So at six pm a mom comes in w/ 9 yo daughter; she has a cavity, and we're going out of town.... can you fix it? sure; that was an easy fifteen min. procedure, since we didn't have to anesthetize, and the girl was very cooperative.
Mom had a few questions. Actually, she then had an HOUR worth of questions. Since she was the last patient, and I had no where to be, I was happy to answer - why are silver vs. white fillings sometimes better or worse? What about this crown I had done? why do some dentists try to fill everything and others are "wait and see" and now all my kids have cavities??
So I answered her questions for the better part of the hour ans she was ASTOUNDED that I would take the time. Well, if I had someone else waiting for a filling or something, sure, i couldn't do that. But she was SO happy. She's coming back and bringing her husband and other three kids... I figure I could open up a practice two hours away and she'd happily visit twice a week, now that she's sold on the fact that I will always answer her questions when she (gasp) wants to actually TALK to the dentist.
Kinda always ticks me off when people pay 30-70 bucks for an exam and then just get a 50 second "look-see" and no conversation/explanation from the dentist... Yes, sure, it's busy, and you have to whip through folks to make ends meet and pay the staff, but honestly, most folks only need a couple minutes.... so that was gratifying.
In a completely unrelated story, I saw Brokeback Mountain this weekend. Wow; I could just about write a book on the comments heard whilst exitting the theater. wow. more later perhaps....
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2 comments:
Good for you! I would be a regular dentist-goer only I'm one of those insuranceless people now. I have dreams about dental care; but, alas, they won't be realized until my boyfriend's job gives him domestic partner benefits or I get my recording contract and make more money than... a dentist!
You're right, I have doctors that routinely have 2-4 hour waits in their waiting room because they take the time to talk to their patients. In the meantime, the other doctors in the practice are on schedule, while we are in the waiting room getting to know each other and having fun. We all know we are the patient's of that one doctor, yet we all wait for him because he cares about us (and he's awesome, that doesn't hurt either). This blows my dentist's mind. Probably because I am one of the few patient's in his practice that doesn't mind waiting on him. Shoot, his wait is always less than 2 hours, lol, and he always takes the time to answer my questions. Some people just need a little lesson on perspective I think. Besides, I'm one of those fortunate few that he gets to see at least once a month if not every 2 weeks. Good thing I'm not afraid to go to the dentist (no, my insurance doesn't pay for it, but whatever).
Interesting website...you have a great sense of humor that I know your patients must appreciate. :)
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