the art of being really great at your craft. my dentist

[vash]

you all know about my recent dental visit. it went swimmingly well.

it got me thinking about my dentist himself. i dont remember how i found him. moved to a new city and looked online i think. almost pure luck. after my first visit i remember going home and insisting my wife give him a try. we have had him for almost 2 decades now. BEST dentist ever, and trust me, with my fear of dentist i tried a bunch of them. he is slightly older than me, but old school. simple office, just him and Jodie who does everything else. dentist does all the teeth work. cleanings on up.

when i moved to a different city, my wife and i looked at each other and agreed we would keep our dentist. we schedule our checkups together and roadtrip to the the visit and spend a day afterwards shopping and eating. we take the entire day off. i asked if we were the furthest traveling patients. nope he has out of state folks!!

even his referall to an oral surgeon was to a gentlemen with the same, do minimum harm philosophy. no added procedures to make boat payments.

my dad told me when i was a tiny kid that no matter what you choose to do for a living, do it the best you can and you will succeed. best you can is a tough order if you really think about it. my plumber and electrician dont even answer my calls anymore. they are damn near famous in my neighborhood. i need to up my own game. faack. i think i fall short to be honest with myself.

[masraum]

Nice. It's good when you can find folks like that whether Dentist, Dr, mechanic, plumber, etc....

It's far, far too easy to find the other guys.

I wanted to have all of the valves for all of the sinks and toilets in the house replaced. THe house was 40-50 years old and I didn't want to deal with stuff breaking. I called a plumber that seemed to be busy in my area, always seeing their vans, etc.... They came out and quoted something like $1200 to replace them all. I told them thanks but no thanks. They had told me ahead of time, "it's $50 for us to come out, but if you use us, that comes out of the bill." I was happy to pay them. I called the next guy. He came out and was "the guy" for the place and his wife had answered the phone. I think he charged $500. The sad part was that he was done in 15-20 mins. But I'm certain that if I'd put a wrench on any of the valves, I'd have ended up twisting the pipes off inside the wall or something.

My wife is the same with dentists and eye doctors. And yeah, now that we've moved, she still drives into town (80-120 miles depending upon the service) to go to the folks that she's been using. Years ago, she had an opthamologist that she used for many, many years that was not on our insurance, but kept using him because she liked him. Fortunately, we've found someone else that's great AND on our insurance.

[Evans, Marv]

I have an appt. next week with our dentist to get cleaned and two procedures done. She's a little Japanese lady we've been going to for 2+ decades. Her place always projects a feeling of cleanliness and efficiency with friendly people working there. We'd be very disappointed if she ever closed shop.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Evans, Marv

I have an appt. next week with our dentist to get cleaned and two procedures done. She's a little Japanese lady we've been going to for 2+ decades. Her place always projects a feeling of cleanliness and efficiency with friendly people working there. We'd be very disappointed if she ever closed shop.

When I lived in Japan, that was the whole country.

[GH85Carrera]

When I first moved to Oklahoma City, I had to find a new dentist. There was no internet in the 1970s, so I went to a dentist just a few blocks from where I lived. He had just opened his practice a few weeks before and he was playing cards with the dental hygienist. He took me in on the spot. My wife started using him 30 years ago.

No the bastage is retiring! How dare he. So I have to find a new dentist. It will be a strange experience going to a different dentist. I will miss him. After 44 years of seeing him.

[herr_oberst]

My guy is great. He's no longer on my plan, so I pay him out of pocket for cleanings and checkups twice a year. He's one of those guys who has no ego when it comes to doing anything to get you on your way and out the door. He'll clean teeth or whatever, and if there's anyway to take care of an issue that day he'll try his best. I've been his patient for 25 or so years, and of course he's just about ready to retire, so I need to find someone.

My only beef with his office is he contracts the hygienists out to a service, and I rarely see the same one twice. There have been a couple of hygienists I really like, but most of them are just OK.

[Evans, Marv]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

So I have to find a new dentist.

Glen. I'd ask him for a referral when he retires. I'd also let him know ahead of time to consider who he might recommend.

[oldE]

Our dentist too has been great. Same age as me, he took over a practice in our small town 40 years ago. Our kids were the same age. When he wanted to retire, he couldn't find anyone to take over the practice, so he basically took his patients to a practice 40 miles away, where he works part time.
It's not a big deal to schedule for once a year check ups.
Good news, the other staff in the place are excellent as well.

Best
Les

[Superman]

When you need a doctor, dentist or attorney.....it is not the time to bargain-shop. Everything you know about the world suggests that some folks do stuff way better than others. Those are the guys you want.

[john70t]

Originally Posted by masraum

When I lived in Japan, that was the whole country.

Ditto. Clean efficient polite. No bs allowed.
The big cities vice and business are another matter.

If you visit there, they will let you slide with plenty "stupid ignorant gaijin" points.
(I used all mine up)

But if you live there, they will start training you harshly to get up to their standards.
(it's actually a form of honor)