
DeleteShe sounds like she knows her calling; I'm so happy you had (finally) a good dental experience. Hopefully you will cross paths again!
ReplyDeleteYes! She obviously read me quite clearly and knew exactly what I needed at that moment. I felt so lucky to get her for that hour.
DeleteI don't think I've EVER had a chatty hygienist. It would annoy me so much, lol. How am I supposed to respond? I just want to get in and out as quickly as possible! I'm glad you had such a positive experience with this hygienist, though. Fingers crossed you get her again at your next appointment!
ReplyDeleteI really liked that she was just chatting about stuff that required nothing from me and wasn't related to my mouth hygiene. LOL. Normally a chatty person would drive me crazy, but in this case, it was just soothing and helpful. Bless her soul.
DeleteI've been going to the same hygienist for years and I request appointments with him specifically and really try hard to see anybody else. The person can really make or break the experience. I hope you get to see her again.
ReplyDelete