Why I HATE the Dentist!!!
76The majority of people hate dentists, but people always make it seem like this 'hate' stems from fear or that dental unpleasantness is just inevitable.
After all, the dentists are not to blame - or are they?
1. The Evil Dental Hygienist
In actual truth, I have found many dentists that I liked, however, the same cannot be said for their dental hygienist. First of all, it seems like most dental offices change dental hygienists faster than I change toothbrushes.
Every time I go for a teeth cleaning, there seems to be a new dental hygienist there.
And while it is not as difficult to find a good dentist, it is extremely difficult to find a dental office that has consistently good dental hygienists. In fact, I just came back from an awful dental visit with yet another new dental hygienist, with terrible bedside manner.
The problem with these dental hygienists is that they always try to be dentists. Often, they say the exact opposite thing as the dentist, and then insist that they are right.
Dental hygienists also love scolding their victims - "You are not brushing right", they declare proudly, as if they are the first ones to notice that you have plaque on your teeth. They always 'know' a lot about everything, and like pretending that they actually own the dental office
I understand that dentists probably have more important things to attend to than who their dental hygienist is - but that is a very important part of the dental visit. One of the key reasons why most people hate dentists is because of these crappy dental hygienists, who are extremely rough on your teeth and gums, and have extremely poor bedside manner to go with it.
Your crappy dental hygienist may try to convince you that extreme roughness and extreme gum bleeding is just part and parcel of the teeth cleaning experience.
Do not believe it!
Before
this latest crappy dental hygienist, I actually had someone who was a
practicing dentist clean my teeth, and she was awesome! There was
no roughness, it was all very painless, and there was a minimal amount
of gum bleeding. She has now moved offices, so I got stuck today with
another awful hygienist newbie.
Extreme pain is not a necessary part of teeth cleaning and WE have the right to demand that from our dentist. Do not take any more crap from yet another temporary dental hygienist.
Demand more from your dentist.
It is not ok for them to hire crappy hygienists to poke at us, do a poor job, and at the end of it, have the audacity to scold us for their crappy lack of skills. And above all else, do not listen to your dental hygienist.
If you have any questions, ask the dentist. He is the one that is most qualified to answer your questions, and you deserve to have the best answers.
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2. The Inconsistency
Dentists and dental hygienists are always saying different things. Different dentists will often give me conflicting information, and of course the dental hygienists know everything.
Here is the thing - you have to properly brush at your gum line to get rid of dental plaque, but if you brush too hard, and for too long, your gums may recede. If you don't brush enough, plaque will build up, and cause your gums to recede. It is one of those damned if you do, damned if you don't things.
I still do not truly know how hard I should brush.
My dentist had recommended that I use the Philips electric toothbrush, which I really like, but according to the crappy dental hygienist today, I should be brushing with a regular brush and not an electric toothbrush. When I explained to her that it was what the dentist suggested, she said that I did not understand the basics of tooth brushing. I left in the middle of the session, because I did not feel like listening to drivel, while being tortured by the producer of such drivel.
I have also had a dentist perform root canal on two of my molars because he told me that root canal was the best way to address my teeth sensitivity issues.
Before you agree to any dental procedure, do some research first and don't just take your dentist's advice. There are many more crappy dental hygienists, but there are also a fair number of crappy dentists.
3. The Arrogance
Make sure to always ask your dentist a lot of questions - especially if he is recommending certain procedures. Do no agree to those procedures until you have done some of your own research.
What I have learned, a bit too late, is that it is generally best to preserve as much of your own teeth as possible. If sensitivity toothpaste is sufficient - then a dentist should never recommend root canal. If a filling is all that is necessary, then a dentist should never recommend a crown. You want to preserve as much of your natural teeth as possible, and only perform procedures that are absolutely necessary.
Some dentists are arrogant and will talk down to you or make you seem foolish for asking questions. We do not need to take that from our dentists. There are many dental offices nowadays, and they need our business.
A good dentist will always answer your questions and give you both the pros and cons of various procedures. If you are unsure, get a second opinion.
How do you feel about going to the dentist?
See results without votingDemand More From Your Dentist
Always remember that you are the paying customer.
I was just looking through my local newspapers, and there were more dental advertisements than any other kind. There were more dental advertisements than restaurant advertisements!
These dental offices need your business, so you have the power.
Rather than avoiding visits, demand more from your dentist, so that visits are more pleasant and less painful. Contrary to common belief, teeth cleaning and dental visits need not be a hellish, last resort action.
In fact, these crappy dental hygienists may have been loosed upon us by our insurance companies so that we will stay away from the dentist.
Ok, maybe not, but what a brilliant strategy that would be!
Join the HubPages community and share your dentist horror stories with us.
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Oh my God. I've only read the bit about the hygienist and I'm annoyed already. Who do they think they are. They've always got an expression on their faces like a bulldog chewing a wasp, full of smart comments, making you feel like a two year old. Nearly always a woman, full of her own importance. Dental Hitlers.
*goes to read some more*
Right. Root canals are off my things to get done at the dentist list.
Still reading though ....
Well. The picture made me feel ill, so I doubt I'd ever buy it. Really - weird looking at it. Dentists don't need us in the UK. They changed the way they handle patients. Unless you pay, they turn you away now, so if you're lucky to find one on the NHS system, you just put up with them.
Makes me feel like writing a dental hub. I can't stand going. I'd love to find a way of distracting myself from the sounds, tools of torture and perfect teef that all the staff seem to have.
*shudders´* I'm going to brush mine now. And like you, I'm confused about teeth cleaning. I brush several times a day. Floss and gargle. And still keep losing the odd one or require a filling. *shudders some more*
Thanks shiba. It is a great hub but I do feel a little unsettled now. Plus I really need a trip to the dentists :(
lol - I also put in some pretty pictures.
I had to rant because I had a terrible visit this morning. Tomorrow I will call up my dentist and shout at him. Hopefully they won't hire any crappy hygienist temps. anymore.
I think we hate dentists because they usually give us poor service and most people don't complain when there is a drill in their mouth - lol.
This was absolutely hilarious (not to mention scary) Shibashake! One of my favorite lines are:
Dental hygienists also love scolding their victims - "You are not brushing right", they declare proudly, as if they are the first ones to notice that you have plaque on your teeth. They always 'know' a lot about everything, and like pretending that they actually own the dental office.
That's just classic. There is more, but that's just one of them...Who the frig do they think they are anyway? Reading this kind of reminded me of the dentist scene from, "Little Shop of Horrors." Thanks, man. Oh, and as always, I love the hotties :D
I agree!
1. "Dental hygienists also love scolding their victims - "You are not brushing right". LOL. The next time ask them to look for a mirror and show you how is the correct way.
2. You have the right to know what's happening in your mouth. Ask question, and if you do not understand, tell them to explain things in **english** with not medical terms!
3. There are dentists with conservative treatment plan, and there are dentist with more aggressive treatment plant. Look for second opinions if you wish, until you have peace of mind. I like the conservative way. I love to maintain tooth at patients mouth and I detest to put Crowns(I use them as the last resource). But that does not mean that crowns are bad if they are used when they are indicated. They can save your teeth sometimes.
4.I love you dental break picture LOL.
Note: Do not rely only on what you find on internet. The problem with this is that you are getting probably the right information, but you do not know what's really going on in your mouth since you can not give a diagnosis yourself(Your dentist has the knowledge to give you the right diagnosis). A dentist can tell you that he will do a root canal for the resolving of your sensitivity, but maybe that is the way of him to tell you that you have an Irreversible Pulpitis in a more simple way. What term you prefer the first or the second one? An Irreversible Pulpitis need a rootcanal, and you will feel pain which you can interpret as sensitivity but is not.
