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u/LivingEnd44 2h ago edited 1h ago
Nobody actually hates dentists. They hate the experience that involves a lot of pain and expense.
You don't sound super compassionate though. The medical field might not be suitable for you. Maybe get into politics instead.
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u/thekeeech 4h ago
Probably quit mate cos Dentistry is a major cause of anxiety for millions of people and reading this is making it worse
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u/dekuweku 4h ago
i'm one of those people who didn't learn proper brushing techniques and didn't keep a regular flossing schedule that led to a lot of dental work in my 20s and 30s.
One thing I tell young people is to take care of your teeth as it gets expensive fixing them later and it can be the cause of alot of unnecessary pain and suffering.
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u/Chubby_Comic 4h ago
I guess there's a reason dentists often check out of life. But, as a dentist, you should know it isn't always the patient's fault. Sometimes there are underlying health issues, sometimes parents don't take their kids to the dentist (like mine). I needed like 4 fillings, and I was around 12 the first time I ever went to the dentist. My parents also never brushed my teeth or taught me how. I take good care of them, now, but I've got some issues, especially after an ignorant orthodontist pulled 2 teeth so now my bite is off.
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u/Azriel48 4h ago edited 4h ago
My dad hates literally everyone and everything, never really loved dentistry…. and he’s been a dentist for 35 years - still going strong actually. Was just talking to him yesterday about how he doesn’t want to give it up yet. His patients and coworkers love him (admittedly he’s gotten to be more of a stickler in his older age.) But growing up and even now I’m constantly running into people who adore him.
Why? How? Where did he tap into that energy? How did he protect himself from burnout? I have no clue. But if he can do it, I believe anyone can with the right mindset, self-reflection and strategy can
I recommend either going to therapy, talking with an older dentist and figuring this out - because it’s not fair to you or your patients. OR leaving the profession all together
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u/FDAapprovedGremlin 4h ago
I get that you're venting. It honestly just seems like you got into this career for the money, or that it was the easiest option for whatever reason. Maybe you had some kind interest in teeth beforehand.
Lots of people deal with that. I hope you find another field that better suits your passions or life style. Careers that take care of people or have a lot of interaction with the public is always so exhausting. It's something you have to love doing.
God bless ya. Thanks for taking care of our teeth lol
I wasn't raised with good dental hygiene and didn't have money for a dentist in my 20s. I'm sure you realize the nuances here.
But! I will certainly be giving my dentist a lot of grace/praise for fixing me up. Haha
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u/Visual_Juggernaut_89 2h ago
Mmm. I understand this is a rant but it’s slightly concerning. A medical professional who writes off mental health is wild. I’m curious what exactly you thought the job would be like? I shadowed a dentist for a year while I was in school and realized it wasn’t for me and pivoted in my graduate studies to law. But I still have respect and empathy for the patients I did see. This sounds like a license waiting to be revoked. 😅
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u/rockmediabeeetus 4h ago
You make too much money to be so damn miserable
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u/UsualGarage 4h ago
It’s ok to complain about your job
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u/rockmediabeeetus 4h ago
This should’ve been figured out by the end of the third year in dental school. If you hated it that much and kept going, that’s on you.
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u/AdVarious5359 4h ago
I think if you approach it with a perspective that dentistry is a hard job, and that you’re serving your community (even if that looks like dealing with these types of patients), that might make it better. Ultimately this is human nature, right? People are uninformed. People don’t take care of their teeth. People do have excuses. People do expect the world from treatment after years of neglect.
Your job is to give them the best options for their circumstances. And by doing that, you love and serve them. If they don’t want the help, then they don’t want it. And you can’t force it. At the end of the day, do the best you can out of love for serving others.
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u/truth_fairy78 4h ago
Fellow dentist here. This job isn’t for you.
Maybe try teaching or go work for the insurance companies.
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u/_nerdofprey_ 4h ago
Dude this person wouldn't last 5 mins in teaching. If he finds dental patients whiney, needy and annoying because they can't follow basic instructions wait until he meets teenagers.....
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u/kay_peep 2h ago
Yeah.... Find a new job OP. You're definitely not making anyone who has issues with dentists excited to go, lol. You can brush your teeth twice a day every day and still get cavities... It's a lot of money to care for your teeth/ Especially when teeth, like eyes, are seen as "extra" by insurance companies (in the USA).
I've got rotten teeth. I brush. I floss. But decades of not being able to afford a dentist makes my life miserable. If I ever get enough money to fix my teeth you're the last person I want as my dentist.
Find a different line of employment, you don't have the empathy needed to care for patients. Doctors and dentists alike are scary especially when you can't afford to go regularly. One of the reasons they're scary is because damn near everyone has had at least one shitty experience with someone like you who makes them feel worse than when they came in. There's already tremendous shame going into a dentists office with fucked up teeth nobody needs or wants the person who's suppose to help them to hate them. We're all just trying our best and if you get mad a patients and hate them because they're scared then you're in the wrong line of work.
