Why I oughta...

A few weeks ago, I finally received my dental insurance cards in the mail and booked an appointment with Dr. Adam. He was a referral by a colleague of mine who insisted on Dr. Adam rather than his two brothers (a shared practice). And so, I was clear in my initial appointment.

When I arrived there and after a lovely and long-overdue cleaning, the dental hygienist informed me that Dr. Larry would be in soon. Who? I asked. Whatever happened to Dr. Adam? I was supposed to see Dr. Adam! The dental hygienist, who is at no fault during this entire ordeal, gently explained that he was at the other location and that the brothers work on a rotation.

Well, what could I do? It had already been an hour: pages and pages of boring paperwork and a 30 minute waiting session after that... I knew I had a cavity thanks to the pain on my right side.

Here comes Dr. Larry. Immediately, I understand why my colleague suggested his brother. Zero bedside manner and not a moment to waste on little ol' me! With his little poky instrument, he tapped around on each tooth so incredibly fast, back and forth like a xylophone, I really thought it was a joke! I truly thought he was being funny or something. I bet he skipped over some because all I felt was the clanking of metal across my teeth like a child would run a stick across a metal fence just to hear the rattling noise.

But nooooo, that was his "diagnosis" and when I pointed to my hurting tooth, he took just enough time to jab his pick into my cavity and say, "yep, you got one here". Yeah. Thanks. Are you in a hurry or something? is what I thought.

Too bad. I had three questions for him that the 30 minutes of waiting inspired. I was going to make him stay longer than the 21 seconds he had given me. I wasn't even finished with my question before he cut me off and answered "No. That's not possible. Your teeth don't wiggle. That's in your head." Ahem. Excuse me? Don't call me a psycho. I know my teeth wiggle a little because I can feel it, AND because my terrible dentist from before told me they wiggled because I had gingivitis (another exaggeration to make me do all kinds of costly procedures and schedule 4 cleanings a year rather than the 2 insured ones). Also, stop being rude. That's what I said in my head and through my eyeballs.

I get out of the chair and try to make a follow up appointment for that cavity. "Nope!" says the secretary who tells me to go home and call. So I go home and think happy thoughts because that was the beginning of my long weekend. Days go by unexpectedly fast and it's Thursday before I get the chance to call to schedule an appointment.

Me: I'd like to schedule an appointment with Dr. ADAM please because I have a cavity that needs to be filled.
Woman: Okaayyyy, do you think you have a cavity, or has it been diagnosed?
Me: I was in last week and it was diagnosed. When can I come in to see Dr. ADAM?
Woman: I see here on your chart that you saw Dr. Larry so I can schedule you...
Me: No, I'd like to make the appointment with Dr. ADAM.
Woman: Why?
Me: I was recommended by a colleague to see Dr. Adam, but when I was in last week, Dr. Larry came saw me instead, which was a surprise to me. No one told me until that moment that there were several offices and the dentists worked on rotation.
Woman: I'm sorry, but it's policy that the patient stays with the dentist that diagnosed the problem.
Me: But I never requested Dr. Larry in the first place. I requested Dr. Adam.
Woman: So your "friend" told you to come see Dr. Adam. Who is this "friend"? (just imagine her tone)
Me: (speechless) I don't understand the problem here. I was recommended by my colleague to go to a certain dentist and I would like to follow through with him. When can I schedule that?
Woman: This is against policy. I'm going to have to talk with the dentists and I will call you on Monday.

Tomorrow is Monday. If she doesn't call me, so help me God...

I relayed the story to my "friend" who was not so surprised but repeated why she insisted on Dr. Adam. She also mentioned that the secretary is Dr. Larry's wife.