Well That's all. I like you hub.
Shiba I hope you shouted real loud. You know - many you should go back for another go with the hygienist. Turn up stuffing your face with a peanut butter and jelly sarnie (nice and sticky) and make sure you ate a clove or so of garlic a few hours before. Then finish eating, sit back, open your mouth and let the sight and smell do the work.
I'd pay to see something like that happen to a dental hitler :)
@dohn121 - Thanks dohn. I always feel better when I try to laugh it off :)
@dentist83 - It is good to hear from a good dentist :) And the root canal dentist was bad news - I didn't have Irreversible Pulpitis - I know because I went to another dentist who told me it was just sensitivity, but then this guy convinced me that a root canal was the only way to get rid of it. The other tooth, he convinced me that I needed a crown. Then when he was putting on the crown, he hurt my roots, and ended up having to do a root canal on it as well. While I do agree with you that some dentists do really know what they are talking about - others unfortunately are hacks :( What has worked best for me is to do some of my own research so that I can pick out the hacks from the really good dentists.
@FD - LOL FD! You da best! That made me laugh and also made me feel a lot better. Congrats on your 100 hubs! I have a memory foam mattress and I love it :)
geez...froggy took up all the comments lol
I don't necessarily like the dentist, but I don't hate it either. I do know what you mean about the hygenists though. I had a DH tell me that the gum bleeding while she was cleaning my teeth was normal then had the dentist say"you seem to have some bleeding" when i got to see him.. Uh, yeah I have some bleeding!! Your DH just bludgeoned me with dental tools--what do you expect?!?!
I can never talk to the dentist or hygienist. Now with their dam fingers and tools in my mouth. All that prodding, poking and god I'm having chills down my spine just thinking about it. Frogdropping told me to read this, I need to kick her butt. LOL
"Your DH just bludgeoned me with dental tools--what do you expect?!?!" - LOL!
"Frogdropping told me to read this, I need to kick her butt." - That pesky frog! I think we should kidnap her and take her to the dentist!
Truly though - we all love her very green, and slimy, butt :)
I hate the dentist and have developed palpitations just reading this Hub! My experience is that you can't get a good kind hygeinist and dentist in the same practice - one of them is always a sadist!
lol - Sorry about the palpitations.
"one of them is always a sadist!"
Sad but often too true. I think especially the hygienists because most people just want to get it over with and don't say anything. It would be great if they would stop gabbing, and focus on doing a good job.
I did call up my dentist to tell him about that awful temp. hygienist and he seemed really sorry about it. Hopefully, this will be the last time they ever schedule me with a temp.
They should always get patients to rate their dental hygienists. I think that will really help to raise the standards.
Wow, there must be dentistry in the air. I just took my daughter in yesterday and had a very unpleasant experience. Or I should say that she did. I think after reading your hub and the comments that Little Shop of Horrors has done a great disservice to dentistry. Anyone who has children should make sure they don't see that movie until they are well past the orthodontia stage!
Though on second thought, some dentists probably really are a touch sadistic, so...
"I just took my daughter in yesterday and had a very unpleasant experience."
This is another peeve I have with dentists. At the very least they should try their best to make things positive for children - but often, they just do not seem to care.
I developed a dislike for dentists since childhood, and as a result there was a period where I was avoiding dental visits - sadly, to my own detriment.
Thankfully, I never saw Little Shop of Horrors, but Marathon Man was painful enough to watch - yeech! Even without t.v., I would still hate going to the dentist though :)
I hope you gave your dentist what-for for his poor service.
Instead of sticking with the same dentist, follow your good hygienist from office to office.
My dentist doesnt have assistant. He does everything. He's really a "painless" dentist, since most people do not even bleed after wisdom tooth extractions.
However, I have dental phobia from young. I still avoid going to dentist.
@scheng,
Wish there are more dentists like that. Where is he located? Tell him to move to California :)
i'm in the uk, things are so desperate here that there was a case of one woman in the news who pulled out her own teeth with pliers, because she was desperate and couldn't get a dentist. We don't have enough dentists in the uk, and it seems that most of the ones we do have are crap. I've had 6, 4 of them were butchers, that's not a good ratio is it?!!!? They're unregulated, just like the rest of the NHS, what i mean by that is that they're meant to police themselves, obviously a conflict of interest! But I'd still rather have the NHS than the US system. I'm suffering right now, again, in that my tooth doesn't hurt as long as nothing touches it?! Hopefully I won't end up in accident and emergency at the hospital at 3am in the morning again. I hate them, they're such a bunch of incompetent sadist idiots, why the hell can't i find a good one to treat me! I don't get angry easily but i'm angry about this, we need a strong campaigning group about this i the uk cos i'm sick of them wastiing my time, energy and money with no recourse to justice!!!!
"But I'd still rather have the NHS than the US system."
Yeah, in the US if you don't have a job with a good employer, you are totally toasted. When I was in grad. school, I had a difficult time getting together the funds to have some necessary dental work done. It was pretty horrible.
"I don't get angry easily but i'm angry about this, we need a strong campaigning group about this i the uk cos i'm sick of them wastiing my time, energy and money with no recourse to justice!!!!"
Yeah I feel the same way. I should definitely do more research into this and look into resources that will help people find good dentists, and alert people of the bad ones.
Information is the first step.
Totally agree, we all moan about the NHS, however when you think about the healthcare costs in the US, us Brits are very lucky.
Interesting blog.
I stumbled across this and expected it to be another dentist-bashing comedy routine. Instead, I found it well written with valid and insightful points. My shield dropped a notch once I saw it was hygienists in the cross-hairs this time.
I'm a dentist in Canada, and the same trends apply here. We don't have NHS for dental but IMHO that's a good thing.
Are hygienists really that crappy?
Sad to say, many are. I could go on and on as to why but I’m not sure anyone really cares. The community here seems more inclined to vent and tell their dental horror stories.
By the way, many dental stories are a dodge. People don't like to fess up and say "My mouth is a friggin' disaster and it's my own bloody fault." No, they'll hang on to their story and continue on a path of neglect that leads to consequences and pain. At which point they'll refresh their victim story.
Back to why hygienists suck. I'll throw out a few insights...
1. Most dentists are excellent technicians, but pathetic leaders. A crappy hygienist is just a reflection of a dentist’s inability to field a winning team.
2. Most hygienists are employees, not professionals. It’s about the level of engagement. They all start off young and fresh but most gradually become robotic assembly line workers under the influence of work repetition and a steady paycheque.
3. They abuse their captive audience. Well-meaning hygienists vomit knowledge over people. Instead of helping people connect the dots and leading them towards health, many hygienists launch into useless mini-lectures that only annoy.
Thanks for your comment and insights. I agree with most of what you say. I think if people speak to their dentists more about the quality of service from the hygienists, things will improve. Most people - including me - probably just want to get outta there ASAP tho. :) Hopefully we can all fight that urge and not be shy about asking for a better experience.
"People don't like to fess up and say "My mouth is a friggin' disaster and it's my own bloody fault.""
That is very true. My mouth is a friggin disaster - but now I try all that I can to keep it in a steady state. It is mostly because of crooked teeth and bad dental practices when I was young. Partially my fault, but in my defense I was just a kid. :)
On my to-do list - I want to write some articles about this and on how important it is to correct crooked teeth as early as possibly. Perhaps also something on how early dental care can save you a lot of money and heartache later on in life.
The sad thing though is that many hygienists and even some dentists only like the A-students. Often, the people who need the most help get the most abuse and get treated like morons.
