Well, THAT was an enlightening and horrifying conversation...

[PCIntern]

Huge man, my last patient of the day yesterday (Thursday), black guy, basso profundo voice, dominant personality, disruptive: he screams the Eagles fight song every time he sees me because I was at one time one of the official dentists of the team, and an aggressive fist bump maybe six or seven times a visit.

This, believe it or not, is not a rare thing in dentist’s offices and it’s basically business as usual. However…

For background, the only Democrats in the whole office are the owner/dentist, his wife, and I. The entire staff are Trump all the way. It’s revolting but it’s South Jersey -Trump Country as my neighbors’ signs say loudly.

So this guy and my assistant are having a conversation when I entered the room and I hear her say ”I love Trump” followed by the gentleman bellowing , “He is my MAN. He’s gonna do it for us.” I smiled, “What’s he going to do for you?” His response, “He’s got it going on , he’s my MAN!!!”

My response, “He sure does.” Then we got down to business: “you’re sitting in my chair, you get the big one in the middle of the room.”

“No…I’m just here to talk today.”

Uh-oh. I can’t even guess…

He continued, “ I bought veneers from Amazon which are coming in on Saturday. I want you to put them on for me.” He showed me the photo from Amazon.

“So one size fits all, eh? Are you going to wear her color lipstick? Because her teeth are like half the size of yours. And which shade did you order…you have no yellow in your teeth, indicating that you may have some Native American background, so standard shades aren’t great for you .”

He looked dumbfounded. I continued, “You know, you Trump people think you’ve got the jump on everything and everyone because you believe that there’s nothing to know about any business or profession AND you can bully your way through everything. I’ll put those veneers or whatever the eff they are on for you and it’s a shame that Halloween is over because you could’ve gone out as a Martian.”.
No response. “I’ll fit these for you and I’ll cement them if you want. But like your choice of Trump, whatever then happens is all on you. Don’t you ever, EVER, come in here and complain, got it?”

“Yeah.” Deflated.

I then finished with , “Cheer up, you’re gonna be fine because your boy Trump does not sexually abuse black women so your family’s going to be ok.” As far as your teeth go, well, they’re your personal version of January the Sixth. See you next week.”

I just walked out of the room, put on my jacket, and drove home to sanity. Tired of this shit.

[Vinca]

1. Aside from the Trump-related stuff, I was stunned to learn you can go on Amazon and buy veneers.

Do the MAGAs usually put them on with superglue? Your patience (not going for the guy's throat) is admirable. It must be a shocker when they get a dose of reality like the one you gave the guy. Sadly, it won't be the biggest dose of reality to come their way.

[Demobrat]

10. I had to go look.

There was a kit for $579. It looked like you take impressions of your teeth and send it back. I didn’t delve. And there were some pop on veneers for $18. I suspect the MAGA dude went the cheap route, but he’s willing to pay to have them put on, so who knows.

If he does come back in, you might want to compliment him on his timing. Very smart of him to buy them now, before tariffs push the prices up. You can even show him where on the package it says Made in China. Because it will.

[Tadpole Raisin]

28. Want to bet they are not returnable? Oh yah this guy just spent

Big bucks on junk but hasn’t realized he is likely out of luck on the return!!

[Ocelot II]

29. I wonder if the guy thinks they are like those fake fingernails

which eventually fall off when the real nails grow out, or that you can get off with solvent. Except real teeth don't grow out, and who wants to put nail polish remover on their teeth? My top front teeth got chipped some years ago so finally when I could afford it I got veneers. It was quite a fussy process that took several visits over a couple of weeks; it wasn't just a glue-on kind of thing, and it was expensive, but it turned out well. They match my real teeth and nobody ever even noticed them, which tells me it was done correctly. I can't imagine buying them off the internet and going to my dentist and asking her if she'd glue them on.

I kind of hope that idiot does it, though. It would serve him right if he looked ridiculous, or if they fell off while he was eating a steak at a restaurant.

