DCFemella

Yesterday the kids and I went to the dentist.  I am pleased to announce that all of us got rave reviews.  They did they say that my daughter has some plaque on the bottom teeth, so I am helping her brush her teeth.  She has a tooth growing behind the other one, but the doctor said that she should be ok because when the tooth comes out, her tongue will thrust it forward.

Such a difference between a good dentist and bad one.  My dentist Dr. Richard Donohue is awesome!  I actually found him on the Washingtonian’s Top Dentist list (he’s still on there!).  When I first went to him, I had a gut-wrenching fear of dentists.  My dentist growing up was horrid.  I don’t know what my mother was thinking taking us to him.  He didn’t talk to us about any procedure, it was a frightening experience going to him, and he was very impersonal.  

When I was 19, while eating popcorn, I cracked my top left tooth on a kernel.  It went all the way to the root, so I needed a root canal.  It was probably the most painful experience in my life.  He didn’t numb me right and whenever he severed a nerve, I felt it.  After that, I was so traumatized that I didn’t want to go to the dentist ever again.  I didn’t until I was 24.  The only reason I did was because that same tooth cracked into pieces.  When I went to another dentist, I realized that he was suppose to put a crown on it that he never did.  This was another horrid experience.

First, I felt like I was transported back to the 60’s.  It also didn’t help that his dental assistant was one of the most hideous people who I have ever seen.  Imagine being in pain and then having to see a face that would scare children.  The process was painful, and I sweated the entire time I was there.  It made me not want to go to the dentist even more.

This changed when I had kids.  When my son was four, I finally forced myself to find a dentist and stick to it.  I have never been happier.  The gum behind the tooth had created a boil.  It seems that they never took the infection out.  Dr. Donohoue recommended a wonderful Root Canal Specialist Dr. Charlie Hong.  At first, I was freaking out so much that the Specialist asked if I needed Valium, but that he promised that it would be painless.  I gulped a few breaths of air, and said I would calm down. He was true to his word.  Didn’t hurt at all.  

Dr. Donohue took care of the rest, and I have no more issues with the tooth.  The kids love him as well.  My son is asking if we can go to the dentist every week.  The entire team is awesome.  They give you suggestions, are very warm and friendly, put you at ease, and try to ensure that you are comfortable.  Complete 180 from the dentists from my past.  

Definitely find a good dentist.  I highly recommend this if you have children.  My mom wasn’t the best listener so she never paid attention to our complaints.  I try and listen to my kids and ensure that they are comfortable.  I don’t want them waiting years to get their teeth checked because they have a crazy phobia due to a bad dentist.