Your hub inspired me to join on. I even wrote a hub about the other side of the coin - excuses people make about avoiding dentists. (but this one is much more fun)
Getting out of the office fast - you betcha. Fast, friendly and comfortable is the magic formula. People have better places to be.
You really hit upon something with in that last paragraph. Most of the people I see are perfectly healthy. Barely need me at all. Meanwhile, there's so many people in desperate shape and they don't go. Money is a huge factor for many.
The secret to saving money and grief is maintaining home care and staying away from crappy food. Not like those NHS-dependent Brits with their candy addiction!
Keep on track and you'll hold your ground. Dentists and hygienists are less important factors than your self-care routines.
Sorry to hear you had a bad start - that's a huge factor. I wrote something about it on my website - http://www.royalyorkdental.com/not-your-fault
You could write something from your perspective on that subject. After all, you're living it.
That article is awesome! Wish I had read it 10 years ago then I wouldn't have had to learn things the hard way ;)
One small suggestion I have is to possibly split that article up into several smaller articles. All the information is great - but I would like to consume them in smaller bite sized chunks.
Perhaps you could split some of the information into an article about "bad teeth" which is something that people commonly search on. I certainly did :) This way more people can get to the good information and hopefully save themselves some pain.
A good tool to check out for this is the Google Keywords tool
Ok - I am off to check out your hubs.
shibashake-we have good dentists also who suggest only what ever is the best for their patients,so..,but this was really agood read.Thanks.
I would have to agree that mostly everybody hates the dentist - I don't know one person who does enjoy going to the dentist.
Great topic of discussion - Keep the great post coming Shibashake
Visiting the dentist is only second to having to visit a doctor in my opinion. It's just one of those things that has to be done every now and then, but it doesn't get any easier. I know what you mean about them being a bit rough though, as if they are in a rush! Nice article by the by.
Great advice Shibashake. My writing is Frankenstein-style - lots of parts sewn together.
I've been learning to organize my writing a little better. Too many thoughts come pouring out at once. Like I'm trying to save the world in one post.
I started up a new blog site based on what I learned here at Hubpages. Here's a sample - http://www.smilesensation.com/find-toronto-dentist
I need to go back and edit my main site to split up the pages like you said. I'll probably turn some parts into blog posts.
Great article. I read both parts as well as the sedation dentistry article.
I think there can be a fair amount of anxiety involved, but it is also more than that. The fact of the matter is that dental visits are almost always unpleasant even without the associated phobia.
You sit in a chair, get poked at, prodded at, and at the end of it all - you may need to return again in the next few days for more work. And worst of all, a later dentist tells me some of the previous work I had done was unnecessary, and probably bad for my overall dental health. This really makes me very angry.
I am not sure how the overall dental experience can be changed. Probably the most effective way is to ramp up home-care so that time at the dentist can be reduced. But it would be really nice if the visit itself can be a bit more pleasant without having to go the sedation route.
I know dental offices try to do that with music, t.v. etc. but those are just too passive. Having a dog to play with while there would significantly help with the experience, but I guess the dog hair would be a problem :)
Maybe when we have VR I wouldn't mind dental visits as much :D
I feel for you. The dentistry part can still be unpleasant, including hygiene visits. The mouth is a very sensitive, intimate part of the body and dentistry invades that personal space.
Until we can use a magic wand, dentistry still comes down to doing invasive stuff.
Re: Angry. I couldn't say if the first dentist was over-doing it or the second one was just bad-mouthing to earn brownie-points. What I can tell you is that a dentist's role all comes down to being a Trusted Advisor. It's steering people in the right direction so they can stay healthy and keep their teeth.
Re Home Care: You nailed it. I like having patients that want to be partners in health, not just showing up for me to rescue them from their latest dental crisis.
Re: Dogs. Some people would love it. Some people would hate it. Non-dog-lovers would see dogs as dirty. I ran an ad once that had a smiling couple with a beautiful smiling dog. I thought it was a great shot but some people didn't like that the woman's face was so close to the dog's. They said it looked unsanitary.
P.S. I'm working on 3 new blogs to tie in with this hub.
Shibashake, I finished a new article related to Reasons Why People Hate Dentists - http://www.smilesensation.com/toronto-dentist-blog
My best work to date! I can't make babies so I guess this is as close as I'll get.
Notice I linked back to this hub in my resources. Thank you for being a catalyst. I might not have done any of this if I hadn't stumbled across your hub.
Hahaha - very funny article! I didn't see the poll though. I only saw the "where do you live" one.
"Thank you for being a catalyst. I might not have done any of this if I hadn't stumbled across your hub. "
Does that mean I get a free visit when I come to Toronto? ;)
Free visit? Yes! Though I can't help you about Shiba's teeth.
The pole is there on the post about Top 10 Reasons People Hate Dentists, just below the picture of the dentist looking into the mouth. Not sure why you can't see it. Perhaps it's a java issue.
Anyways, I added 2 more posts today on Hating Dentists. I had actually wrote them earlier, but got so excited about the Top 10 post that I had to finish that one first. My daughter likes the Dentist Haters one
I've covered pretty much all I can on this topic. Stay tuned for more stuff.
P.S. I don't know what to do here at Hubpages now that the blog is up and running. I have much more flexibility of linking and SEO optimization with it (such as image and anchor text link tags). I learned a lot about how to build solid hub-style content here, but I can't see myself posting hubs again.
I thought about how I can use Hubpages to compliment my blog. This morning I made a new hub version of my Top 10 List - http://hubpages.com/hub/Top-10-Reasons-People-Hate
I included another poll just in case that one on my blog post doesn't work. To give you credit, I made links back to this hub.
I agree! I hate the dentist, I've had so many bad experiences with dentist. I love it how I can find people that feel the same way through these hubpages.
I understand that it is very important to visit the dentist, but it can very so unpleasant and uncomfortable.
I have an appointment next week - not looking forward to it :(
But I will make sure to treat myself to something really good when I get back.
Good luck!
Look for the positives in the experience.
Try building some rapport at the beginning to bring more humanity into the picture. That's supposed to be their job but so many in the dental field don't have a clue.
I survived another dental visit! :D
And while I was there, I was wondering -
"Why are dental offices frequently clustered with other medical offices?"
It seems that it would be much better to have a dental office next to an awesome toy store (FAO Schwarz) or to the SPCA. That way children and adults like me will at least not dread going to the dentist so much ;)
We could be doing something fun while waiting for our appointment. After the visit, we could even treat ourselves to something fun.
I had to read this with one eye open. I hate the dentist. :( I go next week to have a wisdom tooth and another tooth pulled. Since I'm going to be loopy from that, they suggested having a deep gum cleaning and a couple cavities all filled all at the same appointment. Sounds good to me - I want to get it all over with! They told me I'll be there from about 10-1. I'm hoping that I'm REALLY out of it, because I'm not looking forward to SITTING THERE for 3 hours, nevermind the fact that it's THE DENTIST. UGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.
Even though I just switched dentists and this one has TV and movies you can watch. :)
Congrats Shibashake, you did it!
To answer your question... Dentists cluster near medical facilities for the lazy-ass referral potential. We're like ramoras tagging along with the shark for the free ride and meals. It's easy for people to go to a dentist that's close to their doctor.
Lots of modern dental offices have broken away from this old approach and set up as a storefront clinic. I set mine up to look like a cafe. Drop in for a tea or coffee!
Three-legged - your appointment will fly by. Three hours will compress down to one and you'll forget most of it.
Shibashake, I keep jabbering away like this was my post. I hope you don't take any offense by it.
"We're like ramoras tagging along with the shark for the free ride and meals."
