Message Boards
Today's Active Topics Today's Active Cases Browse Forum Categories My Recent Activity My Messages Private Groups My Marked Threads My Subscriptions
Today's Active Images Today's Active Polls Most Active Topics Global Townie Map Advanced Message Board Search Message Board Terms of Use

Professional Courtesy: A Ton of Trouble for a Free Toothbrush by Thomas Giacobbi, DDS, FAGD

View Comments (6) More by this author (307)
Professional Courtesy Header

I graduated from Le Moyne College in Syracuse, New York, 25 years ago. Earlier this summer, I went home to attend my college reunion and during my stay, I discovered some of the essays I had written in college. The one you are about to read caught my eye; I wrote it at the start of my second semester in college—7 1/2 years before I would graduate from dental school. I think you will enjoy my perspective as a patient who already had plans to attend dental school in the future.

The falling snow has created a white wall that has not only slowed traffic to a standstill, but also makes me wish I had listened to my mother and brought my hat and gloves with me just in case the car stalls as it has in the past. You might wonder what I am doing on the road with the conditions as they are; teeth—I am getting my stupid, pearly white teeth cleaned. Sure, I could make another appointment, but my dentist is very busy and I would have to wait at least three weeks.

My dentist's name is Dr. Ben Latelee; his appearance seems to fit his title: light brown hair parted to the side and dress trousers with a clean shirt and tie that are usually covered by a white lab coat. His office is equally respectable; it is an old, white Victorian house that has been renovated. The only evidence of the house's age once you get inside is the loud creak in the floorboards of the vestibule.

Once I take my snow-covered coat and wet boots off, I walk down the narrow hall into the waiting room. I put my name on the clipboard as I have many times before, and take a seat among the 15 or so other people that are waiting. The seats are typical of a doctor's office; they are chrome with cheap vinyl cushions. The walls are covered with yellow striped wallpaper, and there are plants on both windowsills; the ceiling is the usual white foam tiles with fluorescent lights in every third panel. To my right is a table with an assortment of torn and outdated magazines; LIFE magazine has the space shuttle on the cover. It may be six months old, but it looks interesting.

My reading is interrupted by the squeaky voice of the young receptionist. "Mr. Milater? Bill Milater? The doctor will see you now.

"Right this way," she says with a smile as I lift myself from the vinyl seat. Walking slowly, I notice the lithographs of ducks and birds that decorate the walls. She stops me at the last room on the left: No. 5.

This room looks just like the others; it is small and in the middle is an intimidating chair, empty and motionless as if it waits for its next patient. Just as I make myself comfortable, the doctor comes in with the hygienist. He is apologetic for making me wait and he wastes no time in starting the exam.

Thirty minutes later, my teeth are clean and I am back on my feet. The dentist is now in another room, so the hygienist leads me back to the waiting room. After making my next appointment for a checkup, I go back to the small vestibule and put on my boots and coat.

The air outside is different to me—it does not have the same antiseptic smell that the office did. The breeze is crisp and the snow is not falling anymore. As my car rolls down the driveway, I cannot keep from asking out loud, "I wonder what magazines will be here when I come back?"

Do you think my portrayal of dentistry was accurate? How much is similar to the way your office runs today? I would love to read your comments online at Dentaltown.com.



Dentaltown Magazine
April 2024
Dentaltown Magazine April 2024 Read Current Issue Read Archived Issues
Sponsors
Townie Perks
Townie® Poll
Have you ever switched practice management platforms for your practice?
  
Site Menu
Message Boards Magazine Continuing Education Podcasts Blogs Classifieds News Events Townie® Poll Ebooks Townie Choice Awards
Company Info
Contact Us Advertise With Us Howard Farran DDS, MBA Policies and Agreements
Site Help
Sally Gross, Member Services Specialist
Phone: +1-480-445-9710
Email: sally@farranmedia.com
©2024 Dentaltown, a division of Farran Media • All Rights Reserved
9633 S. 48th Street Suite 200 • Phoenix, AZ 85044 • Phone:+1-480-598-0001 • Fax:+1-480-598-3450