Had to change dentists :(

[MaggieTheCat]

This isn't super sucky but mostly disappointing. Last fall, my husband broke a crown while he was on a business trip in Baltimore. We did not have a dentist at the time so I scrambled around finding one who could see him as soon as he got back. I also scheduled an appointment for myself at the same time, since I had a broken wisdom tooth that wasn't really bothering me, but I figured something would have to be done with it sooner or later.

The same dentist, Dr. H, saw both of us that day and we loved her. She took my broken wisdom tooth out on the spot; it was a little uncomfortable but not painful at all. My husband was also pleased with the job she did with his crown and later on, some fillings.

We both had appointments for cleanings and general checkups yesterday. I got an email confirmation from the office a couple of days ago confirming that we were keeping our schedule with Dr. H. I hit the confirm link on the email.

We got to the dentist's office yesterday and it turns out Dr. H moved a couple of weeks ago. She is no longer with the practice. The hygienist said that they had just sent out letters to all of her patients explaining that she was gone (we haven't gotten ours yet), and that they were telling everyone who they called to confirm appointments that she was no longer there. However, since they had emailed us a confirmation instead of calling, and the email hadn't been updated to reflect that Dr. H was gone, we had no idea until we actually got there.

I understand snafu's happen and all but this was really disappointing. I really wish they would have taken the time to make sure all of her patients knew she was gone before coming in for their appointment. We saw a different dentist who works in the same office, and he seems nice and everything. I just wish I hadn't been blind-sided while I was getting a cleaning done.

[Sparky]

Hunt that woman down! A good dentist is someone you want to keep!

I've had two dentists leave the profession. I'm starting to take it personally.

Then I found another dentist whom I did like. But I went to a different dentist because he did a procedure (porcelain onlay) which my good dentist did not to. After much soul-searching, I left my good dentist for my fabulous dentist. Guess what? He's retiring. Well, sort of. He's going to leave the dentistry to his new partner, and concentrate on his sleep clinic.

[Little Retail Rabbit]

That woulda freaked me out. I like familliarity at my dentists' and the people I see make me feel comfortable (which is difficult, because I freak out easily <.< ). I would hate it if I turned up and had a random stranger instead. The 2 people who have dealt with me in the past don't make me feel stupid for being scared and do a good job.

[Sapphire Silk]

A good dentist is like gold.

My childhood dentist was awesome, and also a very good person (I was friends with his daughter). When he died, it was a personal loss.

I went nearly 20 years before I found a dentist I trust as much as I trusted Dr. Deutsch.

[Salted Grump]

A good dentist is like gold.

QFT.

My own dentist retired last year after 42 years of active dentistry, and being demonstrably the only person willing to work on my dad.

Dad's previous dentist was so Afraid of hemophila that he kept telling dad that everything was hunky-dory up until one of Dad's molars imploded, caved into itself, and abcessed due to a cavity.

Doctor Ross not only repaired all the damage, but shared many of the same interestes dad did, such as boating or fishing. Plus the guy had a voice that could calm screaming babies and children in moments; that deep baritone of authority combined with a sense of 'He's old enough to be your grandfather; play nice'.

[fma_fanatic]

Hunt that woman down! A good dentist is someone you want to keep!

Amen! If a dentist can deal with my needle phobia, they're a keeper. Mine is great. We always joke about how he's going to be able to pay off his boat with the work he's done on me so far.

[ShadowBall]

Good doctors in general are real keepers. My dentist has a great sense of humor, tries to make the atmosphere as relaxing as can be, and will outright ask what a patient's biggest concerns are before the procedure (for me, it's pain). And he let me listen to music while I had two cavities filled. Honestly, getting those teeth filled hurt less than getting my teeth cleaned. Although I question how well he filled the one tooth since it's so sensitive now that I can't even chew on that side of my mouth.

Most of the other doctors I've had were idiots too. GPs who refused to listen to my concerns, accused me of things (like when I lost 70 pounds and was basically accused of having an eating disorder), put me on medications that did not work when I told them explicitly they did not work, and giving me meds for imaginary conditions. Apparently my brilliant former GP thought I had lupus and had me go to a very expensive specialist to find out that I had nothing wrong with me and that the bacteria found in the cup of urine I gave them was absolutely normal, common, harmless bacteria all teen girls have in their bodies. Way. To. Go.

The lady who cleans my teeth is also awesome (not the same as my dentist). She let me have little prizes from their trinket basket until I was about 19. Losing either of these two folks without notice would piss me off royally too.

[BuffySummers]

(snip)Although I question how well he filled the one tooth since it's so sensitive now that I can't even chew on that side of my mouth.
(snip)

I'm front desk for a dental office - the sensitivity could be as minor as the filling being a tad too high (really quick and easy to adjust your bite), or as serious as needing root canal therapy and a crown (not terribly painful in your mouth, especially if you go to an endodontist, but expensive).

Call the office and describe the sensitivity to your dentist - is it sharp and sudden or dull and constant, worse when in contact with hot or cold or sweets, only when biting or spontaneous?

I'm a denta-phobe myself, so I take my good-will ambassadorship seriously.

[Misanthropical]

I have a really high pain tolerance except when it comes to my teeth with my teeth I have a very very low pain tolerance. I need more than normal Novocaine for any dental work I need done.

I had a dentist slam down an instrument and yell at me that I had enough Novocaine to take down a horse and to stop being a baby about the whole thing. I was in my 20s at the time but I still just walked out instead of trying to make it through a procedure I know I would end up screaming and crying trying to get done.

My dentist now has no problem what-so-ever with giving more and more Novocaine and doing his best to make me comfortable. Our personalities don't match up but I'm still keeping him.

[Eisa]

I need a new dentist. The one I had, I've had since I was 7. And it shows. The entire office staff persists in treating me like I'm still 7. And I'm 23. I really, really don't need to be lectured like a naughty child.

Especially because of one thing that pissed me off. I have gingivitis. My gums are not in the greatest of shape. I got lectured every appointment until I was practically in tears because I WAS brushing and flossing and trying to do everything they told me.

Until ONE assistant finally noticed... "Do you always breathe through your mouth?"

"Yes."

"Ohhhh." Yeah, that's why my gums were getting dry and swollen, and my gingivitis was getting worse. Because I breathe through my mouth and it all gets dried out.

Which led to finally getting my nose fixed as I'd been unable to breathe through my nose for 13 years...

But yeah, now my dental phobia is a LOT worse, my needle phobia is worse, and I have some extra fears I don't want to tell them about, like having someone behind me and having people mess around in my mouth. So I need a new one.