LOL - you have a great sense of humor.
"I set mine up to look like a cafe. Drop in for a tea or coffee!"
Heh - sounds great. Haven't seen too many visionary dentists like that here. Want to move to the CA Bay Area?
"Shibashake, I keep jabbering away like this was my post. I hope you don't take any offense by it. "
Not at all - I love your jabbering, and it is professional jabbering unlike my own just random jabbering :)
Good to see you 3-legged. How is Yodi? Just think of him at the dentist - I always think about my dogs to cheer myself up. Wish I could bring my Sibe along with me to the dental office. It would sure make things a lot more pleasant.
I had my wisdom teeth removed a couple of years ago. It was actually not bad at all. I went there, they got me on the chair, I counted to 10 and didn't wake up until it was all over.
The worst part was not being able to eat properly afterwards. Had to have soup and potatoes for a while - lol. But at least it is a once in a lifetime thing.
Hugs to you and Yodi. Let us know how it goes next week.
I'm a dentist that is pushing for legislative action so that if we record a patient saying "I hate dentists", we can sue them for hate crimes.
I hate being a dentist because I hate being hated for trying to be a kind person willing to help others.
I can tell that you are a really kind person so best of luck with your legislative action.
I use to hate the Dentist, but now i don't mind, im very persuasive when it comes to what i want especially in the Dentist office, i had a horrible experience when i was 12 at the dentist, i would rather not talk about it, but what i did when i became an adult was research who i wanted to see as my Dentist. So i researched for the right dentist and i came up with this site
www.thedentistlist.net i liked it so i picked a few off there that i thought i would give a try, so i suggest the same.
Hey Shibashake, what's shaking these days? How did your last dental visit go by the way?
Been busy on my blogsite - TorontoDentist-SmileBlog - for the last while . Come check it out.
Joe :)
P.S. If that Pop Quiz is really a dentist, he or she has been sniffing too much laughing gas. Some brain-damaged logic there.
Hey there, enjoyed reading your article. I am a practicing dental hygienist and I forget what it is like for people to be on the other end of the instruments.
I will be the first to admit that I don't know everything. I am actually encouraged by my dentist to tell the patient what they need beforehand so when the dentist comes, they won't be so shocked. But here's the thing...I didn't go to dental school! I don't always diagnose things the same. He knows that I don't really like this, so I tell the patients what I think he will say and let them know that he is the dentist and has the experience. Then of course, I fear patients will think I am an idiot because I don't know every little thing.
I also feel compelled to tell people if they aren't brushing properly because it is your everyday maintenance of your mouth that matters most and I want to make the patient aware of that. I get a mirror out and show people how to brush and floss because I am a visual learner. I try not to lecture. We also tell people these things because it is hard to get all that tartar off and do all the other things we have to get done in that one hour only and we get kinda annoyed when people make our jobs harder by not taking care of their teeth.
Also, people's dental problems, as well as gum problems, are typically brought on by them not flossing or not brushing...or skipping dental check-ups. We tell people everything they need and then they can decide what to do. If people need a crown, they need to be told before it gets worse and then needs a root canal...that would be supervised neglect otherwise.
Also, some people's gums bleed just when I look at them. I can touch some gum tissue with my gloved finger and it bleeds. I have had patients that floss twice daily and had little or no bleeding compared with people who never floss and have lots of bleeding. I don't feel as though I am sadistic or trying to make them bleed. As far as brushing goes, always use a soft bristled tooth brush and have a grip so light that someone could come and pull the brush out of your hand.
I have a patient who despises the dentist so much that she yells at all of us first thing when she walks in the door. I have learned to not talk to her until she talks to me...partly because she's rude and I don't like her. I have other patients who don't want to make small talk and I get the hint. There are lots who love the small talk and if we don't do enough of it, then they complain to the dentist and say they want a different hygienist. The main thing is that we aren't mind readers and I do the best I can to pick up on hints. Every person has a different idea of how their appointment should be and they usually keep it to themselves, so I just have to guess.
Once again, good to read your article. I guess I felt I had to defend against some of the things you said since you seemed to be making broad generalizations.
Here is a quiz so you can see what kind of patient you are:
Also just to clarify, I was responding to some of the things I have read in the comments, not necessarily from the writer of this page.
Wow, i hated this blog... maybe bc I'm a hygienist... I just graduated this summer and i'm working now, and that is just sad to read all those comments mainly against hygienists. Believe me, I would love to sit and just clean your teeth cause the more i talk the less time i have for the cleaning so the harder it will be on the patient and my body -cause it is a hard job on your back, hands, neck, etc -because there'll be less time... unfortunately - i say unfortunately because people don't care and clearly don't appreciated - we have to talk about flossing, and brushing with you, it's part of our duties. I use a mirror most of the times.
And by the way, if you say that a practicing dentist did a good job because u didn't feel anything is probable that tons of tartar was left, because there is no way to get the calculus out of under your gums in between the teeth without you feeling nothing - unless you have really clean teeth to begin with. And yes, hygienists are best at doing hygiene b/c we do it over and over and in school we do it over and over too. You can read research about it.
I guess some people try to pretend they "know" stuff, but I always tell people to ask the dentist, if I know i tell them and so far the dentist tells them the same i said, but when i don't know i just don't know, i'm not a dentist.
I'm mad and tired. This is "why I HATE this blog"
Thanks for that Laura. Q.E.D.
What can I say. I bow down and say, "I am not worthy." This is an awesome article. Now, I do not have to write one....I can just point to this article. Your coverage of Dental Hygienists and arrogant Dentists come right out of my own mind (you must have been reading my mind. Well done!
Furthermore, dental hygienists really are just stupid technicians who don't really know WHY...they just know HOW (and not very consistently). The Dentists can be a little better, but their arrogance is really disgusting. Some actually think they are doctors. As they said in Seinfeld, the dumb ones who don't know what to do with their lives, end up being a Dentist.
Someone mentioned a dentist whose wisdom teeth extractions 'don't even bleed'.
Hmm, are you sure he actually DID the extraction? Wisdom teeth sockets bleed upon removal no matter how good you are. You know they're cut out with a scalpel right? Yeah ... there's always going to be some bleeding and discomfort.
My wife's a dentist, and you know, it might be nice if people would back off a little. Patients walk in and say that they hate her before she's even touched them. People can be really cruel to their dentists. You go to your doctor and he tells you you're sick, he prescribes you some antibiotics and you're grateful. Why is it that when your dentist does the same thing you have to make them feel like crap about it?
Patient thought process: I went to dentist. Dentist hurt me. Dentist = BAD.
Actual process. Patient went to dentist with an oral infection/hole in tooth etc. Dentist caused them pain in REPAIRING the damage. Patient leaves with a healthy mouth.
Do you people not know what would happen if the dentist DIDN'T cause you pain? If they didn't "hurt" you? Your infections would get worse. You'd possibly lose the surrounding teeth. Or worse, the infection would spread into your face. The pain you'd have after that would far exceed what the dentist does to you.
I'm just saying, I know it's scary, but suck it up and be polite. This person is saving you from the nightmare that would generate if they did nothing.
And then you say you hate her. Nice.
Traqqer: "Some actually think they are doctors."
Um dude, Dentist are doctors. It says so right their on the degree. The letters they get are addresses to Dr Soandso.
Traqqer: "As they said in Seinfeld, the dumb ones who don't know what to do with their lives, end up being a Dentist."
Um dude, Seinfeld's a comedian who doesn't necessarily know what he's talking about when it comes to the medical field. I don't know where you guys are located, but here it's harder to get into Dentistry at UNI than it is to get into Medicine. Wow, I guess the dumb ones are doing medicine.