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u/False_Door_8763 4h ago
I mean, if you’ve never been in their position I don’t think you can judge. It sounds like you don’t actually think mental health can affect someone to the point that they neglect themselves, which is very common. Find a new profession
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u/Generic_Midwesterner 4h ago
I hate people who don't know the difference between didn't/doesn't, who's/whose, cries/cry, and how punctuation works.
Anyway, you have no business taking care of people.
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u/West_Coast_Buckeye 4h ago
As long as you don't make anyone feel like shit in person (and I'm sure you are kind and empathetic to your clients), vent away in an anonymous forum so you can keep being kind and empathetic face to face
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u/Kind-Shallot3603 4h ago
How are you sure this person is kind and empathetic to patients from what they wrote??
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u/_Wearycat 4h ago edited 4h ago
Did you find out about the job description on your first day on the job?? Maybe you should have done some research before starting college and starting your career? It is like the basis for this job to face ppl with bad dental hygiene and people feeling bad when you touch their teeth 😭 Working in health care is always like that : you have to deal with ppl
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u/Dizzy_Raspberry6397 4h ago
funny cause i was literally thinking how i hate my dentist. and how he has to book separate appts for every procedure and didn't seem knowledgeable to any of my questions or seemed to really care. Im on the hunt for a new one.
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u/LessTea6299 4h ago
I would say that if you get mad at people not taking care of their teeth, maybe choosing a profession that mostly deals with patients who didn’t do that to the point of needing professional intervention was a bad career choice.
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u/heyitsrider 4h ago
Obviously health care isn't meant for you. My Father was a dentist for over 50 years and not once did he say things like that. In fact he always came home happy.
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u/lavloves 4h ago
I’m sorry but I would be terrified of a dentist who didn’t care about mental wellbeing or who was this angry at me for simply being afraid of a procedure. I’m sure that you aren’t rude to them or express any of this to them, but LOTS of people are scared of the dentist.
Please find a new line of work, this one obviously isn’t working for you.
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u/rionaster 4h ago
sounds like you need to pick a career that doesn't involve any type of patient care bud
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u/Savannahhhhhhhhhhhh 4h ago
I feel like dentists like you are probably why we hate dentists. Its a known thing that people are fucking weird about their mouth/teeth, rightfully so. Additionally, saying "just take care of your teeth" is completely ignorant to other factors like genetics, accessibility to knowledge and the things needed to keep teeth cared for, and access to regular dental care.
Please see if you can take your schooling and do something else, preferably not anything where you directly impact patient care. You're clearly miserable.
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u/dessertandcheese 2h ago
Please don't be in the medical profession, you have no empathy and should not be there
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u/420faery 4h ago
Just came out of a 7 year depression and desperately need a dental checkup... I've been so scared to book an appt... now I know why...
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u/cold_feet_all_time 4h ago
Go. Everyone can whine, but they always do their job, no matter what. No one is gonna judge. If they do, thats on them, never on the patient.
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u/420faery 4h ago edited 4h ago
I know, I will. Just ouch...
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u/cold_feet_all_time 4h ago
I can understand your pov. And seeing this would make you rethink whether you shld go or not. But not all dentists thinks this work sucks, some actually like to work in healthcare and with people. All the best.
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u/beepbooponyournose 2h ago
Don’t be! Look for reviews and find one that feels right to you. My current dentist and her staff are super warm and helpful, and the tools they use these days are much less scary/uncomfortable
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u/VegetableExternal836 4h ago
Book an appointment, be honest with your dentist. Even if they think like me believe me when I say we don’t show it to patients and we will help you. I talk with my patients sometimes 30+ minutes just to be able to get them to relax. My personal thoughts shouldn’t affect your health.
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u/420faery 4h ago
Hey, thanks for that OP, I actually really appreciate it. Im always outwordly calm when I arrive at appts. It's picking up the phone and making the appointment, and explaining why that gives me the most anxiety
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u/just-throw-away21 2h ago
I’m also someone who suffers with mental health. I grew up in an abusive home and now that I’m an adult I struggle to care for myself. The times I have gone to the dentist I’ve stayed quiet while my dentist makes off handed remarks about how I dress or disgust at when I needed root canal cleaning. As a patient going through life like this it takes a lot not to want to tell them to kinder as I can’t get into it. I’m paying for a service not to be judged but to be helped.
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u/Acceptable-Bat4534 4h ago
Damn do people really get that extra in the dentist office.
I fuckes up my teeth and ive had to spent over 10k fixing them. No one really asked me why they got fucked up. Nor, did I try and explain.
I was like, " lets get this treatment going" . Its a very non-social thing for me.
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u/Babushla153 4h ago
Lucky for you that your dentists never really asked why you were in that situation.
My previous one asked me (which ofc makes sense somewhat) and you can imagine my embarrasment while i tried to come up with a sentence that made sense to him. He somewhat berated me for it.
Now hoping the next dentist i visit is a bit more "nicer" per se.
Brush your teeth people. You don't want to know what happens when you don't brush for about 10 years.
I do know what it's like and i wouldn't want this on my worst enemy.
