| Subject: Re: On my soapbox regarding dentists |
Author:
Jim
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Date Posted: 16:24:27 07/17/04 Sat
In reply to:
Jim
's message, "Re: On my soapbox regarding dentists" on 16:22:57 07/17/04 Sat
Seems TOO* busy.
I'm dying without an edit feature.
>I know what you mean. Luckily, my dentist actually
>talks to me about my teeth after I showed an interest.
>He may not be the best dentist and I seriously
>question his ability and his character at times, he is
>very patient. And his corny jokes are appreciated.
>
>One of my orthos, however, is always in a rush. At
>first, it made me very frustrated, but I realized it
>was my own fault. I should have stopped him. I was
>extremely pissed off for awhile and made a couple
>posts expressing my frustration, but I really do think
>it's my fault.
>
>I still won't stop him, though, because he seems to
>busy. But his partner, who I think is awesome, is
>awlays willing to answer my question. I think my main
>ortho kind of set it up that way, so he could spend
>more time doing treatment plans and such, or just to
>relax more. I've no idea, but I definitely know what
>you mean.
>
>When I first went to the dentist after not going for a
>year or two, my dentist also said he was "watching"
>those teeth that did have a cavity. I thought this was
>hilarious, because it was such a blatant lie. I had
>only been there once, so this must be a technique used
>by a lot of dentists.
>
>>Granted, a dentist needs to have technical expertise,
>>but I am sick and tired of dentists who are lacking in
>>communication skills. I propose that dental schools
>>train students extensively in (1) how to listen to
>>patients and really hear their concerns (2) how to
>>communicate effectively with patients based on
>>attentive listening and speaking truthfully to a
>>patient(3) how to communicate with empathy and (4) the
>>need to base communication on the patient's best
>>interests, not the dentist's agenda
>>
>>Most dentists I have encountered are poorly skilled in
>>communicating simply and directly. Often, dentists
>>will avoid saying anything, then when it is too late,
>>tell you the awful truth: "Oh, by the way, that tooth
>>we've been concerned about for the past year will have
>>to be extracted--and the one next to it as well."
>>What tooth? The dentist never mentioned any tooth he
>>was watching before. And by early intervention, both
>>could have been saved. I was never informed and never
>>given an option until it was too late. And so it goes.
>>
>>I have always, since my youth, done what the dentist
>>told me to do. Brush, floss, come in for regular
>>visits, etc, etc. I've had lousy luck in choosing
>>dentists who really give a damn about me and my teeth.
>> The dentist I finally switched to after my last
>>fiasco, seems to have a conscience, empathy, and
>>expertise. And my orthodontist, bless her, talked to
>>me for an hour about concerns the periodontist
>>expressed about the approach my ortho was using to my
>>teeth (expander rather than jaw surgery) I've never
>>had a dentist talk to me longer than 18 seconds at a
>>time before.
>>
>>I'm sure there are top-notch dentists, orthodontists,
>>periodontists, and other dental professionals out
>>there, including our forum's Dr Rick, who gives so
>>generously of his time and expertise to us, but I
>>think the Dental Schools need to really push
>>communication skills development in school, before
>>they push the freshly minted dentist out the door.
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