Most dentists are freaks.
I used to have a dentist who would end every visit by asking me questions about my life. Then, six months later, having covertly reviewed his notes he would resume the conversation as if we were picking up a chat we had yesterday.
It was a forced attempt at engagement by an awkward guy.
I began to game the system by coming up with the most off the wall interests I could think of. Then, as he scraped my teeth with a pick, like one of those salesman that sticks within the confines of a script, he would ask me, "So Ian, are you still making the pickle flavored ice cream, cheesecake, and... soap?"
The sole proprietor of Pasadena Dental Group, Dr. Mizuno is the opposite of all that. Dr. Mizuno is down to earth. Dr. Mizuno likes sports. Dr. Mizuno likes to tailgate. I once asked Dr. Mizuno, of USC and UCLA which school he liked more, as he went to both. Dr. Mizuno pulled up his sleeve to reveal a SC tattoo on his arm. What in the not-boring-dentist-cliche? And what a relief. I knew I was in the right place.
Note that I also like a bunch of the same stuff and so Dr. Mizuno is probably more perfect for me than the typical person. But if you do happen to share any of the same interests, you will absolutely... and incredibly... look forward to going to the dentist and hanging out with Dr. Mizuno.
But there are a few other things I want to make clear.
One is that Dr. Mizuno is a skilled dentist and oral surgeon. Prior dentists used to warn me about periodontitis (swollen gums). "You need to floss," they said and I told them I did and they didn't believe me, and then that was the end of that. Dr. Mizuno actually did something about it with multiple deep cleanings. After the second treatment, the gum swelling reduced and my mouth was in much better shape. He also did an extremely thorough job fixing a chipped tooth.
Another point is that my wife is not really into sports or keen on the subtleties of USC vs. UCLA, but she is a big Dr. Mizuno fan as well. She also (unfortunately) chipped a tooth, and was impressed by how careful and thorough Dr. Mizuno was in fixing it. So while she is not having the bro down that I experience every visit, she is comfortable talking to him and trusts his work. That's what happens when you are around someone this genuine.
If you're new to the area or want to switch things up from your boring dentist with zero personality, give Dr. Mizuno a shot. read more