Oh yeah, and my lowly dentist wife got first degree honours and came first out of a thousand science students. She was THE best in the school ... and chose to do dentistry. Hey! Maybe the dentists are the smart ones. Lets fact it. You get to be a doctor. You get paid MORE. AND you get to work 9:00 to 5:00 hours. That wouldn't be the case if you were a medical doctor on call in a hospital.
I know what I'd choose.
Dear Empathetic,
Not all dentists are good and not all dentists are your wife. Nor is your wife a dental hygienist which is what the article is mostly about. Not all doctors are good either.
How can you know what everyone else's experience is with the many dentists that are out there? Are you saying that just because your wife is a dentist that all dentists are good and just like her? Are you saying that just because your wife is a dentist, patients have no rights and should stay silent however bad their dentist is?
"I'm just saying, I know it's scary, but suck it up"
Lol - wow that is very empathetic. It is thinking like this that makes the dental experience worse than it needs to be. Good dentists try to make things as pleasant as possible for their patients. True, some pain is necessary but there are good dentists who put their patient's comfort above their own ego. Check out SmilesDoc's comments and his website - TorontoDentist-SmileBlog.
As I said in the article, not all dentists are bad. There are some good ones and some very good ones. But that doesn't mean that there aren't any bad ones. As consumers we have the right to demand more from our dentists so that the good ones get rewarded and the bad ones go away.
You make some valid points ... but hey, so did I. The fact still remains that people bitch about their dentists a hell of a lot more than they do about their doctors. Why? Because the perceive the dentist as being the one actively causing them pain. Unless you're trying to tell me that because vastly more people complain about their dentists, most dentist are bad, and most doctors are good. For something like this to take place there would have to be some kind of mass conspiracy in the medical world where they only accepted evil people into dentistry and good people into medicine.
I'm sure we can agree that this is not the case. So why is it that people complain about dentists SO much more then their doctors or people in other professions? Because dentistry causes discomfort. No matter how gentle the dentists is, no one likes someone's hands flying around inside their mouth.
In short, yeah, there is probably (definitely) some dentists that could learn to be gentler, but patients also need to be realistic. A dentist cant just wave a wand and fix you teeth. There is almost always going to be some level of discomfort. So maybe it's not the dentist ... maybe it's just the work that the dentist is DOING that you hate.
Oh, and yes, as 'consumers' you do have a right to demand more from your dentists, but you also need to remember to be realistic.
'Nothing personal, but I hate dentists.' Maybe think before you make this kind of announcement when you walk into a practice. I know some of you probably think it's very original and perhaps clever. But it's not. And guess what, when people say that every day for years on end, it becomes personal. Man, you wouldn't even greet a cop like that, or a doctor, or anyone else. Why dentists? I wonder how a patient would react if one day the dentist says, 'Nothing personal, but I hate patients.' Now that'd be funny.
And finally ""I'm just saying, I know it's scary, but suck it up" Lol - wow that is very empathetic."
^Moans^ I bet you also correct others for their spellings in posts as well ... ?
Ok ... here we go. Explaining this just NEVER gets more exciting. Pick up a dictionary. One of the biggest misconceptions in modern English is that people seem to think 'empathetic' means the same thing as 'sympathetic'. It does not. 'Sympathetic' is where you feel someone else emotions with them, as if they were your own. You identify with them and perhaps wish to console them. 'Empathy' is very different. 'Empathy' is simply understanding other peoples emotions. Knowing how they feel, being connected to others ... but NOT necessarily identifying or even caring. See the difference, it's more an insight and less emotionally attached.
"How can you know what everyone else's experience is with the many dentists that are out there? Are you saying that just because your wife is a dentist that all dentists are good and just like her? Are you saying that just because your wife is a dentist, patients have no rights and should stay silent however bad their dentist is?"
Ha ha ... ok at some point you have studied some rudimentary to advanced form of psychology haven't you! Well, no, I don't think that because my wife is a dentist that magically makes every dentist good as well. I assure you that my 'Theory of Mind' is fully developed and I am aware of 'multiple perspectives'.
I have a small sized hole in the back of my end molar, but I'm not going to the dentist, I /hate/ pain, with a PASSION. If they have to work on that sucker, I don't want to be awake at ALL. That's the only way I'm ever going to a dentist.
"'Empathy' is simply understanding other peoples emotions. Knowing how they feel, being connected to others ... but NOT necessarily identifying or even caring."
If you do not care about my feelings, why should you expect me to care about yours?
"'Nothing personal, but I hate dentists.' Maybe think before you make this kind of announcement when you walk into a practice."
No it is not original and no nobody thinks they are particularly clever when they say that. But perhaps, just perhaps, it is not really about the dentist but rather about the patient? There is some fear involved, there is discomfort, and a whole bunch of other things. When people say I hate the dentist, they are saying I hate going to the dentist and often it is not about the dentist at all. SmilesDoc has a pretty good article on this. That is why it is not personal. Some empathy would help a lot here.
As for the dentist - they are a business, offering a service. It is not a charity case. If I am unhappy with the service I will speak up so that things will change.
You are extrapolating from only your wife's experiences and applying it to me and everyone else. I do not go into my dentist's office and start shouting at him for no reason. It is perfectly reasonable, however, to tell him that the crappy temp. hygienist he sent my way was incompetent and had poor bedside manner. As a result, I got a really good hygienist on my next visit, and I told him and the hygienist both that it was great.
If I had stayed silent, I would have gotten the crappy temp. again.
"^Moans^ I bet you also correct others for their spellings in posts as well ... ?
Ok ... here we go. Explaining this just NEVER gets more exciting. Pick up a dictionary."
This was unnecessary. Jibes like these often cause discussions to degrade into tit-for-tat shouting matches where everybody loses. And no, I don't correct people's grammar because it is extremely condescending to do so, and because I am not qualified to do so.
And yes - people like bitching, especially on the internet. When everyone is anonymous, we sometimes say cruel things that may hurt others. But I would never want to change it because it also means that we can speak our mind and express ourselves freely.
Hi Matthew,
"I /hate/ pain, with a PASSION."
Yeah I am with you on this. I was very good at making up excuses not to go to the dentist :). In the long-run though, I was not doing myself any favors. Now, my mouth is a mess.
One thing that really helps a lot is to do some research on the dentists in the area. It makes a big difference finding a good dentist who is skilled, competent, and cares about their patient's comfort.
SmilesDoc also has a lot of good information on his site. Here is one on sedation dentistry -
Shibashake,
Sweet mother of Baby J … are we the same person? Look how similar our sentences are. No really, it’s astonishing!
YOU
“There is some fear involved, there is discomfort, and a whole bunch of other things. When people say I hate the dentist, they are saying I hate going to the dentist and often it is not about the dentist at all.”
ME
“There is almost always going to be some level of discomfort. So maybe it's not the dentist ... maybe it's just the work that the dentist is DOING that you hate.”
YOU
“If I am unhappy with the service I will speak up so that things will change.”
ME
“Oh, and yes, as 'consumers' you do have a right to demand more from your dentists...”
YOU
“You are extrapolating from only your wife's experiences and applying it to me and everyone else.”
ME [I already addressed this point with ..]
“Well, no, I don't think that because my wife is a dentist that magically makes every dentist good as well.”
YOU
“This was unnecessary. Jibes like these often cause discussions to degrade into tit-for-tat shouting matches where everybody loses.”
ME
You mean jibes like this one, “Lol - wow that is very empathetic.”
I totally agree, jibes like that are unnecessary.
YOU Re Empathy: “If you do not care about my feelings, why should you expect me to care about yours?”
