All right. So now, freshly returned from my third visit to Dr Althoff's office, I have to heartily…read morerecommend him.
After my nightmare visit to Dr Brink at the Tagesklinik in Moabit, where I got three wisdom teeth removed, I developed a dry socket at one of the extraction sites, which, according to the Intarwebz, is supposed to lead to pain worse than childbirth. Luckily for me, I went immediately to the dentist nearest me when I noticed exposed bone in the wound, initially mistaking it for a piece of food stuck in there after stupidly eating fried rice about 24 hours after the procedure.
Dr Althoff discovered the dry socket and cleaned the socket, then re-opened the wound in order to force bleeding and a renewed blood clot to protect the exposed bone. In all the material I read about dry socket treatment I saw mention of this only once. Everyone else who suffered the condition was given a bit of gauze soaked in clove oil for the pain and had to return to the dentist every other day to have the dressing changed. Dr Althoff, after administering a local anesthetic and opening the wound, packed the socket with medicated gauze which did not need to be changed or removed, as my body absorbed it and the medication and it would dissolve slowly as the wound healed. This is, according to him, and I believe him, the very best way to treat a dry socket, although it is seemingly seldom used.
The pain that was supposed to make grown men curl up in the fetal position and cry for days and nights on end simply never came. The wound was perfectly cared for and only minimal pain was suffered.
He asked me to come the next day so he could check on the healing process, which was going great. He gave me very good information and tips for keeping the wound healthy and preventing the treatment from dislodging again.
He noticed that I had no cavities or fillings and recommended me to come back for a cleaning with his dental hygienist.
The doctor himself speaks perfect English and is engaging yet professional. The dental hygienist is cheerful and speaks apparently little or no English, but if you can pay attention during her endless chatter you will realize she is giving step by step descriptions of everything she does, tips for further care and assurances that you are in control of the session. At the first sign of discomfort she asks if everything is OK and if not, changes tack. She is very, very sensitive to the patient's needs and comfort level. If you can understand öffnen, zumachen, and näher mir you'll get through the session in German just fine.
The doctor, although I didn't have an appointment with him today, emerged from the operating room and popped his head in while I waited for the hygienist, greeted me in English, shook my hand, and checked up on his work one more time, remembering exactly where it was and was satisfied with its progress.
They don't do anything that doesn't need to be done. You don't get the feeling that they are just trying to make as much money off you as possible, which I really appreciate.
I give this place a 10 out of 10. It looks a bit ghetto when you walk in, but after your first visit, I'm sure you'll have just as much confidence in them as does this medical skeptic.
