The dentist for people who are terrified of dentists.
I'd had several really, REALLY bad experiences with dentists who ignored or dismissed my concerns, even when those concerns were, "yeah that hurts like mad I'm not numb can you stop pulling this tooth please." So I hadn't been to one in years, I was beginning to have issues, but I was so terrified that I just kept finding reasons to put it off.
And then my husband dragged me in to Dr. Otten. They *get it*. There are staff members with prior professional experience caring for trauma survivors, and it shows. Every member of that team is patient, funny, gentle, and extremely competent. (Leading me back to the exam room, they showed me exactly how many steps there were from the chair to the bathroom and the exit. 5 and 12, respectively. Like I said, they *get it*.)
Dr. Otten is such a geek, and I mean that in the best possible way. After thirty years of digging around in people's filthy mouths, he is still *so* enthusiastic about what he does, about advancements in knowledge and new procedures and emerging technologies. It's hard to be scared of a guy who's just so darn excited about showing you your own occluded bite and all the ways it can be fixed! Rather than get annoyed when you ask tons of questions, he seems genuinely pleased to have the opportunity to share his knowledge, like he sincerely wants you to know what's going on, from the processes that shape your bite to what that weird new noise coming from the drill is. And he especially seems to want you to know what your options for care are, that you *have* options in the short- and long-term, and that you are totally in charge of those decisions.
I just came back from having a molar extracted, and I can't even wrap my head around how little anxiety I had, before and during. After my last one (years ago, different dentist), I swore I'd never have a tooth pulled again without general anaesthesia. But this was my third visit to Dr. Otten, so I *knew*, like deep down where your panic lives, that he would listen to me, that he would tell me exactly what was happening at all times, that he would be honest if something was going to be scary or uncomfortable or even painful, that his skills are incredible, that he is meticulous in ensuring that I'm completely numb before beginning work, and that when I am in his chair, I'm the one in charge. That's kind of a huge deal. read more