Monday, January 23, 2012

I miss my dentist.

It is not lost in me that my dental care for the past ten years has been quality grade A, number One work done by a caring friend, Dr. Linea Lanoie. I will forever be grateful for how she made dental work a regular part of life for me and took the fear out of most of it.

I grew up with terminally bad teeth no matter how hard I would try, and because we were not that well off, most of my dentists were little old men who couldn't speak or understand a word of English, and who didn't want to use more pain deadening freezing than was absolutely necessary. So dentists for me were always associated with a freak show, involving pain.

Until Linea came along.
I sure miss her these days.

I got in to see a dentist today because of the pain in my mouth. It's nagging and troublesome and I'd like to be free of it. But after pictures and an $120 exam, he couldn't find the problem.

He did find other things that need attention in the next three visits, to the tune of nearly $700. Which I don't doubt. But I left $120 poorer and the pain still there.

I have to decide if I will continue down this road. I nearly used up my $1000 a year dental plan in one day, and I understand that in Alberta the fees are not regulated so you are encouraged to shop around.

But thanks to Linea, I wasn't freaked out about going.

She made a difference.



4 comments:

  1. Hi! I have just been introduced to and am enjoying your blog. I can relate to your feelings for a good dentist. I have travelled half way around the world and now across Canada to a dentist in Edmonton. Dr. Fairbanks is the only one I trust my root canals to. ;-) Good luck with your dental mission!

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  2. You are too kind. I miss my patients like you too. Some days I wonder what I am doing. At least in that profession I sort of felt competent.

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  3. It's difficult to find a dentist like Dr. Lanoie, who is a professional. I admire you for being able to find a person like your dentist, and I admire her too. I'm sure she is a big part of your life and a great friend, since she took away the fear and anxiety you used to associate with going to the dentist.

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  4. Do you have a sinus infection? That often causes dental pain!

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