Dr. Martin accepted a personal call from me on Sunday evening Thanksgiving weekend, when I had severe, throbbing pain radiating along my right jaw up into the TMJ and down my neck. Thinking I may have an abscess, I called the office of my own dentist the day before since he had just completed a crown on a molar in my right jaw. I got voice mail and no emergency # to call so I left a detailed msg. A call came in on my cell phone 10 hours later as "unknown number", but I do not answer those. And the caller left no voice mail.
Sunday morning, another call came in from an "unknown number". On a hunch, I answered and it turned out to be my dentist. I was incredulous that he would block his personal number! Even though I left a very detailed msg, his first words were, "I don't know what's going on." I begged for help managing the pain, but he gave no meaningful advice and showed no concern at all. That's when began looking for another dentist.
I read mostly positive Google reviews for Dr. Martin. But I also read a one star review from a disgruntled parent. That review convinced me to try to reach Dr. Martin because he responded to it with compassion and gave the writer his home phone #, inviting him to call! Imagine posting his home # on the internet for all to see. That's my kind of dentist!
I asked the Lord to go before my call, have Dr. Martin be at home and willing to speak with a total stranger. He answered on the third ring! He listened then said I needed a different antibiotic. He told me the name, dose, and quantity to request from my own dentist the next morning. Then to manage the pain, he recommended a staggered regimen of 1 naproxen sodium, followed 4 hours later by 2 extra strength acetaminophen, then 4 hours later 1 naproxen sodium, then 4 hours later 2 extra strength acetaminophen, etc. He said he would speak to his receptionist in the morning and have her call me to arrange an appointment for Wednesday at his Crossville office. He said to take my current antibiotic along with the new one for 24 hours so I would not be without help while the second antibiotic was taking effect. We spoke for 22 minutes and HE ACTUALLY CARED!
During the Wednesday appointment, Dr. Martin determined the exam and x-rays were inconclusive with no evidence of an abscess. But because my upper teeth were hitting the new crown on the bottom right when I was chewing on the left side, he reduced that crown to try to eliminate the contact. He said his best guess was that it may have caused the pain since the nerve below the crowned tooth was being irritated. I was so disappointed to leave without a diagnosis that I began to cry.
When I stopped at the front desk to pay my bill, the receptionist said there would be no charge. I thought I heard wrong and asked her to repeat it. She said that because he felt he had not helped me, there would be no charge. I was astounded at such unexpected kindness. Then Dr. Martin walked by, patted my shoulder, and said he would be praying for me!
Within 36 hours, the pain began to subside. A couple of days later, I returned for a second appointment because that crowned tooth was still too high. He reduced it further, and I thanked him for taking me in again so quickly. I told the receptionist I wanted to pay not only this bill, but the bill for my first visit as well, since Dr. Martin's "best guess" had turned out to be correct. But once more, I was told there would be no charge! Dr. Martin walked up behind me and said, "Just write a Google review instead." That's what I call Amazing Grace!
A few days later, I Googled "neuralgia" and discovered I had nearly ALL the symptoms of Trigeminal Neuralgia. It took 5 weeks for the pain to resolve. I was very grateful because the article said sometimes that nerve does NOT recover. I praise God for His mercy and Dr. Martin's compassion and skill. The Lord made him something very special indeed! read more
