Jessica’s Essay

The Human Side of Dentistry

By Jessica Jordan

 Hearing the word Periodontist can cause your eyebrow to raise. It can be overwhelming to find out that you have a deteriorating gum and bone problem and that now you must leave your family dentist of fifteen years to now go see the “specialist”. I have had the pleasure of working in an amazing people oriented practice for the past three years, and I would like to introduce you to your new dental office personnel.

In a dental office you will find different characters that will boost your confidence and comfort levels. Take for instance your doctor. He or She is a skillfully trained perfectionist. Their many years of instruction are complemented by the continuing education courses that they thoroughly consider to ensure the benefit of their patients. A periodontist’s meticulous eye and skillful hand during careful surgical procedures is far from practice. However, something you aren’t aware of is that although each successful case is a personal victory, when the situation arises when a patient does not see the need to schedule treatment or the rare case where someone does not respond positively to their hard work; this exacts a toll on the way your doctor treats patients. Each person they see directly effects the way the periodontist will treat the next patient? They honestly do care. Another interesting tidbit, since your doctor lives by the millimeter if they so happen to walk by a picture frame that is not leveled, or something that is turned slightly to the left, it may take them 20-30 minutes to get it lined back up. This is then followed by a second opinion and then a measurement to make sure it is aligned correctly. Your doctor also has a secret addiction to CANDY!!! Sweet, sticky caramel-ly, chocolately goodness. Don’t believe me? If you could walk into their office and open the last drawer, you would find proof there. On the bookshelf, that giant intimidating book that looks so very important is PAGELESS, and filled with Airheads, Rollos, Hershey’s Kisses, Skittles, Starbursts, and Werther’s chews. Ah, forbidden fruit.

Next let’s visit your hygienist. She is charming, intelligent, and nothing can pass her attention to detail eye. Plaque and tartar tremble in her presence. She normally begins your appointment with a questionnaire: What type of foods are you eating? How much water are you drinking? What is your dental regimen? And you should be fully aware that any advice she gives you, she is for certain practicing what she preaches. She is a little OCD, but it’s ok. Her sleepless nights begin with a tall glass of water and a two hour long flossing, rubbertiping, waterpiking, brushing technique, and continues with the contemplation of wondering if she left anything behind during your cleaning earlier that day. Your doctor is normally pretty busy, so the hygienist has the privilege of sharing in educating you regarding your dental health.  Something interesting, your hygienist LOVES to talk. She can talk and talk and talk regarding dental care and the how tos. But pay close attention because, she also has the latest gossip!

If you need to know anything, about anyone she either knows it or knows someone who does (meaning the front desk ladies, but we will get to that later). She also loves popcorn, aka DENTAL CRYPTONITE. She doesn’t eat it all the time, but when she does its done in secrecy hoping that the hull stays away from under her new crown so that it doesn’t become irritable or abscesses. This is then followed by 9 and ½ minutes of flossing and a prayer.

Then a flash, something zooms past you and out of nowhere you’ve been seated, bibbed and are spilling the details of your naughty dental past. This would be your assistant in action. She actually has three patients seated and is carrying along three different conversations in five minute increments, all the while assuring you that your doctor will be in shortly. Your assistant is also very cool. She knows the salt trick to keep you from gagging while taking xrays. She knows how to distract you while taking your impressions with the stuff that is “supposed to taste like cherry”. She also knows that your awesome doctor can be a little intimidating and can read your scared to death look and will explain recommended treatment as many times as you need it without ever becoming annoyed. You would never know that she is also hyped up on Mountain Dew (popcorn’s evil cousin, causing immediate decay the second it crosses the lips). How else could she move so fast?

This now leaves us with the lovely front office. Isn’t it amazing how they can make you feel so comfortable, almost like family as they ask you to sign here, here, and here, and collect your id, firstborn, a drop of blood, and a strand of hair. When it comes to customer service they write the book These ladies are equipped with good ol’ southern hospitality; like smiling as someone cancels a two hour appointment, and at the same time behind the scene taking on insurance companies at large fighting denied claims, demanding that they pay for treatment! Surprisingly they don’t eat or drink anything bad. Ever. But as before mentioned, they work along with the hygienist in a secret dental society transmitting data (gossip) and heads up (the doctor’s coming). They also know just what the doctor needs “a few minutes to themselves” (lock the door while they eat the hidden candy). These girls have skill.

In all honesty, this is your new office family. We are caring, silly, smart, and can’t wait to meet you. We are all human. Most of us are in need of cleanings. Many of us are afraid of needles. All of us love the laughing gas. Most importantly, we each enjoy our personal roll in making sure that you have a great experience and that you are taken care of from the second you walk in the door until the moment you leave.

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