dt0917 mb1 redflag ag · can’t be your dentist, and i will express that by simply saying i cannot...

42 SEPTEMBER 2017 // dentaltown.com

DT0917_MB1_RedFlag_AG.indd 42 8/22/17 8:56 AM

Looks

TroubleLike

Townies discuss what

makes them think

someone’s going to be

a problematic patient

The conversation, takenfrom one of Dentaltown’s busiest message boards,begins on the next page.


message board

Continued on p. 46

ToothDesign Member Since: 06/09/14

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drrubeMember Since: 08/18/02

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adsmith121586 Member Since: 03/17/17

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doctorwhoddsMember Since: 08/27/04

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pyoonMember Since: 03/30/14

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The Tasteless Gentleman Member Since: 09/22/16

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DrMentch Member Since: 09/14/09

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Tom MitchellMember Since: 02/16/04

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FlyFishingDentite Member Since: 09/05/06

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dmarshallMember Since: 02/05/06

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What are some of your most recognizable red fl ags when seeing a patient? Not wanting to fi ll out a medical history? Refusing radiographs? Bad-mouthing previous dental work? Walking in with a bag of dentures and wanting you to make them a new one?

Your responses might help a new dentist avoid a huge landmine in the future.For me, it’s not taking responsibility for things and blaming the previous dentist(s) for every-

thing that’s wrong in their mouth, as well as expressing anger when something failed 18 years or so after the fact. ■

“I’m allergic to Tylenol and Motrin and Ultram.” Asks for Percocet because it’s the only thing that works. (Face-palm.) ■

They say their tooth broke two months ago, it hurt, but they took some of their sister’s antibiotics and now it doesn’t hurt so it’s healed. They just need a fi lling now to fi x that broken part and they’ll be on their way. ■

The initials “RN” after their name. ■

When they come in with meth mouth and say it’s bad genes. ■

They want complete dentures and say, “My friend loved theirs!” ■

“I have a very high pain tolerance.” ■

If they tell me the last dentist was an idiot, I know who the next idiot is … ■

When the last three dentists they saw caused the disaster in their mouths, and they know I can fi x it because they heard I’m so great. ■

1. Chiropractors.2. Hearing that their previous dentist practiced “holistic” dentistry.3. Doesn’t want X-rays. ■

What Are Some of Your Red Flags with Patients? Townies share pearls of wisdom—mostly humorous—about which signs could make for a troublesome patient.

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Timmy GMember Since: 04/14/02

Post: 17 of 151

GoOutsideMember Since: 05/24/11

Posts: 20 & 21 of 151

keepin it simple Member Since: 10/13/11

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drummariam Member Since: 12/26/12

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xcellMember Since: 01/23/02

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ScamperSqueaksMember Since: 10/13/15

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Mikehanna Member Since: 03/22/10

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OctothorpGolfNov …Member Since: 11/17/03

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Dr. BMember Since: 01/25/02

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I have a patient—nurse with fi bromyalgia. It’s just a real delight. ■

MDs don’t pay the bill. Lawyers can be scary. “I can’t get numb and I hate needles.”“I can’t lean back (DO on #16).” No exam or X-rays, just a cleaning. ■

1. Don’t know how to read.2. Don’t know how to write.3. Don’t know their kids’ birthdate.Lawyers. ■

A medical history full of a bunch of subjective things. People with a lot of time on their hands. ■

For me, it’s usually the attitude of the patient playing boss. As soon as I walk in they are seated either on my stool or sitting sideways on the chair. Then they are the ones deciding what needs to happen, and they would do it themselves but, well, you know, they can’t! Then it’s, “Don’t lay me back.” Then it’s, “Don’t do an exam; I know what tooth it is,” and so on.

That dominating personality just rubs me the wrong way—either you do what I say or I can’t be your dentist, and I will express that by simply saying I cannot treat you safely. ■

Ones that start by letting you know they know a little about dentistry or spewing out tooth numbers of teeth that were fi lled … ■

When a patient can’t tell you what’s wrong with something. You try in a partial and ask how their bite feels and they just bite down continually, waiting 30 seconds before they say anything and then just say something’s not right but they can’t even tell you what side or where it doesn’t feel right.

