Don't get confused or let your eyes cross if you make an appointment with Bell Dentistry, located on the outskirts of Hyde Park square. David and Charles Bell, founders of the company are twins and love to joke about giving people a literal double-take.
Chaos was in the air on the day of my appointment. I left with plenty of time to be early, 30 minutes early to be exact. I don't know whether my GPS and iPhone location application were out to mock me, or I really have no sense of direction, but I had troubles finding the place.
I arrived at the homey, welcoming atmosphere full of calming greens and bright tones flustered and overwhelmed. David Bell was one of the first people I interacted with, he welcomed me and his staff smiled in the most genuine form of understanding I have yet seen in Cincinnati at my fashionably-late arrival.
My whole family is medical, so let me be the first to say, I have never had any problems with any dentist, doctor or... (looking for three things here) magician! (Yeah, I've had a few run-ins with magicians in my day. Back on point though!)
I was brought in a comfy and fully-stocked room, asked all the regular questions that are common for a new patient. My one unique qualifier: I was in a terrible car accident when I was little. I have titanium plates in the left side of my face. I told them the surgery to reconstruct various shattered bones actually went through my gums.
And so it began. This had occurred when I was going into third grade, but I was tossed to do various X-Rays, more than the normal patient. They showed around pictures of my face to all staff with interest. Dr. Bell (David) said one of my roots looked dead.
When I had assured him I have normal feeling in my mouth, and all the sensitivities that go with it to hot and cold, he didn't let me off the hook. Suddenly, he's applying liquid ice to my teeth. The result, I felt cold and then it subsided. I thought it was unnecessary.
Their professionalism, passion and attention to detail were almost too much for me. They were stunned that myself and most of their patients had never experienced some of the high-tech capabilities that the dentistry performs. Twenty minutes of my appointment was a lecture about technology and how other dentists need to use such machinery for the best care of their patient.
I respect the outpouring of advice, but it didn't necessarily have a place to resonate with me. I come from a small town, and things weren't done like they are here. I'm lucky to have experienced a new form of things.
Then I was told how unusual my sealants were, and they were unable to get a full read on my teeth from their composition. I was dragged into another room, shown a twenty minute film and again, Dr. Bell began an outpouring discussion on my teeth, which made me feel both terrified and uncomfortable. It was a great deal of information and breaking down for a first-time visitor. Enough to make me feel scared away and overwhelmed.
It's been over an hour now, at Bell Dentistry. I came for a teeth cleaning, which has yet to start. I went because my husband recommended the place. He loved their attention to detail and is a tooth-nazi himself. Dr. Bell even remembered my husband and specific points about him, which impressed me, knowing the sheer volume of people running in and out of medical establishments in the city.
My teeth cleaning was precise and informative. I'm genuinely curious about processes and the woman who cleaned my teeth loved this. She told me all about the machinery, calculations and what her favorite procedures were and weren't. We even slipped in some conversation about favorite places in Cincinnati.
I walked out, feeling mixed. I loved what I actually scheduled my time for -- the teeth cleaning. Everything else was a bit pretentious and overbearing.
Trying to set up an expensive care plan on a first visit, which I learned was also attempted on my husband and other customers.
Is it for you? If you love your teeth and want the highest level of attention and professionalism, I do believe Bell Dentistry is there and with leading technology.
But if your feeling of appointments is get in and out, having a two hour and thirty minute dentist appointment probably isn't for you.
The cost of this appointment was $288, which insurance will cover for some, I had to pay $95 of the price.
Will I go back? Some of you probably are wondering. I think so. I really enjoyed my teeth cleaning, and, I hope, from now on, it will be just that. read more