[QueenAngie]

My dentist of ....23 or 24 years.....has seen fit to retire in March.

I do not believe that he ever asked me my opinion on this topic of
his retirement.

DH, and both my sons have gone there since birth.

That's a long time to have the same dentist.
Initially in our 1st home, seemed like everybody in the neighborhood where I lived
worked for this dentist - one was the office manager, another did the financial end, one was the receptionist,
another was a hygienist, even the housekeeper was a neighbor. That was many years back when the boys were young.

Another dentist purchased the office and the same hygienists are there at this point.
He has hired a seasoned male dentist to run things
and a newly hired female dentist as #2.

Both boys had their braces at this dental office. I have spent a fortune there
and my sons have beautiful, white teeth and lovely smiles.

I tell my boys at picture taking time, "Show Mom your $5,000 teeth - smile!"
I'm not kidding.

Now, we just saw the dentist (DS#2 and I) for the 6 month check ups in early February. Everything is ok, no 'watches' on teeth. Checked out fine for both of us.

DS#2 now sees the new female dentist and she tells him
that he has

.....18 cavities!!!!

How does a person go from no cavities in February, 07 to now 18?
That's every other tooth. We see the dentist every 6 months.

I did not go to this appointment, but when I heard, I got on the telephone.

She is a brand new dentist. I mean brand new....as in this is her first job....
and DS#2 was probably her first patient.

SURPRISE!!!

Every spot that his braces were on "is a cavity" (NO!),
and she wants to "remove every filling in his mouth and refill them all."

(Don't ya think this would weaken every tooth in his mouth and go backwards
on all the oral surgery w/ the braces?) The boy had braces on every tooth in his mouth.

I was very professional to her on the telephone, but let her know that our first
meeting was not a good one.

I suggested to her since 18 out of his 30 some teeth were bad and needed new fillings,
that he'd be going to the oral surgeon and have them all pulled....dentures would have to be made.

Her response, "Oh, but he has good teeth - everyone of them! You don't want to do that!"

The worst thing was that DS#1 had an appointment the next day,
but it was the male dentist that is 'seasoned' and guess what - "No cavities!"

We are changing dental practices pronto.

My older, retired dentist was supposed to grow old with me!

[MissyChrissy]

Ugh that sucks big time! Couldn't ds#2 go to the seasoned dentist instead of the "newbie" one? Maybe she just doesn't have enough experience.

I'm so sorry you went through this. I secretly fear this day when my children's dr retires. He's rather young for a dr-he was just out of his residence 14 years ago when I took Bobbie to him for the first time. But he's a GP, so theoretically, the kids can see him well into their own adulthood...and they'll be faced with this same scenario (hopefully not with an inept newbie on board though!).

It sounds like you really handled yourself well though. Good for you! I wish everyone could always be so calm & collected.

[AudreyOka]

Ug....I've been down that exact path. I have dental insurance. After alot of searching I found a dentist I loved!!!! He is actually a cosmetic dentist, which means he does a lot of fixes for those with severe problems. But I loved him . He hired an assistant dentist...same thing, fresh out of school. Anyone who was not a "problem" was switched to the new guy. The dentist I loved wanted to devote all of his time to the "problems" not to cavities and crowns. I needed a crown. Mr Newbie messed up and I had to have it redone. I never went back. I found a new dentist...actually a woman and now I just love her. She is my age, so I hope it will be a while before she retires