Aww, come now, I care about your feelings. ^gives hug^. It’s a screen name bro, it’s one I’ve used for ten+ years. I didn’t mean anything specific by it for you on this particular website k?
Shibashake
"And yes - people like bitching, especially on the internet. When everyone is anonymous, we sometimes say cruel things that may hurt others."
I'd like to point out, I have found nothing in YOUR posts offensive (re-dentistry). I've simply been responding to you because you're the one responding to me. Other posts here however, were the reason for my disappointment.
I'm loving this! Shibashake has transformed into an advocate of dentists. Who would have believed it.
On the empathy point, I'm totally with Shibashake. Understanding someone's feelings and doing nothing to acknowledge or alleviate it clearly demonstrates that you don't care. "Empathy in Action" is the secret to my profession. Shhh, don't tell anyone.
Regarding the hygienist that was hurt by the post. Consider it your wake-up call.
Now you have the opportunity to rise above a mediocre level of performance. Engage in conversations that hit the bulls-eye both professionally and personally. Become that on-stage star you were meant to be.
In my practice, the hygienists are the key players. They build the relationships and make a huge difference with people's health. Check out my blog post on Dentists are Carpenters, Hygienists are Gardeners.
Matthew, I hope you change your mind and fix your small problem before it becomes a big nasty one. Just read how Shibashake has gone from a Dental Avoider to a Happy Regular. Well, maybe not that happy about it. :)
Joe :D
P.S. Thanks for the link Shibashake!
"You mean jibes like this one, “Lol - wow that is very empathetic.”
I totally agree, jibes like that are unnecessary."
Touche. Yes, snarky just leads to more snarky and in the end the world is full of snarks ;)
"Sweet mother of Baby J … are we the same person? Look how similar our sentences are. No really, it’s astonishing!"
LOL! Very well done!
And thanks for the hug.
"I'm loving this! Shibashake has transformed into an advocate of dentists. Who would have believed it. "
LOL - well I think regular dental care is important. If I could turn back time, I would do more research in looking for a good dentist, and I would put a lot more effort into home care.
But then, better late than never :D
i read until here "My dentist had recommended that I use the Philips electric toothbrush, which I really like, but according to the crappy dental hygienist today, I was still not doing it right and don't understand the basics of teeth brushing." - cmon, do you really need someone to tell you how to brush your teeth ?? Is this a real concern ? In life you meet thousands of people/situation and all this people are "experts" in whatever they do/know. Just do what you feel like is good for you-that's the only way to do it.
"cmon, do you really need someone to tell you how to brush your teeth ?? Is this a real concern ?"
The real concern is having someone who doesn't know what they are talking about working on my teeth like that crappy temp. hygienist.
Here's the bottom line. In my approximately 30 years of going to the dentist (at least those I can remember in my 42 years of life thus far), I've seen many different dentists and dental hygienists. And because I've moved so often, I've seen many different ones. There were a few (perhaps 10-20%) that were pretty good in how they treated the customer. But the vast majority are just awful. They just don't know how to deal with customers...it's just not something they learn well in school. And don't give me that lecture about them doing a service for people. Most see it as a career and go into it to make money. The vast majority are really arrogant and ignorant. I know because over time, I have amassed quite a bit of dental knowledge myself, and I can tell when a dentist or hygienist is giving me a load of bull. I'm not saying that they are lying, but they brush aside things that they should be paying attention to. This is why some people go out of their ways to stick with the same dentist. I have a friend to who lives in Florida, but will fly to San Antonio, TX to see the one dentist he's comfortable with. There is something truly wrong with the dental-customer-relations process that needs to be fixed.
Here's my own cold, calculated rant due to years of abuse from dumb dental hygienists:
As a hygenist, hopefully I can address some of your concerns here.
Hello Danielle,
Thanks for the link to your article. It has a lot of good information and I enjoyed reading it. I agree with what you say -
"If you feel you are being treated unfairly... say something. Hopefully your dentist/hygenist care enough to address your needs."
Hopefully, if patients speak up, there will be more hygienists like you. Best wishes to you and Happy Thanksgiving. :D
OMG. I think you hit a nerve here with this Hubpage! So many comments. I've experienced those rough treatment hygienists and it certainly isn't pleasant having the gums removed from the inside of your cheeks, or the Ouch! pain of the dental floss hit the gumline, or why that hard scraping sound makes me wonder if I still have any enamel left on the tooth. However, lately my dentist has the most compassionate, caring and gentle hygienists who even ask during treatment if everything is alright. They give you a pillow and I always get a blanket to keep me warm. They go through the usual routine and it doesn't take too long. No wonder you do not like to go to the dentist. I recommend getting references from some neighbors and friends to see if they have any good suggestions. It does help to tend carefully and routinely to your teeth and gums. All the best. Debby
Thanks Debby. Your dentist sounds pretty awesome. And what you say is very true -
"It does help to tend carefully and routinely to your teeth and gums."
Wish I started when I was younger. But better late than never. :D
A dentist colleague of mine recommended a root canal to his patient. The patient then began arguing with him for half an hour about how he researched on the internet (google) all about root canals and said that the dentist was only wanting his money and that he was just a sadistic greedy bas*ard. He basically called the dentist a liar.
The patient died of a tooth abscess three weeks later from the infection and not being able to get to a dentist in time (on a cruise).
I laughed!!!
If indeed this story is true, someone dying isn't funny at all.
I loved reading your article as i can totally relate to it. Over the years I have had a good dentist and Hygienist and bad ones and really really bad ones.
I would literally drive way across town just for my checkups and dental work because both the hygienist and dentist were awesome. I never felt taken advantage of and always felt taken care of.
Sure there were times I did try to find one closer but was always sadly and sometimes painfully disappointed.
Usually it was the dentist I didn’t like due to his or her deceptive business practice or bed side manners and or both. Some tried to sell me the farm; others were too rough and careless with me and or my children.
I would always go back to my favorite dentist who would usually tell me that my gums and teeth were fine and not in need of any repairs at the time.
Sadly my dentist past away a couple of years ago and I have yet to find a good dental office to go to.
I have realized and come to expect some discomfort when getting a cleaning and expect to come out with clean fresh feeling when it’s complete. However my latest cleaning appt with a new faculty left me very disappointed and frustrated. I must first say I go regularly to get my teeth cleaned and I brush and floss daily multiple times a day. I was not experiencing any pain or discomfort with any of my teeth. She started with the gauge that determines how deep my gum pockets are. I hate this part every time because they are never consistent each time they do this except for my good dentist. She poked that pointy utensil hard into my gums and made it bleed and hurt and called out a number six. I wanted to yell at her of course it is that high because you forced up in there created a pocket! It’s been over 4 days now and it still hurts! She didn’t even do a proper cleaning like the many other hygienists I have had over the years. Her cleaning process last less no more than 5 minutes. She said it was bleeding badly in the one area and just stopped everything. I flossed my teeth well every day and they never bleed.
I did however really like the dentist bed side manner and so did my children. I love how close the office is to my home but I refuse to have that hygienist work anymore on my teeth. I am so frustrated and I am not sure about what I can do other than try somewhere else. I had high hopes that this was going to be the place for all our dental needs. Is it too much to ask for both a good dentist and Hygienist in the same office close to my home?
I would try calling up the dentist and talking to him/her about the hygienist. Usually there are 2 full-time hygienists in the dental offices that I go to, so if one does not work out I make sure they give me the other one.
I also talked to my dentist the last time I had a bad experience with the temp. hygienist so that he knows about it. Hopefully, they won't use that temp anymore.
