May 7, 2009
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Is talking really necessary?
I went in to the dentist’s office a few days ago for some dental work. While I was sitting in the chair, the assistant felt the need to chatter –
“How’s the weather out there? Getting warmer?”
“How was traffic?”
“Has anything exciting happened since the last time you were here?”
“How is work going?”And sometimes they start talking about personal stuff.
“You live in _____? My husband is a truck driver and used to work there.”
(and then more stuff about her husband.)
(and then stuff about her kids.)The hygienist is even worse. She’s poking and prodding around in your mouth, talking a mile a minute and throwing in a question every once in a while. I don’t know about anyone else, but I can’t talk when someone is poking around in my mouth with a hook. (In fact, my husband and I have begun calling our hygienist “Helga the Hook”)
Seriously, dear hygienist, just do your job. When you talk, and then stop doing what you’re doing to use your hands to make a point, you’re making my dental cleaning take longer than necessary. I come to see you every six months so that I don’t HAVE to have long cleaning visits. If you must talk, stick to talking about what you are doing in my mouth.
Maybe they are trained to do that. Maybe it’s to help patients relax.
I’d rather put on some headphones and listen to my iPod.
Comments (5)
This is why I love my dentist. They have video goggles, so as soon as you lay back, you strap those on, they give you a remote control and you can watch whatever TV you want the entire time they’re working on you. Eliminates the inane chatter as well as the frustration at not being able to reply.
Tell them that and bring your iPod. I worked for my mom’s halfsister and yeah…they just don’t shut up. We used to joke she found hte perfect job because she never, ever shuts up. We had some patients who had fear of dental anything…they’d say that, bring in their iPods, and just chill to music while getting their cleaning done. So tell them that next time and bring yoru music! LOL
^^^^^ Tyche is spoiled. I need that kind of dentist.
I think some just are bored with their jobs and want to be friendly. Others like the one I got the last time should just not be doing what they are doing. If I can help it I will never sit for her again.
My hygienist is very nice, but seriously, she talks to me so much that it feels rude to put in my iPod.
I never understand why they ask questions. It’s clearly not possible for me to answer…without them stopping their work…which only prolongs the process.