I Gave Unsolicited Advice

First of all- I want to mention that I have EXCELLENT oral hygiene. I floss everyday. How many of you can say that? Really! And I have a very expensive toothbrush- so that must mean it is good.

Anyway-- Yesterday I went to the dentist to have 5 cavities filled. It was horrible. I got new insurance, so I thought I would try a new dentist, as now I can go anywhere- not just to a specific list. (At my last office- I saw a different dentist every time I went there- I found that annoying- I wanted consistency). So- I chose the geographically closest dentist. (Not the best way to choose a dentist- but..)

Anyway- I showed up on-time to my appointment, after picking up my babysitter- ($7/ hour here- I only got $1 an hour when I was her age). After getting in my dentist chair, and having my mouth numbed on both upper sides- I waited. No problem- I had brought a book. I finished my book, and waited some more... and more..... and more... It was over an HOUR before the dentist returned to work on me. What's up with that? They clearly had overbooked the office. I hate it when my time is disregarded as so unimportant.

Then, they tell me that one of my teeth (#13) needs an onlay (where a previous cavity had failed)- but my insurance won't cover an onlay- only a crown. (Which my tooth doesn't need) SO- If I want an onlay (i.e., if I don't want an ugly unsightly crown) it will cost me $700. How stupid is that!! If the insurance is going to pay x dollars- why don't they just pay that toward an onlay!!!! I don't want a crown- AND I don't want to pay $700. I was annoyed. I told them to skip that tooth. I just didn't trust these people. (I saw on the news last week how dental offices were charging for unnecessary work- screwing people over- I started to wonder if it was happening to me. Did I mention that I have EXCELLENT oral hygiene! And 6 months ago I had NO cavities!)

So- he starts working on my mouth- and while he is, a girl comes in and lets the dentist know that the other patient he is working on (somehow at the same time- I guess she is waiting like I was) - is in a hurry- and needs to be somewhere by 4:30. SO - you know what he is doing now- right- he is stressed and he is hurrying on my mouth! These are my teeth. My teeth are the canvass - he is the artist. He should be striving to create a thing of beauty- perfection- but I know he is not- he is hurrying!!! He is rushing!!! He is hurting me!! Hey- I think the Novocaine has started to wear off- ( no doubt because of the HOUR wait!) He is forcing this thing in between my teeth and it is KILLLING me!!! He asks if I am OK- I lie- what is he going to do- give me more Novocaine, and make me wait another hour!!! Just the process of getting the shot hurts too! Why does a shot take 5 minutes!!! So- now, he is involved in 2 teeth, and has 2 more to do (I already told him to skip #13 for today... 13 hmmmm) So- then I tell him- just stop after the two he was working on. I can't saty- I have to be somewhere. (LIE- I had already missed Pilates- I had no plans. I just didn't trust him, and felt like he was stressed and hurrying on my mouth. I thought he would do a sloppy job.) I told him I would have the other ones done when I came back for #13. (LIE!! I had decided that I was never SETTING FOOT IN THERE AGAIN!). He told me that the lower cavities were very small (I know- I could not even SEE them on the x-ray!) He told me that he could do them in 5 minutes. (Are you kidding me!! These are my TEETH! My only set!!!! I don't want a 5 minute cavity filling!!!! ) No- I said, I'll do them when I come back. (LIE- NEVER COMING BACK!!!!)

So now, I am so mad at this place. I think they are awful!! I have decided that I am never ever ever returning, and I want to let them know how horrible they are. I want to tell them- your establishment SUCKS! You should not overbook!!! You should respect me, my time, my teeth!!! However- I am a very non-confrontational type of person. I never let anyone know how I feel when I am dissatisfied. My food is horrible in a restaurant- "Everything's great- thanks!" I say with a smile. Have bad service- serve me- I won't say anything (until later when I tell all of my friends). So- THIS time- I think- I am going to say something! And I did!!! I go to check out and I say to the lady at the front desk,

"Your art work in here is awful."

"Huh?"

"Ya- it is bad. You have these nice floors... "

(their floors were a real slate- they were OK- their art work was cheesy floral and house prints from thirty years ago with cheesy matting that was actually part of the picture- with cheesy oak frames)

"But your art work looks like it came from the 80's. And- it is to small for the wall space."

"Uhh-- ok", she looked at me strangely.

And so I did ! In my own interior designer sort of way, I told them what I thought of their place!!

And then I took my fat lips, and went next door and had my nails done. My French manicure looks VERY nice.