The more information we pass on to our dentists, the better they will be able to monitor their hygienists and improve the overall dental experience. I think in the end, it is good for the dentist as well.
Wow! I have had so many emotions reading this. I am a hygienist and reading this has made me angry, frustrated and sad.
I began being angry at all of you spouting off the insults against hygienists. I am now angry at all the hygienists who don't take the same pride that I do in a profession that I love. I am angry that not all hygienists care about making a person's dental visit the best experience possible.
I am frustrated that dentists and patients alike do not understand the important role hygienists play in the dental office. No, we don't have a doctorate degree, but we do have a lot education and knowledge about how and why disease occurs. Our job is to educate patients to help them make healthy choices.
I have had a few patients that I saw signs of diabetes in their gum tissue and asked that they see their MD. Sure enough, tests results were positive for diabetes. At their subsequent dental visits we (my patient and I) continually follow up on how things are going, not only with their oral health, but in how they are handling their diabetes. Many times signs of serious diseases show themselves orally first. We can even see signs of early stages of leukemia orally. One of the many reasons it is important to maintain regular dental visits
By the way, thanks SmilesDoc for supporting your hygienists and understanding the important role they play in your practice and the health of patients.
I am sad for all the bad experiences I read about. I feel like I need to apologize to you for those hygienists that did not provide quality, caring, compassionate care while you were in their chair. Visiting the hygienist does not have to be a bad experience. If it is, please communicate this to the hygienist, or the dentist, if you feel you can't speak to the hygienist. Ask for what you want while at your appointment. Make sure that your expectations of the appointment are meet. Each of you have different needs and wants. We are not mind readers. If you are being told you are not brushing right, ask to be shown how. Actually, shame on the hygienist that tells but doesn't show you. A patient can't learn without being taught.
Many of us hygienists, including me, love our profession. We work hard at leaning all we can to bring you to better health. We take pride in what we do. Most of all, we truly care about our patients and want the best for them. The relationship with your hygienist should be collaborative where both of you are working on the same goal-YOUR overall health. Not just great teeth, but health of mouth, body and mind. These three do go hand in hand. Healthy body contributes to healthy mind and vice versa. Please don't settle for anything less.
Hello rdh08,
Thank you for your very balanced and helpful comment.
Hopefully, if we all speak up, there will be more hygienists like you and fewer of the other kind.
I am also a dental hygienist and reading this caused a few different emotions. Firstly- your dental hygienist should not be a tyrant but should help you learn how to take care of your mouth without scolding you. As a dental hygienist I see a lot of patients who do not care about their mouths at all let alone floss! Of course that irritates me because I wish people would take more ownership of their oral health- which if they did would definitely improve their dental visits, but it is VERY important for the hygienist to show the patient how to brush/floss properly.
About DH's pretending that they are the dentist- although we are not the doctor's we do undergo a very tough science based program and we do understand a lot about oral health, and are very educated on the topic. In truth the dentists may give you a painless cleaning but they are not as thorough as a DH would be. By this I am not saying that dental hygienists should be rough on your teeth but most of them just want to do a good job and help you with your mouth.
If you are unsatisfied with your cleaning you should just let the DH know how you feel- if you communicate with them they will do (or should do) everything they can to make the experience as pleasant as possible- but also don't forget that getting you teeth cleaned isn't like going to a spa and we do use sharp instruments in your mouth. I've had patients get irritated with me during the appointment before (I guess most DH's have) but I have ALWAYS managed to resolve the issue, talk it out with the patient, apologize if I've upset them, and ultimately make sure that they aren't leaving angry and will be coming back in to see me again because I honestly care about my patients and want them to have good oral hygiene.
One time I went to get a cavity filled and the demtist said I had no cavity. Is that man stupid for some reason????? Then when I was leaving he opened the door to his office. Man it was messy!!!! EVERYBOY HATES THE DENTIST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am a Plano, TX based dentist and i fully understand why people are afraid of going to a dentist. Most of the time, my patients tell me that the reason being they were abused by agressive dentistry in childhood.
Before anyone going to a dentist, they need to make sure they read their reviews, do a consultation first, feel comfortable before taking the procedures. The Dentist should also do this to make sure that everyone is comfortable.
Thanks
Shalini
Well I didn't used to be afraid of the Dentist (even in spite of terrible childhood experiences with rubber gas masks and lots of blood everywhere). However, I have had such dreadful experiences in recent years that I am now terrified and have no trust in any Dentist.
The reason is that I had a good Dentist for many years. Always kind, so gentle I never felt a thing. One day he referred me to his Periodontist who pushed me into having treatments which appear to have destroyed my gumline, and which I believe are no longer recommended.
So I wonder... how can we know that the current recommendation won't turn out to be withdrawn further down the road when negative results from that treatment come to light? These people can't see the future but bully us into these treatments by making us feel as though we're ignorant children if we don't do what we're told.
The next thing that happened was that my good Dentist turned bad. After all those years of enjoyable and successful visits, he started doing a number of things to his patients that led to him to be struck off the Dental Register. Unfortunately I was also one of his victims, and the last treatment he gave me has had dreadful consequences for all my lower teeth.
Since then, I've had a Dentist who messed up my jaw so badly that I haven't been able to work for three years, and another whose injection caused me terrible pain in unusual places, and has given me constant and unbearable sinus problems (I'd never had these before). I am in pain every day in a number of areas, and have been for years as a consequence of my last three Dentists.
I have no option but to try to find yet another Dentist, to see if someone, somewhere, can help me to pave the way back from all these disasters. But I don't know how many bad treatments I will have to endure and pay for, before I can find someone that I can trust not to harm me further.
I don't hate Dentists (I don't hate anyone), but I am absolutely terrified of them now, and I don't trust them at all. Because of the periodontal disaster, I don't even trust their ability to make a good judgement in terms of what is the right treatment for me.
Every day I get up and think I will call a Dentist to arrange an appointment. Every day I fail to do this, because I'm so scared of what they'll do to me. I just can't risk any more damage from arrogant and incompetent Dentists or their co-workers. I feel so incredibly vulnerable and as though I can't trust any of them any more.
Well, where do I begin? First of all, I apologize that you have had so many terrible experiences! Unfortunately, it seems as though many crappy hygienists have given us good ones a bad name. I have been an RDH for 5 yrs now and I really love my job. I love my patients and helping them. I am very sympathetic to what you are saying though, I have had several patients tell me their horror stories. I care deeply about my patients while they are in the dental chair and after they leave. I am gentle, yet, thorough and I DO NOT lecture....I educate...but, only if it is desired. No one needs to be talked down to, that's for sure! The thing to remember is that hygienists are all different, as are human beings! The thing that bothers me about your article, is the generality of it. It is quite discriminating and it also may actually persuade people to give up on their dental health/oral hygiene maintainance, which can be a very dangerous thing...not just to their mouth but, overall health. As a whole, it is difficult to please absolutely everyone but, 99% of my patients leave happy and return to me because they know I have their best interest at heart, I listen to their needs and I do NOT presume to know everything....because I do not. At the same time, don't you want to have a professional treating your health, who is educated and shares this education with their patients, or would you rather they just do your cleaning, send you on your way and not care? I pride myself on being gentle but,the treatment a patient needs and how gentle it is also depends on the patient and their home care. They could have a serious periodontal infection causing the cleaning to be painful. There has to be a bit of patient accountability of course. I wish you luck...I hope you do not give up on your oral health maintainance. Hopefully, you will find a freind who can recommend you to someone good! Best wishes.
"The thing that bothers me about your article, is the generality of it. It is quite discriminating and it also may actually persuade people to give up on their dental health/oral hygiene maintainance, which can be a very dangerous thing"
That was not my intent at all.
