Patient Compliance ACT 2

After a month of putting up with a sore tooth I finally gave in and got a root canal done today. For those of you who remember, I have a terrible phobia of dental work. Three months ago I finally had a dentist who was able to convince me to to get five of my teeth capped. I had been told for seven years or so that they needed done before something awful happened to them.

Well, something awful did happen...when the work was done to remove the old filling and build up the tooth for a crown, it made my tooth very sore. I have kept waiting and hoping that the soreness would go away. But after a month I was getting tired of only eating soft things. I couldn't chew anything hard without having my tooth hurt. I also had to wait two months for my insurance company to pre-authorize having the crowns put on. Today I was supposed to get the first two put on.

Instead I had to tell the dentist that the tooth still hurt. He took and x-ray and said those dreaded words....you need a root canal. He gave me a hard time about putting up with a sore tooth for so long. I had to tell him that it was easier to put up with the pain than to get brave enough to get the root canal done. I tried hard not to cry as I agreed that I would get the root canal done (I'm a big girl right?) Unfortunately my tooth didn't cooperate and the root canal was a huge undertaking. Multiple shots of anesthetic and three hours later I finally got to hop down from the dentist chair.

So now I am at home with my ice pack and very grateful for big doses of Ibuprofen. I can't take narcotics because they cause me to vomit and I can't stop. I'm back to sucking down a liquid diet and hoping that my tooth pain isn't going to get out of control.

So here I am examining what has happened with my dental health. I put off having care that I knew I needed for seven years because I get so anxious in a dental office. Then I put up with a sore tooth for over a month because I didn't want to be a complainer and because once again my fear of the dentist got the better of me. I am again reminded why so many of my patients don't come in for preventative visits and why they don't always follow up even when something is wrong.

I've changed my tune at work. I used to give my patients a hard time about being late for their pap smears and mammograms. I would tell them all the reasons why they should have come in. I have been known to even mention the risks of some awful consequences in order to try and "scare them straight."

Lately I've been singing a different tune. Our conversations go like this....

Me: "Hi, my name is Midlife Midwife. It is nice to meet you Ms. Patient. Can you tell me why you came to see me today?"

Patient: "I am here for my pap smear....(head hanging down and hands slightly trembling)..I know it's been seven years but...."

Me: "It really doesn't matter how long it's been. We can't change the past. I am just so excited that you are here today. (Big smile on my face) Today you and I are going to do what we can to be sure that your future looks good and healthy."

A huge thank you to my dentist for being so caring and doing a lot of compassionate work with this terrified midwife. My patients appreciate it.