i went to the dentist yesterday for the first time in years (aside from visits for emergency wisdom tooth extractions on three different occasions). but i didn't see just any dentist yesterday, i saw a "clinic" dentist. you know, the kind that works on poor people. because i'm a poor person right now. i thought i better get in while still pregnant, since medicaid covers me until sixty days after i deliver haven. (don't feel bad for me-medicaid is a sweet deal-i'm not complaining about my "free" baby one bit!). anyway, so my visit to the poor people dentist was pretty enlightening and all i have to say is: poor poor people. the office staff was totally rude. the dentist was on my case about not having been to the dentist in so long. rightly so, but i think the fact that i was more preoccupied with testing and treatment for my ms and then pregnancy and then having a new baby and now pregnancy again is pretty legit. i'm not trying to make excuses, but i felt pretty appalled at his audacity to scold me like a two-year old when he clearly had no idea what my life is about. how is that going to convince me to come back?
3.05.2008
poor poor people
speaking of coming back, he refuses to fill my cavities and pull my fourth and final wisdom tooth until after the baby is born. i'm only one week into my third trimester and i'm pretty confident that i can sit still for the amount of time required to complete the work. i also have a high tolerance for pain and the ability to lay around doing very little right now while i recover from an extraction. but he seems to think it would be a better idea for me to come back after haven is born. better for me to come back when i'm nursing, recovering from a c-section, and have to find a babysitter for two kids. riiiiiight.
most people dread going to the dentist. i've actually never minded it, but this guy just changed my whole outlook on it. never (i'm being dramatic) have i felt so worthless and inadequate. he's perpetuating the problem-now i don't want to go back to have my work done. i was finally and totally ready to check "fillings and extraction" off my to-do list. i found the time and the means to do it. but he was rude and condescending and almost made me cry. how do poor people deal with treatment like this? i have to imagine that this is the "clinic" mentality. you've probably seen how rude House is when he gets assigned to clinic duty, right? i never thought that could happen in real life, but i'm here to tell you IT DOES! it's no wonder poor people don't take care of themselves even when help is available. i have a lot more sympathy for the poor poor people of the world.
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13 comments:
I'm sorry your experience was bad!! I have wisdom teeth coming in..and I have NO idea how we'll pay to have them removed!! Instead of having and paying for a baby, we'll be paying wisdom tooth debt FOREVER. :) Oh goody.
Sounds terrible. Like you I've never minded the dentist but this experience sounds horrible. I'm mean even poor people are people too. Don't lose hope, I'm sure there's good clinic dentists out there somewhere...I hope.
mrspebs: I don't know where you live, but they are always advertising free wisdom teeth removal on the radio. I have had a couple of friends do it and they actually got paid around $300.
Lizzy, I'm sorry. That sucks! I will be out of school after you have little Haven and am totally willing to babysit! Do you have to go to that dentist again? PS I was wondering if I could send you a few pics to photoshop and fix??? Pretty please???
I am totally willing to babysit too. I have totally had a mean dentist- I thought I loved dentists too until that mean man. Im sorry you had a bad day. You are so lucky you have medicaid!!! our baby is going to cost us 3 grand- not to mention adding on james little stint in the hospital- we are sooo poor. You are not the only one!! Good luck!
The dentist sucks. Period. Final. Find out where he lives...and we'll egg his house.
Oh Liz...I am sorry and that totally sucks but I know all too well the other side of the story. Now, don't get me wrong it sounds like your clinic was terrible and the dentist an idiot - but having worked for a dental company that sees primarily the poor people I know why it sucks so bad.
I am not saying poor people should ever be treated bad but it is unfortunate that so few dental practices will accept medicaid or state funding so the few that do get overworked and get bombarded with crazy rules that they have to abide by and a bunch of crazy people that don't know the rules and come in and go bolistic. It is just a mess and it is too bad that most clinics don't make more of an effort with their customer service.
Is there an alternative clinic you can go to? Also, there is a good chance that one has another doctor that might be more willing to see pregnant pts. I got 2 root canals when I was pregnant last time and we do extractions on pregnant people all the time (just say you are in a lot of pain). I think you might be happier if you went to another doctor and let them know that your experience was so bad and not to be tolerated.
Nice novel, eh. Sorry about that but I could go on forever.
sorry you had such a bad experience. Dentist can either make or break your experience. Luckily my dad was mine and he is great. I would be persistant and make them fill them. There is no reason they can't. I know cause I worked at my dad's office for three years. As long as they don't have to take x-rays nothing is bad for you or the baby! Anyway I am sorry again!
i will watch your kids for you!
ugh- dentists are top of my hate list and i've never even had anything more than a cleaning and the occassional cavity. but serious- sounds like your experience was a doozy. i second AA- try to see someone else!!
sucks. I had all 4 wisdom teeth pulled today which was a nightmare, but at least my dentist didn't waste his time chastising me and telling me how to live my life.
That totally sucks, and I totally agree! We have private health insurance but it doesn't cover pregnancy, and we're in the same boat (law school fam. prego with #2), so we have Medicaid that covers the pregnancy. Anyway and I HATED applying for Medicaid!!! You ask a question and they treat you like a complete idiot! Oh, I so hear you. I at least know I have a college degree and a graduation date of my husband (and then a job hopefully)to look forward to, but if I didn't, the way they treated me would have totally made me feel so much worse!
come on over and i'll do the extractions myself, and for free to boot! as for the fillings, i think we could get chase to help out being that he already knows so much about the mouth in general, specifically the 4th molar. loves!
That is so freaking jacked up Liz! That down right pisses me off that he had the nerve to treat you like that and not listen to your concerns. You would think since you haven't had time to go in that he would pull his head out and help you with your problems, since he is a doctor, right when you can make time for it. Let's go slash his tires that dirt bag!
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