Those of you who’ve been following along since last summer may remember how I went through extreme facial pain as a result of botched dental work. In short, I had some fillings done and they resulted in an infection that eventually (increasing over a few months) gave me such pain I didn’t know one could survive such pain and not die of ow. And the dentist wouldn’t believe me about the pain until the point that I broke down in front of him crying that my life was over if the pain didn’t stop. His last resort, after a root canal not helping, was antibiotics, which fixed things within a day. After 3 months of pain.
I’m still pissed off about this (not that you could tell, of course) because I’ve been left with chronic face pain that’s luckily nowhere near as bad as that which was making me fall to the ground in public, clutching my face, but is still annoying (kind of like a headache, but around my right eye and temple) and still undiagnosed. My theory is that the nerve on that side got damaged by the infection, but last time I checked I didn’t have a medical license, so I don’t know for sure, and neither does my doctor. But, anyways, here’s another thing for me to complain about.
A side problem with all this happening is that I’m now freaked out about dentists, since that one guy treated me like a luser who was exaggerating the pain for attention or kicks. A week or so after the pain stopped I got laid off (I had an awesome summer) and I no longer have extended medical, so fear/hatred of dentists plus having to pay to visit scary dentists have kept me from getting my teeth checked.
Things are kinda feeling funny in there, though, so I feel I should buck up and find the inner strength to enter a dental office with the hope that maybe these people will be nice to me this time.
This is where you (or, you who lives in Vancouver) come in. I’m not so dumb that I’m going to go back to that dentist’s office, even if it’s the same office I’d gone to since I was a toddler and there are other dentists there than that jerk. Surely someone knows a dentist who treats their patients with at least a basic level of respect, and doesn’t dismiss talk of pain. Oh, and it would be nice to see a hygienist who didn’t guilt-trip me about my tea-drinking habits, or for not wearing my nightguard (I need a new one, since jerk dentist fucked mine up, trying to give me a Simpsons-character-level underbite). I’m now extra-sensitive about all of this.
So, can you recommend a dentist?
Also, do any of you have any similar issues or stories about visiting their dentist? I’m just wondering how unlucky I was, and whether the treatment I received was uncommon or par for the course. Hopefully the former.
(Strangely, right after I posted this I got a call from my dentist’s office saying it was time for my 6-month checkup. Weird coincidence.)
Hi,
I had a great experience at Mid Main Dental Clinic at Main and 24th, I think. They were very gentle, very kind and give 10 % off to the uninsured.
I recently checked out the AARM dental place. The office in Yaletown was very nice and they were incredibly friendly.
I highly recommend our dentist, Dr. Susan Chow, at 10th & Alma. She and all her staff are friendly and down to earth, and the office is comfortable and relaxing
604-228-0014
I have only positive things to say about Dr. Kim Kent at http://www.marinasidedental.com/. Excellent bedside manner. I only had routine check-ups, but was always treated well.
i was all ready to recommend my dentist and came across horrible testimonials at this website:
http://www.ratemds.com/social/?q=node%2F28882&sid=53
although i’ve only had great experiences with him, now i’m wondering if i should change dentists.
I started going to my soon to be ex-dentist as she was opening her office. I’m pretty sure all of the work she recommended for me was just so she had business to do. Now that she’s busy, she doesn’t have time for all that crap. Also she’s gone from friendly to unpleasant. w00t dentists!
Try Dr. Leetty Huang. I used to room with her at university, and she has a good bedside manner. While I’m not personally going to her now (I can’t deal with having someone I used to live with looking down my mouth, I know it’s weird), my co-worker does goes to her and thinks she is pretty good.
Try the UBC School of Dentistry as well (822-2112). It’s mostly 4th year dentistry students, who do all of their own work, and aren’t in it for the money. I had to go to the dentist recently, and he quoted me $341 to get a tooth pulled. At UBC it cost me $41, and it was only that much because I had to get an X-ray done.
And the student/dentist was awesome as well – she did a great job.
hi! just saw this now, if you haven’t found one let me know been seeing mine since 1997 and i kid you not i like him so much i look forward to going!
Random internet person recommendation, take it for what it’s worth:
http://www.smile.ca/
Paul Newitt – he uses lasers. More importantly though he takes the time to explain everything, answer questions and takes people’s concerns seriously. A friend of mine has a really bad gag reflex and has had dentists be quite rude about it and make fun of her inability to use toothpaste… he listened to her issues and came up with some constructive suggestions for her to get her flouride etc that work within her limitations. Both myself and my partner go to him and I’ve been very happy with his manner and the overall office service.
To save money, see if you can get copies of your xrays from your old dentist. That might save some moola on the new patient exam.
i second shane’s recommendation. i go to the yaletown location (dr. lee) and she was very nice to me (despite my coffee drinking and lack of daily flossing). I even received a handwritten thank you card in the mail after my first visit to boot. all in all, a really good experience.
Slightly off topic (dentists), but I just wanted you to know that you’re not alone in this experience. I feel your pain.
Or rather, I’ve felt pain of a similar intensity and sanity-threatening level – not teeth in my case, but rather testicles. After a (botched? Who knows) vasectomy, I had pain for a good week that rendered me completely unable to walk, work, think…and contemplating a future where I would have to live with that pain was very, very, very unsettling.
And like you: doc just didn’t give a shit! I was in his office twice that week, trying to communicate how far above the expected level of discomfort this was, how no, it was NOT improving as promised, and what the hell was the story? His reaction was “You don’t say! Well, that IS strange; but it should get better soon”.
Which I’m happy to say it did, for the most part…although I still do feel the occasional twinge of discomfort, where there was never any before. And there’s apparently nothing to be done about it. I’ve done some reading since then, and found all KINDS of similar stories – odd that my doctor never mentioned these issues were possible. I’m sure your dentist didn’t either; I’m convinced they sign you up for these procedures not simply (not at all?) because you need them, but because of the money them make performing them.
I’ll tell you, this kind of experience opens your eyes about what pain REALLY is. My heart truly goes out to you, and anyone else suffering some kind of chronic pain; it can completely redefine your life, circumscribe your outlook to the point where you begin to question “Do I really want to live like this?”. I hope you find a good dentist, & he fixes you right.