Patient Story: If You Ever Need Someone
Dental anxiety is a very common problem that may cause patients to avoid making regular visits to the dentist. Patients with dental anxiety have been shown to have a higher risk of periodontal disease and subsequently, tooth loss from delayed treatment. Unfortunately, for Sarah, a patient of the dental team in Port Huron that was all too familiar.
“When I was a child, I broke two of my teeth. I often describe to people that the way they fixed my teeth was like putting a fake nail on the tip of my existing tooth. It was a terrible experience. I have carried that fear of the dentist with me for years,” shared Sarah.
After relocating to Port Huron after leaving her life-long home of Macomb County, as a Medicaid patient, Sarah started hitting roadblocks when it came to finding dental care. “That is when I found MCDC,” she said, “My first visit last year was with Dr. Knorr. I discovered that I had periodontal disease.” After trying sectioning and deep cleaning, ultimately, together they decided that a full mouth extraction would be best for Sarah.
“I was a hot mess!” she said laughing.
As a gas attendant, she interacts with people all day long who have taken notice of her no longer having teeth. “I explained to them the process, how detailed my dentist has been to ensure that I am cared for and my dentures fit me perfectly,” she shared. As a champion for MCDC and wanting the same care for her friends and family, she shares her experience all the time.
When the day came for the extractions, she described herself as being so nervous. With her anxiety at an all-time high, she was doing everything she could to keep herself calm and distracted. “I came with headphones, my phone – with every intention of listening to my music,” she explained, “I must have been too distracted because when I sat down in the chair to start the work on my teeth, my phone died. I didn’t have my music!”
She described being overwhelmed and not prepared to cope. “Then Dr. Knorr looked at me and said, ‘Your phone died? Don’t worry. What do you want to listen to?’ and she pulled out her phone and opened up YouTube,” Sarah described.
“I laughed, because when she opened up YouTube, she said, ‘This is a family dentist’s office, so let’s make sure that it’s family-friendly music’ and I laughed and said, ‘It is Dr., it’s just Odessa,” Sarah laughed as she recalled their encounter.
“With my music playing from her own personal phone in her pocket, so I would feel comfortable, we got all my teeth extracted in that one appointment,” she shared proudly.
Ironically, one of Odessa’s most notable songs is titled, I Will Be There, and sounds like this:
“If you ever need someone to cry to
If you ever need someone to hold you
I will be there
Standing by your side
I will be there
Standing by your side”
It is stories like this that help to remind me of the impact we are making together. That our jobs go beyond dentistry but are about meeting people with compassion, empathy, and non-judgment. It’s about if someone needs us, being there and standing by their side.
