{"id":91,"date":"2006-07-21T08:37:00","date_gmt":"2006-07-21T15:37:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fishingforcustomers.com\/twice-a-year-is-recommended\/"},"modified":"2012-06-19T11:34:22","modified_gmt":"2012-06-19T18:34:22","slug":"twice-a-year-is-recommended","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/develop-my-site.com\/fishing2\/twice-a-year-is-recommended\/","title":{"rendered":"Twice A Year Is Recommended"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Dentist<\/a>

Dentist Sign<\/p><\/div>\n

We assume that people avoid seeing their dentist because they fear pain. Perhaps that\u2019s a valid assumption.<\/p>\n

Maybe they don\u2019t call because they don\u2019t have a relationship with a dentist. Or maybe they\u2019re just busy. Then again, maybe it\u2019s lack of foresight \u2013 the \u201cNothing hurts. Why invite trouble?\u201d attitude.<\/p>\n

For the record, I\u2019m feeling no discomfort. I\u2019d like to think it was all that busy-ness that kept me away for the last dozen years. But, whatever the reason, for the first time in twelve years I made an appointment for a check up.<\/p>\n

How did I choose the dentist?<\/h3>\n

Did I ask for referrals from people I know? Did I call the Chamber of Commerce? Search the Internet? Consult the yellow pages?<\/p>\n

Nope. Like so many other people, I drive by his office every day. He has a sign out front of his office.<\/p>\n

You\u2019ve heard me say that frequency sells. Repeat the message often enough and people who need what you\u2019re offering will eventually seek you out. By my own estimate I’ve passed that sign well over three hundred times. Three hundred impressions made their way into my brain. At the conscious level? Well, conscious enough that I did start thinking I was past due for a check-up.<\/p>\n

One day, on a whim, I pulled into the parking lot and walked in. I had a delightful conversation with the doctor\u2019s receptionist. She set my appointment, took insurance information, and explained the pricing and credit policies of her office.<\/p>\n

On the appointed day I arrived, checked in, and got only half-way through the first article in an August 2004 issue of People<\/em>, when I was called into the exam room.<\/p>\n

Met the hygienist, Janine. Nice lady. She took a patient history, cleaned my teeth, and filled out a chart. She also took an x-ray of each side of my mouth. We spent about an hour and a quarter together.<\/p>\n

Then the dentist walked in.<\/h3>\n

I said \u201cHi<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

He said \u201cHi<\/em>,\u201d back, but there was no enthusiasm in his voice. He made no eye contact. He went directly to the chart, and after studying for a minute, picked up a probe and a mirror and stuck them in my mouth.<\/p>\n

He made two comments to Janine, wheeled his short naugahide covered stool out of my line of vision and announced \u201cYou need two fillings and we\u2019re going to have to remove that rear molar. I\u2019m going to have Janine take a full panoramic x-ray<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

With that, he was gone.<\/p>\n

Janine escorted me across the hall, shot the panoramic x-ray, and told me I was finished.<\/p>\n

I stopped at the reception desk to ask about my next appointment, which the receptionist scheduled within ten days.<\/p>\n

I won’t be keeping the appointment.<\/h3>\n

I’ve already called and cancelled.<\/p>\n

This Doctor of Dentistry could have turned me into a strong reference for his practice. All he would have had to do was to treat me as if I mattered.<\/p>\n

Imagine the difference it would have made if he had spent thirty seconds when he first walked into the room to say \u201cGood morning, Mr. McKay. We\u2019re always glad to welcome new patients, and we\u2019re pleased that you\u2019ve chosen us for your dental care<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

Imagine how much better I\u2019d feel at the beginning of the exam had he said \u201cI\u2019m going to take a look now at some areas Jeanine has marked on your chart. Would you mind opening your mouth?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

Imagine how much more confidence I\u2019d have in his prescription of treatment had he said \u201cMr. McKay, you have a couple of minor cavities that need to be filled, but that back molar is a ticking time bomb. If you\u2019re not in any pain, yet, it\u2019s only a matter of time. I\u2019m sorry, but the decay is such that we\u2019re not going to be able to save that tooth. I\u2019d like to schedule a time to remove it. Is there any reason we shouldn\u2019t do that?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

But, those things will have to remain in my imagination, since they didn\u2019t happen.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m one of those people who resents not being acknowledged. I don’t like it at a restaurant. I definately don’t like it when I’m paying a high priced professional for his services.<\/p>\n

I’m presently taking steps to find a different dentist.<\/p>\n

How much do you want to bet that the first doctor is still counting me as one of his patients? My patient file is probably one of the assets of his business.<\/p>\n

And, though I did have the courtesy to cancel the appointment, I didn’t feel compelled to announce my departure from his practice. Maybe I’ll send him a copy of this article.<\/p>\n

Three Lessons<\/h3>\n

So, while I begin the search for a second opinion, let me summarize what’s to be learned from this particular dental experience.<\/p>\n