[Demobrat]

40. He probably thinks you just glue them on

and they stay forever.
I have crowns on my two front teeth. I got them about 15 years ago. You can’t tell. My dentist did a beautiful job. The process involved temporary crowns and multiple visits.

I would love to see my dentist’s face if I walked in with a package of Amazon veneers and asked him to glue them on. He’d probably laugh his ass off. Maybe I’ll do it just for fun.

[Montauk6]

57. You can even buy coffins

[Ocelot II]

2. Oh, Lordy, I'm so glad I'm retired and don't have to deal with the public.

They're your patients/clients so you have to put up with some of that, but good for you for pushing back on that craziness. And I had no idea you could get veneers on Amazon! If this guy comes back with them and insists you put them on after that stern warning, please describe the result. And get a waiver in writing before you do it!

[niyad]

13. I think we should demand pictures, at least, if not actual video!

[Baitball Blogger]

3. Pulitzer material, there.

[sarisataka]

4. OMG nt

[people]

5. Thanks . . .

I always love what you write. So thoughtful and interesting.

[maptap22]

6. delete

Last edited Sat Nov 16, 2024, 08:22 AM - Edit history (1)

[maptap22]

7. delete

Last edited Sat Nov 16, 2024, 08:22 AM - Edit history (1)

.

[johnnyfins]

8. Love this!

[Easterncedar]

9. I am impressed by your cool.

I am braced for having to engage with magats at some point, but have the luxury of keeping to my blue friends, family and neighbors right now.

I hope you don’t get too burned out. The people you take care of should include you.

[The Madcap]

19. There are benefits

to being a hermit.

[Native]

11. Dayam, that was a thing of beauty!

[PennRalphie]

12. You need to move to western PA

All of our dentists here are booked so far out it’s crazy. When I see my dentist, he barely has time to say hello. I’ve also never once been in a medical office where the doctor talks politics. I guess it’s just different here. To have a thriving practice with that much time to talk to patients, you would make a fortune here in western PA.

[mopinko]

26. guessin that's about to change.

they’re gonna crow til it all turns to shit.

[John1956PA]

32. Here in my town forty miles north of Pittsburgh, dentists are respected.

The overhead maintaining a dental practice is high. State of the art x-ray machines are in every office. The dentists here make their services available in cases of emergency. The community supports their DMDs.

[PennRalphie]

42. Here too

The dentists are also very booked. I’m just surprised when I see posts about doctors having time to talk politics. Never have I had a medical appointment of any kind where the doctors talk about politics. They are total professionals.

[Fix The Stupid]

14. You seem very professional.

I wish we could all be so honoured, nay, have the privilege of darkening your door someday...

The best part is when you walked out and drove home...I'm sure you're coworkers were impressed.

[Hekate]

22. You've been here long enough to know that PCI is very professional indeed. Somehow I don't think he'd...

…leave his colleagues and patients in the lurch.

[PCIntern]

27. Are you having a reading issue?

Did I not say that this was my last patient of the day? I really have nothing else to say to you, since your sanctimony is well-established.

[KPN]

15. Wow! You just described my best fantasy!

Well done!

[2naSalit]

16. Well done!

At least he recognizes your skills. Geeze.

So glad I don't have to deal with the public for work anymore. Saw this coming years ago when I had to deal with the public and try to actually fucking TEACH them something!


Good on you for the response.

[Bluethroughu]

17. You made my month! I was just cracking up uncontrolably!

[BrianTheEVGuy]

18. More of this is needed

These guys are used to bullying people and then saying “don’t say I told you so” when the piper comes to be paid.

It’s time to start putting their risks and responsibilities squarely in their faces and forcing them to own everything. No more blaming others.

[FakeNoose]

20. It's going to be hard to treat that patient when he comes back to see you

From now on, every conversation is going to be about Chump and what a great job he's doing, etc. etc.
I'm cringing for you already.

[PCIntern]

30. I can manage any situation

After nearly 50 years of dealing with the masses.

