Dentist

I hadn't been to a dentist in so long.

Do you ever get that gut feeling when you're about to do something that will end up hurting you in the long run?

I had that feeling six plus years ago when I last went to the dentist. I had gone for a routine checkup and the staff seemed different. Same faces-different attitude. The doctor insisted upon x-rays, which I'm sure I'd already had done months before (they're only supposed to be taken every five years, unless something drastic occurs). I'd let her do the x-rays. Then she told me I had two cavities because I wasn't brushing and flossing enough. I was surprised because I thought I always did a good job with my hygiene. Then she told me that she'd need to keep me an extra hour or two to do the fillings for my teeth. That's when I got that funny gut feeling. It seemed shady. I had told her that I didn't have the time and didn't want to get anything filled. She started pleading that for my own health I should have the cavities filled. I kept apologizing (which I felt stupid for doing) but insisted that I wait, since my dad was paying for my dentist work at the time. She said, "you're insured. it'll be fine. If you want to call your dad now and ask him I'm sure he'd be more concerned about your health." I refused again because it seemed now that she was trying to sucker me into work I didn't intend on having done when I came in. There were several things wrong with the picture: 1) How does a good dentistry have all this time to clear their schedule to give an unscheduled filling? 2) Why was I needing x-rays after having them done three months prior? 3) Why was she insisting that I not leave without further work done? Then the grand-daddy of all things she could have possibly said that were wrong: She started to scold me. "You need this done now. Look you don't have a choice. You need your cavities filled or they're going to spread and your mouth will get worse." I caved under the pressure and said, "okay" but my gut told me this was very wrong. The hygienist stepped in after the doctor left to get tools. She said, "I'm not a dentist and I can't legally tell you what to do, but I do have a firm belief that if you ever aren't willing to do something that you aren't legally obligated to do that either." When I asked her what she said (because I couldn't believe she would say that to me) she just patted my shoulder and left the room. When the doctor came back, I yanked off my bib and left it on the chair. "You know what I changed my mind. I'm not getting my cavities filled today. I don't want to argue. I'm not listening to you try to keep me here. I have things to do and you're wasting my time." She told me to reschedule another appointment if I wasn't going to wait. "Your receptionist has my contact information if she wants to schedule something, but this is not happening today." I walked out and hadn't received dentist work since.

Until today....

I went to Copperhill Family Dental based on several positive reviews on Yelp.

Not only did Cathy (the hygienist) take very good care of me but she explained every step of the work she was doing.

My insurance covered everything and there was no copay. Hurray!

The doctor came in after my cleaning and reported, "You have no cavities and a very clean mouth despite not having seen a dentist for so long".

The old dentistry that I had gone to for work used to be good. I'd referred Brian to them and felt bad because before I had a bad experience with them they did dental work on him. They messed up his eye tooth and completely damaged the nerve. We didn't find out until he had intense tooth pain months later (and after my last experience there). His tooth is permanently discolored too.

I told the receptionists at this new place about "cavities spreading" and they understood why I had avoided going to a dentist for so long.

I'm relieved I walked out that day and lucky I found a good place this time.

Hurray!