She wanted to change her orthodontist. She wanted us to take over her case. She had suddenly discovered that her orthodontist’s practice was very inconveniently located. She was suggesting us to either continue with her orthodontic treatment at our facility or next best take off her orthodontic braces for good. That was pretty unusual, how come it took her 4-5 months to realize a geographical fact? For a young smart student like her that would have been easy to figure out right at the start. We were now put on our back foot! Now it was me and my orthodontist who were pleading her to continue her treatment with her current orthodontist. After all the treatment was on it’s way and it is unprofessional to interrupt a co-professionals efforts. She refused to budge. We decided to cross check with her orthodontist. He wouldn’t mind us taking over if that was in the best interests of the patient.
Resigned to our fate we agreed to take over. However on opening her mouth we were taken aback. A mouth full of calculus, deep caries in nearly every posterior tooth, swollen bleeding gums. An orthodontic problem which was an obvious extraction case yet all premolars intact. And seen were a mouth full of brackets and arch wires. And any X-ray pictures? Study models? None whatsoever! What on earth was the treatment plan? Tongue in cheek we politely inquired for an explanation for the undone dentistry. She wasn’t even aware or told about the calculus, swollen gums, caries and pre-orthodontic extractions at all. What had happened? The patient sub conscious had somewhere along the way sensed that her case was being handled, politely put, in a manner leaving a lot to be desired.
But her mind wanted to avoid conflict and it now invented a “geographical inconvenience”! Young dentists often ask how patients can tell whether they received good quality dental care. Well there is an inbuilt mechanism in this world. Sixth sense. Call it protective instinct, if you will. Don’t believe me? Well, try it, just keep staring rudely at a person standing ahead of you in a bus or train but facing away from you, for some time, and more often than not he turns around to look at you. In a way we all have eyes behind us. Nature saw to it that a protective instinct developed for our protection. We have premonitions, we can just tell something is wrong somewhere, but can’t say what. People usually know, that they got a raw deal. Once their protective instinct has awakened them they cross check with their friends and other patients receiving similar treatment. Call up their distant cousins, who are dentists and have a discreet word with their family physician and finally “google” their queries. And that nearly frames the dentist’s lies! Be so honest, thorough and sincere that your patient’s sixth sense bell never rings! It’s these little bits that add up to creating a reputation, And without reputation where would you be?
Author: Dr. Sanjay Jamdade is a senior practitioner practicing implantology, oral rehabilitation, conservative dentistry, and endodontics, with over 35 years of exemplary service in advancing dental care. He has been a speaker on dental implantology and a respected visiting implantologist across various clinics in Maharashtra, his expertise is widely recognized. Currently serving as the CEO of Dr. S.D. Jamdade Dental Clinic, he leads an establishment renowned for its excellence in aesthetic dentistry, microscope-assisted endodontics, dental implants, and comprehensive oral rehabilitation. Strategically situated near the prestigious Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) and Tarapur Atomic Power Station (TAPS) in Boisar, Taluka Palghar, District Palghar, the clinic stands as a trusted bastion of high-quality dental care. For professional inquiries or consultations, Dr. S. D. Jamdade may be contacted via email at sanjayjamdade@gmail.com.