I clearly state -
"Rather than avoiding visits, demand more from your dentist, so that visits are more pleasant and less painful. Contrary to common belief, teeth cleaning and dental visits need not be a hellish, last resort action."
My intent is to say that it is not only "ok" but "good" to demand better service and better skills from our dentists and oral hygienists so that we *do not* have to fear dental visits. I agree with you that dental health is very important.
However, there seems to be this general belief that we should just accept whatever our dentist or oral hygienist say - without question or complaint. If we say anything, then we are just fearful idiots that don't know anything and do not care about our dental health. Dentists and hygienists commonly use the well-known social psychology tool of influence - "respect for authority" - in order to get people to stay silent and take whatever they dish out.
The truth is there are bad oral hygienists and there are bad dentists. There are also good ones. The only way to get better service and not fear dental visits is to speak out and not be overly influenced by this "false" respect for authority.
*We* are not idiots.
- If we have questions about dental health it is best to ask the dentist who is most qualified to answer our questions.
- If the dentist or oral hygienist is bad, we should let others know so that they do not have to go through the same bad experience.
- Knowledge, information, and speaking out are the best ways to combat our fear and help to make things better.
EVERYBOY HATES THE DENTIST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Very interesting article and comments. I am a RDH in CA and I agree that you should demand quality care. However, that can be objective. I went to 4 years of college to specialize in Dental Hygiene. My dentist always says that their dental hygiene courses only last 12 weeks, so no dentist is as qualified as an RDH when it comes to cleaning (however they are much more qualified at anything to do with fillings, root canals, implants, etc obviously that is their focus). I love my job, I encourage without browbeating, I am gentle yet thorough, and I have encouraged many people to improve their health greatly. However, there is an RDH in our office that is rough as all get-out, and totally bashes people, and tells them how bad they are doing and guess what... a lot of them LOVE HER!! No joke. But there are many many others that appreciate my gentleness and care. My patients hug me after most appointments, invite me to parties, bring me gifts, send me cards, thank me for teaching them things. Little kids draw me pictures and older ones thank me for being the only one who listens to them. The only complaints I've every gotten were for being "too gentle". Thats why your article cracks me up,because you wouldn't believe how many people like being abused! But I'm glad there are people that like being treated gently, cause that's what I do. (and if you came and saw me you'd hug me too) ;)
Maybe you are just afraid of prick. It doesn't hurt a lot when the dentist inject it to you it just like a bite of an ant.lol
I had terrible dental anxiety stemming from a bad childhood dental experience and was able to find a wonderful, caring, and competent dentist whom I was a customer of for 24 years. Then he sold his practice to some young guy. The dental anxiety came back and I told this new dentist about it and even wrote down a short list of triggers that set me off. He didn't even bother to read the list! It would have taken him 90 seconds, at the most. I know this because I asked a friend of mine who's an endodontist to read it and it took him a minute to read it. Anyhow, I was so pissed off about having my concerns dismissed that I told this new dentist. He didn't even apologize and told me he would read my list before my next cleaning. I told him not to bother because I would be taking my business elsewhere.
When I reminded myself that I am a CUSTOMER and NOT a PATIENT, I felt so empowered that I told him what he did was dismissive and rude. These arrogant dentists need a wake up call that they are NOT God and that dental anxiety is REAL and needs to be taken seriously. I mean, what the fuck are they teaching in dental school?! Oh, wait. I know. NOTHING!
I hope I can find a new dentist as wonderful as my previous dentist, but I don't have high hopes.
First of all, dentists do not know how to clean teeth! They have nowhere near the training that a dental hygienist does. Find out for yourself. They do not have to go through the same training and exam process that a dental hygienist does, but are allowed to do the same job and have control over it! If you want a fluff and buff teeth cleaning see a dentist and eventually your teeth will fall out after thousands of dollars spent because you wouldn't listen to some helpful advice and face reality that your oral hygiene would make your cleanings a lot easier! Dentists are getting sued by patients who have to see the periodontist because their dentist never told them they had problems! About time!
As I said in the article, dental hygienists know everything. They are the smartest ones in the office.
This article probably wouldn't be getting so many negative responses from dental professionals if it had not been written in a condescending arrogant tone to begin with. I understand your frustration, but I'm a hygienist too, and I cannot help but take this somewhat personally. Let me try to clear a few of these misconceptions up.
We do not think we are dentists. I think one of the major problems here is patients always ask tons of questions, and even though we are trained and licensed professionals (yes we are professionals, and it's extremely rude to not acknowledge this) we are not in fact doctors, so many times patients pressure their hygienists into telling them what they think. We are always supposed to tell them that ultimately the dentist is the only one who can *diagnose* their problems and decide their course of treatment and it is our duty to assist the patients communicate their chief complaints to the dentist.
"They always KNOW alot about everything and pretend they own the office"
This is also a really disrespectful comment. First of all I don't really know how you "pretend to own the office" as a dental hygienist. Secondly, we work our tails off in an intense, difficult program to earn the right to do what we do and make the money we make (which we deserve). It is also extremely difficult to get into most hygiene programs, and the year I was accepted to school only 5% of nearly 1000 applicants were chosen for the program. We had to write an aptitude test that measured our intelligence in several subjects. I worked extremely hard to complete this program, and I can assure you we receive more than adequate education pertaining to our own duties and obligations to our clients.
Almost no one brushes their teeth the "proper" way. I can't speak for all hygienists, but I tend to give a demo of the appropriate technique and explain periodontal disease to my patients at every visit, not to "scold them", but because it is our professional obligation to do so. Because you know nothing about dental hygiene, you don't understand that dental hygiene treatment is carried out based on our assessments of clients "needs deficits". If you have plaque on your teeth and you are told you are not brushing properly, that is because it is your hygienist's JOB to point this out to you. Sometimes I wish I could go into where other people worked sometimes and tell them all the things I think they are doing wrong when I literally have no idea what I'm talking about, and it's okay because "everyone hates the dentist".
Another comment that also proves that you know very little about dental hygiene is that you think that there are no such thing as painful cleanings that aren't the hygienist's fault. This is laughable. First of all, pain is very subjective. Many people have a different threshold for pain. Some people really do have sensitive gums, and many times those sensitive gums ARE the patient's fault because they are not brushing/flossing regularly.
If you understood the disease process, then you would understand how a cleaning can be quite messy and bloody given the presence of certain pathogenic bacterica causing microulcerations under your gumline. When you go for a cleaning to have this bacteria removed, the ulerations bleed so to speak. If someone had a lot of buildup of tartar under the gumline, this can cause a significant amount of bleeding when cleaned properly, even by the most gentle hygienists. I understand you don't like being talked to in complicated dental terms, but I feel until you understand the disease process of gingivitis, you will continue to try to make hygienists look like terrible people.
While I agree there are some hygienists out there that are obviously crappy, most of us are just doing our jobs.
"We do not think we are dentists."
No, but some hygienists do think they are better than dentists. Check out Laura and Gr8rdh. There are probably others.
As for all the rest, you are the soul of non-condescension. Clearly, you *know* a lot about everything. I bow to your superior knowledge expressed in such a humble and non-derogatory fashion.
This type of communication makes people *love* going to the dentist. Keep it up! :D
In contrast, check out rebma84, Danielle, rdh08, and canadianrdh. As you say, there are the good ones that care and then there are the others.
frogdropping 2 years ago
Shiba - just so you know. I'm commenting before I read this. I'm awful at the dentists, since last year. I'm trying to make my mind up if your hub's going to help me or make me worse.
I'll let you know when I've read it ...