I used to promote PC Dental Clinic to everyone. All the chairs used to be occupied by patients. Students were guided by teachers who cared. I would go to my regular dentist every 6 months and then Parkland the other 6 months. I have never had pain or bleeding during dental cleanings. I floss every day and do not have any issues that would lead to periodontal disease or bleeding gums. The last few years however, have not been as pleasant. I have also noticed that not all clinic chairs are occupied, which in today's financial climate, I find odd. The last time I went to Parkland my gums were bleeding during probing. I always find probing a pleasant experience and get teased because I think it tickles. I had 2 students working on me because, again, Parkland can't seem to fill patient chairs anymore. One started by telling me my teeth were yellow and zigzagged. I have 3 teeth on the bottom that overlap, otherwise my teeth are fairly straight. I get complements on my "lovely natural looking smile". I am older and my teeth are not as pearly white as they used to be, but are not yellow. I felt those statements were very unprofessional and rude, especially when I haven't heard them before in the last 60 years. Chair side manner must not be taught anymore at Parkland. One student told me that I actually have to move the toothbrush around my mouth to get them clean. She didn't discuss the bass technique or anything else just that I need to move my mechanical toothbrush around my mouth. Gee, I thought I could just place it in there and let it do its thing. Seriously, does she think anyone is that dumb. Then she proceeded to tell me I need orthodontics. Why would a 60 year old, with no issues need ortho? That was completely wrong on her part. The first student had a light touch and was doing a good job. I told her that it seemed like she had been doing this for years. The other one had a heavy hand and was leaning on my jaw. I have TMJ, so it was very uncomfortable. When I winced and shifted in the chair, the instructor came over and reinforced bad technique and lectured me for being rude. She then proceeded to "rake me over the coals" for being rude to the other girl. I never said anything to her; I just didn't complement her like I did the first girl. I felt the instructor was very rude and unprofessional. She definitely lost her cool and blamed the entire thing on me, the patient. It's my body and my choice and having never experienced such heavy handed cleanings before, I have the right to say, "Hey that hurts." If I had bleeding gums at every dental visit, I would agree, there's a problem. But if it's only every other visit at PC, I would say it's technique. As an instructor you should be guiding safe and effective techniques, not reinforcing bad habits and behavior and blaming the patient for responding to pain. How else do they learn? I never bleed after dental visits at my regular dentist, why are some students shredding my gums. My gums bled for 3 days after this visit. I understand that they are students; I was once a student as I am a retired dental health professional. I'll bet they didn't know that and proceeded to blame the patient instead of constructively educating the student. I WILL NEVER GO BACK TO PARKLAND. Not because they are students, but because the current teaching staff have a lot to learn about teaching future Hygienists. I think all the good ones must have retired. read more