[Linda ladeewolf]

21. I don't get it.

Trump hates his own supporters. He hates black people, he hates Latinos, he hates the poor of any race even white poor people (whites a color too). He hates the unwashed masses that gave him millions of dollars. Why do they love him. It’s like loving the guy who is beating you to death after stealing everything you own and raping your wife and daughter and then crapping on them.

[thebigidea]

36. What's the big mystery? These people have different priorities than we do.

[FB47243]

23. Palatal Injections

Maybe time for a few palatal injections to make sure the patient doesn’t feel the chiclets being epoxied in place. make sure you give him the Tom Cruise look with the off center upper palate as well!

[PCIntern]

31. It's a thought....I'll see if I can find a 25 g needle

[calimary]

56. Welcome to DU, FB47243!

I hope that works out, but if it doesn't, I hope he doesn't come in and terrorize you for giving him what he told you he wanted.

[Pepsidog]

24. The sense on entitlement is astonishing. It's like going to Costco and buying steaks then taking them to Capital Grille

and expecting their chefs to cook the steaks for you. As a South Jersey resident and attorney I was dismayed at how many people I know were Trumpers. These are all highly educated people who are for the most part I consider wealthy. When I challenged their support for Trump it became obvious they knew nothing of the issues. They were products of Fox and rw media. They all shared one thing, while I have known these people for a long time I realized that Trump exposed them as the horrible people they are. Selfish and racists worried only about themselves. They cared nothing for the country or other people. They were just worried about immigrants getting something free and government taking away their wealth.

[LymphocyteLover]

25. what's the deal with veneers anyway? Why are they so popular?

[PCIntern]

33. Look 'em up on the Intertubes

Lots o’ info.

[LymphocyteLover]

34. sure... but I thought you might have some unique insight

[PCIntern]

38. They're good for

Cosmetic coverup. If you decide on them rather than crowns, you must understand that they are more easily fractured than crowns, no matter what the practitioner tells you. If the fractures of your teeth are due to a malocclusion, you will undoubtedly break the veneers.

[LymphocyteLover]

41. Interesting-- thanks!

[Ocelot II]

43. I got veneers for cosmetic purposes for slightly chipped front teeth

that I hated the looks of. I was told to avoid biting on hard things, which I wouldn't anyhow, so they've held up just fine - I've had them for about 10 years now (got a crown on another tooth that does more crunching). It was definitely not a simple glue-on process, though - it took several visits and some careful puttering and fitting and shaping by the dentist, but I'm really satisfied with the result. I'm looking forward to hearing whether your patient goes ahead with his mail-order stick-on veneers, and if he does, how he likes them.

[QED]

68. My dentist fixed my slightly chipped front tooth

and then the fix fell off. He asked if I wanted him to fix it again and I told him no, it happened when I was eating pistachios and I have no intention of stopping eating pistachios.

[3Hotdogs]

44. My crowns - 8 of 'em, were installed in the 1960's.

Still going strong.

The rest of me ain't, But the crowns are.

[Hekate]

62. I think it's prenatal Tetracycline that stains the baby's permanent teeth quite badly...

When I was growing up, a neighbor girl had these terribly mottled front teeth. When she was working after high school, she had them covered over by a dentist. All these many decades later, I don’t recall particular details — just that she looked so much better.

[ShazzieB]

47. Veneers are popular because they can greatly improve the look of teeth for a lot less money than crowns cost.

Last edited Fri Nov 15, 2024, 04:28 PM - Edit history (1)

Whether a veneer will work or a crown is needed depends on how much of the original tooth structure is intact. Crowns are usually necessary for teeth with extensive damage due to decay or trauma, but if teeth are all or mostly intact and you just want to make them look better, veneers can do the job for a fraction of the cost.

[PCIntern]

48. As a dentist I will tell you that

Properly doing veneers with a good outcome is much more difficult than doing crowns.

Veneers which are placed Over unprepared teeth are bulky, look very iffy, and do not possess the retentive qualities required of an American diet. It’s actually very complicated. Many arcane factors come into play.

[ShazzieB]

50. Interesting.

I haven't priced any of that stuff in a long time, but I know veneers used to cost less. My daughter had some of both done several years ago when she was still living at home, and there was a big difference in the costs we were quoted for each.

