Before I saw Dr. Hartwig, I hadn't seen a dentist in roughly 4 years due to a mixture of equal…read moreparts apathy, finances, and... of course... fear. This creates a recipe for what I call Disaster Mouth (pairs perfectly with Disaster Body if you also avoid the doctor).
Needless to say, I was embarrassed and nervous before I finally made an appointment, but as soon as I walked into the office, all my trepidation and worry melted away at the warm and caring environment I was welcomed into.
My awkward jokes were received with laughs as opposed to the usual blank stares I get, which was nice. The environment feels a lot more like you are visiting with good friends who just happen to really care about your teeth.
Miss Debbie, who cleaned my teeth, made me feel more like I was at the spa getting a facial, only for my teeth. Tiny, little teeth facials, if you can imagine.
Dr. Hartwig explained what was going on with my teeth due to years of maintaining a diet of mostly cake and candy, and gave me hope that my teeth wouldn't yet fall out of my head now that we have an action plan and a consistent maintenance schedule.
At the end of my visit, I did not have to peel myself off of the chair due to me losing my body weight in sweat from the pain and anxiety I have experienced with previous dentists and hygienists. I was relaxed, happy, and dry as a bone.
I went back the following week for some fillings, and the experience was just as pleasant as the first one, even though there were scarier instruments involved.
Typically, even a minimal amount of pain is expected when receiving a giant needle to the gums, even with the most skilled hands, and I was prepared for that, but Dr. Hartwig performed some type of magic in which I did not feel any pain, whatsoever; not even a pinch! She was able to quickly drill and fill not just one but two of my teeth, with no pain or discomfort at any given point.
Dr. Hartwig and her staff are nothing short of miracle workers in every capacity; they have managed to minimize the stress that often accompanies visits to the dentist, and have transformed it into a fun, pleasant event that makes you feel like you're winning at adulting.
I've stopped eating cake for (most) dinners, and am so grateful to have found Dr. Hartwig and her staff, and look forward to my next and every visit with this amazing team.