1 /5 Nate Van Houten: If you have anxiety about going to the dentist, I do not recommend this place. I couldn’t even get past the consultation. There was a clear lack of communication between the hygienist and the dentist. Communication is something I focus on heavily, as it’s a key part of my profession. When I first scheduled the appointment, I made it clear that I have anxiety and apprehensions about seeing a dentist. Dental visits make me feel very uncomfortable, so I need a dentist and staff who understand that. I also have some autoimmune issues, which complicate certain dental procedures. I’ve had a really good dentist in the past, so I know what good dental care looks like, including effective communication. Unfortunately, I felt there were multiple breakdowns in communication during this visit.
By the time I walked in, I was already in an anxious state. While I could still communicate effectively, very little was done to ensure I was comfortable. For example, no one asked how I was doing or checked in with me on an emotional level—simple questions like, “Are you comfortable?” or “How are you feeling?” would have helped. No boundaries or efforts were established to make me feel at ease before proceeding. When the dentist finally saw me, I interpreted his demeanor as incredibly condescending. It was clear he had spent little to no time reviewing my chart before the appointment. Instead, he relied heavily on his visual assessment to come up with a treatment plan, which I found disconcerting. The hygienist seemed more confident in handling the situation than he did.
Additionally, I suffer from chronic migraines, and when he leaned me back to examine my mouth, the bright lights were directly in my eyes. Remember, I have anxiety, and sometimes I struggle to speak up about my discomfort in the moment. This is why it would have been crucial to establish boundaries and check in with me from the start. Unfortunately, the dentist didn’t take the time to do that. Instead, he kept saying things like, “You’re doing so good,” and “Great job,” while he was working in my mouth. I found this remarkably condescending. Unless we’re in an intimate relationship, I don’t want someone talking to me like that—and I certainly wasn’t in that kind of relationship with the dentist. I didn’t think it was appropriate.
I anticipate that the dental office might respond with something like, “I’m sorry you feel that way.” But do you know what they should have done instead? They should have asked me how I was feeling while I was in the chair. That didn’t happen.