The dentist she was seeing at the time wanted to do all crowns or nothing, but we found another dentist who was willing to do veneers on some of them, for a lot less than the other guy would have charged for crowns. The 2nd dentist must have known what she was doing, because the results were beautiful.

[Ocelot II]

69. I learned that when I got mine.

It was much more complicated than I expected - a lot of preparation was involved. Still, they've been holding up for quite a long time (about 12 years so far), and I'm pleased with the result.

[PCIntern]

71. That's terrific!!!

[LymphocyteLover]

52. thanks-- what about for a tooth with slight fracture?

[PCIntern]

54. Sure...but the cause of the fracture must be alleviated

If it’s not an acute problem which occurred.

[thebigidea]

35. Seems more like the stuff you think of to say on the ride home

[PCIntern]

39. Over the years I have learned to think fast

[AllaN01Bear]

45. riot

[3catwoman3]

46. Damn, I'd have paid good money to see that!

I'll bet that felt good.

[spanone]

49. K&R

[RicROC]

51. My dentist put a Trump sign in the front yard of his office.

[PCIntern]

53. 🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮

[Cha]

60. He'd be my Ex dentist.

[Ocelot II]

70. I don't understand businesses that advertise their politics

unless they don't mind losing clients or customers. Penzy's, for example, is forthrightly liberal and apparently large enough in their niche market that they don't worry if MAGA doesn't buy their spices. But it doesn't seem very sensible for a small business like a dentist's office to be doing that. I don't have any idea who my dentist or my doctor voted for, but if they advertised with Trump signs at their offices I'd be looking for someone else.

[cpamomfromtexas]

55. Your response is righteous! I laughed out loud!

[sakabatou]

58. I barely talk to my dentist

Other than scheduling, and how high/low the chair can be set to. If it goes beyond a certain angle, I get headaches.

[Cha]

59. Wow.. you verbally assaulted

him with Sharp Edgy Facts.

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

61. Have you seen the most recent version of "Little Shop of Horrors"?

In it, Steve Martin plays the dentist. He sings, "I am a dentist, I like to cause other people pain..."

In the original 1960 version, the part of the dentist's victim was played by a very young Jack Nicholson, in his third film appearance.

[PCIntern]

63. Yes of course

And I might recommend W C Fields’ short: The Dentist. Hilarious and occasionally positively obscene!

[SlimJimmy]

64. If my dentist ever spoke that way toward

me, that would be the last appt I ever had with him. Of course, I wouldn't buy veneers off of the Internet. Trust me, he knew you were mocking him.
I'd be pretty pissed off.

[PCIntern]

65. Yeah?

Well..would you come in, screaming all over the office, sit in the doctor’s chair, tell him or her what to do and then scream the entire Eagles fight song?

You know, I could use 100 good patients. One more or less is meaningless. You’d be out in a minute permanently.

Patients threatening to leave a practice are more than welcomed to. When someone says that stuff, I stand up and say to the assistant: please provide this individual with a copy of their records and then I just walk out of the room.

[SlimJimmy]

66. It seems to me

you poked that bear as well. Maybe it was best that you decided to part ways. As for me, my dentist and I don't discuss politics. He takes care of my teeth, and I pay him for his services.

[PCIntern]

67. Well I don't discuss politics either unless

The patient brings it up. I’m not afraid to make my thoughts known and since I AM the doctor, my statements have some weight, even to those ignoramuses who get their news from hate radio.

See, you were discussing your role as a patient, which is perfectly acceptable and normal and you have a standard relationship with your practitioner. I on the other hand, see literally thousands of people and deal with their norms. Their subjects of conversation and their attitudes don’t necessarily mirror yours and I have had to deal with all manner of individuals for the nearly 50 years in which I’ve been in practice. A couple years ago, I did a quick estimate and decided that I have seen well over 125,000 patients. . That’s a very large number of behavioral patterns with which I have had to deal.

[GP6971]

73. Well, Hello.

See ya!!