More about the infamous chair...

Just returned from my dentist appointment. Despite the fear the extensive treatment that awaits me stirs in me, it was a very good experience.

Novel concept #1: The dentist was on time.

Novel concept #2: The dentist took the time to get to know me and ask me about any problems.

While I just had X rays taken in June, and was told I only had one cavity... now in August, the dentist and I reviewed each tooth and it revealed countless problems missed by previous dentist. Are they taking me for a ride? I don't think so. I saw with my own eyes the problem areas. When I asked the new dentist whether it was possible that these problems had arisen in the last 2 months, she said absolutely not. Hmmm..makes you wonder about something that I have been observing over the last several years.

If you are disabled and are on the State's insurance policy, expect the absolute worst. Expect that you will have to fight for any treatment that is relatively new, expect to be treated like you have no cranial capacity whatsoever, expect to be treated like a number. Even when you are as vocal as I have become, armed with reems of paper detailing the benefits of procedure X, Y or Z and countless questions, you are bound to be stonewalled by some of those who claim to be medical and/or dental professionals.

When did it become acceptable to treat people with lower incomes with substandard care? When did they become less valuable as a human being to society? Does this not form a prima ficia case for discrimination based on disability and income?

Until now, I did not have concrete proof of my suppositions. I've always felt that some of the physicians on my insurance plan were not graduates from top tier medical schools. This is proof in the pudding. I paid all of $39 for a second opinion. Money well spent, might I add, for peace of mind.

Not only that, but being treated with dignity, respect and compassion will go a long way to preparing this denta-weenie for the next visit to THE CHAIR.

Fear and Loathing in Bucks County

Today is a big day for me. It's time to go to the torture chambers, also known as the dentist office.

After many years of sub-par dental treatment, my fear of dental proceedures is close to phobia. Scheduling an appointment brought on sweats and nausea. I'm not kidding.

Let me highlight my last dental experience. Through my insurance, I was sent to a dental office close by. I had an appointment for 4 o'clock and was not seen until nearly 5:15. The waiting room, there was no room to sit. The sound of drills squealing in the background, the strange chemical odors enough to make me want to vomit.

When I finally got to THE CHAIR, the dentist was clearly annoyed by the heavy patient load. I attempted to explain to her my extreme dislike and fear of dentists, only to be brushed off. I needed X rays, which when you have a very small mouth like me are no pleasant feat. Let it be said, that some dentists will accomodate you by using pediatric film, but I ended up with scrapes on the roof of my mouth. Ah...but we've only just begun.

I had the misfortune of not having dental insurance for several years and not having been to the dentist for an extended period of time makes me prime candidate for paying for their next vacation to the Bahamas, believe me. There were some very abrupt comments made by the dentists that I did not appreciate.

Before I know what's happening -- and might I add after explicitly stating that I want to know what is going on BEFORE anything happens in my mouth -- I am being swabbed with a numbing gel to prepare me for a cleaning.

So today, I am going to a new dentist. I am paying cash for my visit and hope that it will be a more pleasant experience that what I've run into in the past.

I often wonder whether this type of sadism is what got dentist to go to dental school in the first place -- a means of revenge on their bad experiences in the past.

I am certain no one likes to go to the dentist. It is my hope that in the advent of customer service driven business, dentist will become more aware of the fear they are able to instill in their patients just by their attitude. Perhaps Compassion 101 or Chair-side manner 102 should become compulsory at all major dental schools.