Gentle dental

Last week I went to a dentist again. A friend recommended this practice and just looking at how they were able to fix him up I could tell they would do a good job. All I can say is- that after a few weeks of dealing with a broken tooth, being told not to chew on that one side of my mouth and frankly being afraid to chew anything at all, I was ready to be done with it. And I needed to find somebody I can trust- the emergency dentist who I picked out of an ad tried to turn the thing into a joke and I didn't quite like it. As he was telling me my options he talked about pulling my teeth as if it was a laughing matter. All while I was in his chair, lost and hopeless. These people were different. A family of dentists. Mother, two sons close to my age and a daughter who's a hygienist. They did everything to keep it positive, the mood was a bit lighter, so I was engaged and distracted by the conversation, but they were first and foremost frank and professional. And you could tell that they seemed really interested in getting to know their clients who like them are in this community.

This again has taught me a great deal about how to build relationships with people who turn to you for advice and how in a small town like Gainesville we are all in this together. They were excited to hear that I was from Poland. They are going there for the summer. The way the conversation moved on from my story to my family and background, the mother asked me to recommend places to visit. When I'm there a week from today, she will have a map with her. The procedure I had done wasn't cheap. But it also wasn't the fastest thing to do. With  the preparation, the bleeding, the waiting, I was there for over three hours. Part of me didn't quite mind, not only because I was doing something to get better, but also because I was able to step out of my life for a few hours. I might have been in a dental chair and covered and in blood, but the emails, the phone calls I would be getting that week no doubt, the attorneys I have to deal with, some of whom are not the nicest people, all seemed miles and miles away. I try to treat everyone with respect, but above all- I am fair and honest. In the limited time that I've been doing this I've had people try to trick me, confuse me, conceal  some things and misrepresent others. I always tell my clients- some facts may not be in your favor, but I need to know it all.  Within   the boundaries of honesty I'll try to find the best solution and I will be courteous to the other side. Some of the times, I'm not offered the same in return. But in situations that  I get frustrated and annoyed or I spend the holiday weekend writing emails, because someone does something to to intentionally makes things harder I remind myself that people I help are like me in that dental chair. And they look up to me for help and protection. Guidance. I think about how I always believed that humanity and kindness are key to whatever you do in life. And that was what I was reminded of when I was in that dentist's office. How they went above and beyond to give me the most relaxed, pleasant experience under the circumstances. Just a very human and a very humane thing to do. I guess that's why they called themselves Gentle dental- Not because their tools weren't sharp and the procedures weren't painful, that there wasn't blood everywhere and it didn't take quite some time to do. But nobody thought my teeth were funny and I was treated with kindness and attention. Those are the qualities I value and believe in, and in some strange way  I was reassured about the way I should be doing things in my career that has nothing to do with dentistry.