One of my all time memories in treating prosthodontic patients came from a complete denture patient 30 years ago. We had made a new set of dentures for a lady and, from my perspective, she was coming along just fine. However, some weeks she had no complaints and at other times nothing was right. We talked about it at length and finally she said: "When I'm happy, my teeth are happy. When I'm sad, my teeth are sad." My reply: "Then look at the good things in your life and be grateful for them every day." A good prosthodontist always correlates the problems observed in a patient's mouth with the patient's complaints. If correction of the problems from a technical dental standpoint will satisfy the complaints, then treatment most often goes smoothly. When complaints go beyond the observed problems, then there is another component that has to be discovered and dealt with if treatment is to succeed. Learning to ask open ended questions and being a good listener is a skill developed over time and with experience.
Robert G. Tupac, DDS, FACP, Inc., Diplomate, American Board of Prosthodontics (661) 325-1275 | www.drtupac.com 5060 California Ave., #170, Bakersfield, CA 93309
Sometimes our afflictions are mostly psychological. Because we think we feel bad, we do feel bad. That woman is lucky to have you as her prosthodontist. You're taking the extra step to make sure that your patients' well-being is taken care of.
ReplyDeleteKent Davis @ DenturesDoneRight.com