My old dentist retired. He was a gem. I’m a TMJ patient so he was always very gentle with me. I could get through my appointments with very little pain. Since he’s retired, I’ve seen three dentists. All of them have been a disaster. They’re rushed. They’re rough. They don’t even seem to care about my TMJ and yank me every which way. I’m always in pain for days after my appointment. I’m about to give up. Is it possible to find gentle dentists?
Karen
Dear Karen,
Wow! I’m so sorry for the horrible experiences you’ve had. The fact that you keep trying says a lot about your character and how much you care about your oral hygiene. Many patients would have given up by now. I want you to have hope and know that there are still gentle dentists out there who care about patients and are willing to take their time during your appointment so you won’t be in agony after your appointment.
First, you’ll probably be better served with a family practice rather than a large clinic type office with several dentists. They’re more patient-friendly and usually try to get to know their patients. Nest, you’ll need to locate a gentle dentist.
Here are some terms you can look up online:
- Gentle Dentist
- Cater to Cowards Dentist
- Sedation Dentist
Making Sure You Really Get a Gentle Dentist
Don’t just go by what they say. Be certain to check their reviews online to see if patients have had positive experiences with them.
Also, because of your TMJ issue, you want to make sure they’re familiar with that. The last thing you need is a dentist who calls himself a gentle dentist because he does sedation dentistry. But, all he really does is put you to sleep and then work quickly. Your jaw will be in pain after a treatment like that. Sedation is fine as long as the dentist is still gentle.
This blog is brought to you by Dr. Steven Collins.