Or, patient is having a toothache, no thermal sensitivity, no biting sensitivity, no sweet sensitivity—“it’s just not right” but doesn’t even know what tooth it is specifi cally or if it’s even a top or a bottom tooth.

They’ve never been happy with their previous partial/denture/crown/fi lling. Their previous dentist never asked them if they liked it or not, they tell you they never saw it in a mirror until they got home. They act like they didn’t have the ability to say, “Hey can I take a look at this before we have it fi nalized?” ■

Grown men who insist on having their wives/girlfriends in the treatment room, and she’s the one who knows what the chief complaint is. Patients who cannot tell whether they like the wax try-in denture when holding the mirror. Patients who complain about what they’ve paid for previous dental work. ■

“Do you really think I need to be numb?” ■

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ForensicDMDJD Member Since: 11/26/04 Post: 89 of 151

bbauerMember Since: 05/28/04Post: 90 of 151

message board

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barstoolpigeonsMember Since: 11/28/12

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jbdentMember Since: 07/13/04

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drummariam Member Since: 12/26/12

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lil’doc Member Since: 01/21/05

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mwcal Member Since: 09/10/13

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demonicr Member Since: 02/21/08

Post: 78 of 151

My response is always, “It’s not going to hurt me one bit.” Then I’ll usually inform them that the drill is turning at 300,000 RPMs, which is 5,000 times per second, and if they fl inch, there’s no telling where that drill could end up. They usually opt to get numb. ■

When a patient pulls a sandwich baggie out of their pocket with something in it that resembles a dead bug and they tell me to just recement it. ■

Lots of praising before you’ve done anything. That always makes me think twice! ■

Always a red fl ag when a patient fi lls out the new-patient form without signing it or they cross out/modify parts of the form to suit their liking. ■

Patients who say, “Money is no object, doc. I want the best.” For these patients, money is always the object. ■

Anyone over the age of 40 who says their mom is paying for their treatment. ■

I was out of the offi ce three days last week for my mother’s death/out-of-town funeral. We

had coverage for emergencies from another offi ce so patients were taken care of. When my offi ce manager called a new patient scheduled for a broken tooth (no pain) and explained why we were calling to reschedule him, his response was priceless,

“You know, this is inconveniencing me.” My OM responded, “I’m sorry his mother dying inconvenienced you; it inconvenienced him also.” ■

Anyone who is heaping unfounded praise will also heap unfounded complaints. Also,

anyone who is rude to my staff. Several years ago, I told my staff if there is a patient they want to kick out of the practice, I will. One of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Increase in staff morale, plus they almost always know the crazies before I do because they’re on the front lines.

Second opinions from patients who think their previ-ous dentist is screwing them for recommending one thing (like one crown). I just tell them their last dentist was right and they should go back. They often ask for a fee

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FREE FACTS, circle 29 on card



DrcoffeeMember Since: 08/11/13 Posts: 101 & 102 of 151

Tygervilla Member Since: 03/26/17Post: 121 of 151

and I just jack it way up, so they don’t come here and they think their other dentist is giving them good fee. ■

RN who came in with her home-schooled child. ■

Some of the greatest satisfactions I have experienced are making things work with the red-fl ag patients. I like the challenge, within reason. Many can be turned into the kind of patient we like to see on the schedule. I totally don’t understand the nurse thing; I haven’t seen a correlation.

Like many others, “All the other dentists I have seen are bad.” ■

If a patient’s mother slaps the hand of your assistant, who’s really good at what she does, while she’s taking radiographs, it is a bad sign.

If your 10-year-old patient starts apologizing for his mother’s unprofessional behavior in your chair, it’s also a bad sign. ■

A helicopter mum who acts like you are hurting her child and yet the child’s teeth are coated with heavy plaque. I always wonder why they don’t hover over their child to brush their teeth. ■

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Head online to share your warning signs Search: “Red Flags Patients”Who are some of your worst patients and how do you deal with them? To share your tips, go to dentaltown.com and search the message boards for “red fl ags patients”—this conversation will be the top result.

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Ygorbs Member Since: 06/06/09 Post: 94 of 151

raclroMember Since: 08/17/05 Post: 97 of 151

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dentaltown.com \\ SEPTEMBER 2017 49


dt0917 mb1 redflag ag · can’t be your dentist, and i will express that by simply saying i cannot...

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