Okay so I have to disclose that Dr. Yamauchi is a friend of mine, but I should also let you all know that I am like deathly afraid of dentists. In fact anything to do with human anatomy from a medical standpoint, particularly my anatomy, I want no person, professional or whatever, to drill, medicate, inject, cut me open, draw blood, etc etc.
A few weeks ago, I was reluctantly sitting through a dental checkup at my usual dentist's office when he gave me the awful news that I may need a root canal after taking a look at my X-ray. A WHAT? A root canal?? Doesn't that just sound awful? Like someone is going to literally dig a canal through the roots of my precious teeth? I asked the good dentist how long I could wait before getting it done, and he of course looked at me like I was crazy.
I notified Dr. Yamauchi right away. I mean if anyone was going to be performing a root canal on me, I was only going to see the BEST endodontist ever. You see, the advantage of having an endodontist as a friend is not just that you can email him your X-ray for a second opinion. Or that he'll text to check up on you when you run away to the mainland for a few weeks immediately after finding out you need a root canal (okay so that trip was pre-planned... regardless!). But the real advantage to knowing an endodontist (or any medical professional for that matter) on a personal level, is that you get to know who their character and their values outside of the professional setting.
I happen to know that Dr. Yamauchi comes from a lineage of great dentists. I also happen to know that he went to the best dental school ever (The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, GO TARHEELS!). And I also know he spends time outside of the long hours he already spends at work, researching and perfecting his craft, and studying alongside his professional peers. He even sacrifices time with his precious young family to volunteer at dental clinics for underserved populations. So I was more than comfortable to go to his office last Friday and know that I was going to be in the best hands possible, because I happen to know that he is someone who truly loves what he does and deeply cares about his patients' well-being.
As for my root canal? Well luckily the decay hadn't strayed too far and I got away with a filling! While you enjoy the view from the 8th floor of the Ala Moana Building, you'll be in the hands of his lovely staff who were oh so kind and turned a blind eye to my iced sugary sweet caramel macchiato. And you'll be in the great hands of Dr. Yamauchi who took the time to explain my procedure (and even showed me cool photos afterwards of my treatment), and BEST OF ALL, managed to give me pain-free injections of local anesthesia (so there was no previous need for me to beg to be knocked out). I went about my day, completely forgetting I had even been to his office as I had no lingering side effects.
So please take care of your teeth folks (ok ok calling the kettle black), but if you happen to need a root canal or any dental surgery for that matter, be sure to look up my good friend Dr. Yamauchi. read more