attended a local dental society's annual conference last friday, so have been thinking about dentistry and this dentist identity.

lately it seems like we've been getting more and more refugee dental patients. they tell me their sad stories about how they had such a bad experience at their previous dentist and how they "already have a good feeling" about esperanza, and "already feel better".

i'm glad that our health center can make people feel like they are cared for. of course, as christians, we want to be a light to people and represent christ's kindness and compassion.

however, i normally don't have a good feeling when people complain about their previous dentist/s. i am aware that there is some shady dentistry out there. and that stress plus the pressure to produce/earn an income is real. sometimes people feel like they have to compromise on quality given time and resource restraints. honestly, sometimes i finish a filling or some other type of work and think, "eew! i wish i had time to make that prettier!". but realistically there isn't time. and if it's clinically acceptable, then that's that.
when patients come in complaining about previous bad experiences, the assumption often is that the patient is a difficult patient. i try to advocate on behalf of previous dentists, well, because i am a dentist and therefore an ambassador for others of my kind. surely, if there's obvious mistreatment, then that's something else. but, there are two sides to all stories. i like to hear all the details just coz i like a great story. but kinda take everything with a grain of salt.

finally, maybe people just seem more needy/high-maintenance on days that i'm moody.