I hadn't been to the dentist in 6 years.
I don't like going to the dentist and I was tired of rude hygienists and in-chair up-sells on products and procedures I was never quite sure I needed. Plus there was the pain and discomfort that usually comes with the kind of deep cleaning that my tartar-prone teeth often require.
However, I have kids now and am starting to appreciate the amount of time and $$ that was spent by my folks on my dental health when I was a kid. I figured it was time to act like a grown-up and go see the dentist.
I picked Paradigm Dental because of the user reviews here on Yelp! and because it is super close to my house.
I could not be happier with my experience.
Julia is far and away the best dental hygienist I've ever seen. No lecture, just honest talk about the shape my mouth was in, what it was going to take to get it in better shape (two cleanings, a week apart), and what I'd have to do at home between treatments (brush, floss, special mouthwash).
She applied a numbing gel to my gums for the debridement and I had no pain or discomfort. No one had *ever* offered that kind of pain management for a cleaning before.
Dr. Brian was equally amazing. He's another straight shooter. To my amazement (and maybe his as well) I only needed two fillings: one to replace filling that had fallen out and one for a cavity that was not quite a cavity but was going to be one. He told me that he saw at least one other place that looked like it might be a cavity coming on, but rather than drill it out, he wanted to just keep an eye on it. Imagine that, a dentist choosing *not* to drill the hell out of a suspect tooth.
Today, I got those fillings that I needed. Totally painless. I didn't even feel the needle from the anesthesia (usually they say "get ready for a little pinch," which ends up feeling more like a wasp stinging my gums). Nothing. Nada. There was the usual nails-on-a-chalkboard feeling that comes with drilling and filing, but I expected that.
Ragan, who assisted Dr. Brian on the procedure, was both professional and warm. During some downtime, we talked about beer, brewing, and the beer culture in Portland. She knows her stuff!
Amanda, who works out front, is super-kind, remembered my name on each return visit and was on the phone with my insurance company during almost all of my procedures, getting approvals for treatments and letting me know what they would and would not cover.
I was never felt like I was being "sold" anything. The entire practice delivered amazing care. I have my next appointment in 6 months and I'm actually *looking forward to it.* I'm sure my wife will be making Paradigm Dental her new dentists and I've already talked to them about bringing my kids over as well.
Bottom line: If you have had bad experiences with dentists, if you have been away from the dentist for a while and have 'let things go,' you need to give Paradigm Dental a call. You will be really glad you did. read more