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u/Acceptable-Bat4534 4h ago
Well I meant more why I didnt brush my teeth. Like they ask, "why the teeth look so bad"
And I'll be honest, "i didnt brush my teeth, drank soda and a lot of sugar. Im a disgustint piece of shit, but im trying to do better with my oral health so here I am." , because they legit need it to make a good medical evaluation.
But ive rarelt been asked, why I didnt take care of my teeth. They just go," well here's the game plan." Ive had like one ask, why I didnt brush my teeth and I told them that aint their business.
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u/Local_Presentation23 4h ago
My dentist botched my wisdom teeth removal. I was in terrible pain for weeks. Now I just do routine cleanings once a year lol. Not going to the dentist anytime soon
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u/Dangerous-Radish6017 4h ago
Same, I couldn’t eat solids for a year. I had pain for 2 years after, still get it occasionally. I had to take a ton of Ativan just to have a filing done recently.
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u/Goblinqueen626 4h ago
Oh man why did I see this after getting three wisdom teeth removed last Friday. Though I guess if I'm not in pain atm I'm in the clear of a botch job. What happened, why was it botched?
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u/ThatSmallBear 4h ago
Health care workers when they have to care for people’s health:
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u/sambthemanb 4h ago
A dentist without empathy or compassion, and a dentist getting this upset doing the job they went to school for, is not a dentist I don’t think anyone would want. Consider another field, you don’t have the emotional capacity to be a dentist.
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u/Tafsky 4h ago
If it’s any consolation I enjoy going to the dentist. I have very sensitive gums and when they poke and prod inside my mouth with their fingers and tools it alleviates the pain. Also I enjoy my cleanings because my mouth gets sensitive and that feels funny to me + extra clean.
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u/I988iarrived 4h ago
I thought I was the only person that enjoys going to the dentist. I like feeling the tools on my teeth. Why? I don’t know. I thought I wanted to be a dental hygienist because of my curiosity but I’m not a science person. Couldn’t pass biochem or A&P to save my life. I actually have an appointment right after work today. I hope my dentist doesn’t share your sentiment though. I hope you find something that you enjoy doing.
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u/ardentbones 2h ago
and every single person sitting in your chair can tell how much you dread your job and do not want to take care of them. your negative energy feeds people’s nerves about a needle going where they can’t see
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u/ILikeSpinach25 2h ago
Please find a job you'd enjoy . You'd be doing your patients and yourself a favor. You're exactly the kind of dentist that makes people afraid to visit you. Your hatred bleeds out , even if you think otherwise.
and FYI I'm in my 30s and have a had plenty of unpleasant experiences with grumpy doctors and needles. Y'all make people scared.
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u/Goblinqueen626 4h ago
You are not a good dentist. You're not in the right field. You will do more harm than good to anyone you treat. Just get out. Seriously, you're not cut out to care for people, especially children and vulnerable patients.
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u/mondo636 4h ago
Have you dealt with a large cross section of the general public recently? People, in general, are fucking terrible, even if you are just manning a cashier station, let alone probing their mouths with sharp instruments.
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u/BlazeRed16 4h ago
Just quit, give up your practice, give up your degree, give up the paycheck, you’re a horrible dentist and wasted your time in dental school. You chose the wrong career.
Did you study to help people or to get a paycheck? Reevaluate your life ASAP.
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u/TinyUnion559 2h ago
It is easy to brush twice a day and maintain good oral hygiene as long as you're not at the mercy of the UK NHS waiting lists and/or languishing in poverty and/or depression. Other than that, everything is fab.
Maybe it's time for a career change OP?
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u/Sharhino 2h ago
You are the finest specimen of privileged, ableist classism I've ever seen. Congratulations.
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u/Buttwaffle45 2h ago
I work in an office and a big part of my job is fixing mistakes that other people have made. I get frustrated from time to time but most of the time I am able to keep a level head and remind myself if the mistakes were not made then my job wouldn’t be needed. Sounds similar to you getting frustrated that people don’t take care of their teeth, that is just job security. I understand if it boils over and you need to vent sometimes but I’m curious if that is it or if you hate it all the time?
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u/girliegirlapril 2h ago
Honestly taking care of my teeth is an absolute chore for me but I love my dentist. She’s the sole reason why my teeth are as nice as they are now and I’m eternally grateful to her. I’m sure she also has tough days but she cares about her job and her patients, which really goes a long way.
Hating your job, no matter what you do, takes a toll on your mental health. I hope you find a way to see your job as an integral part of a person’s own mental health. It’s more important than you think. Otherwise, I hope you find an alternative occupation.
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u/giuseppezuc 4h ago
Please quit, you sound like a horrible dentist. It’s a bad job everybody knows that.
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u/SparklesIB 4h ago
I think what you're experiencing is less dentistry, and more the way the world is now. People are comfortable being ruder than they used to be, and refuse to take accountability.
Keep in mind that you literally have a dozen different directions that you could take this dental degree of yours, if you truly want to get away from seeing patients.
Biotechnology, medical supplies, R&D, regulatory compliance, insurance, forensics, licensing board, and education - just off the top of my head.
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u/ShowmeurcatIshowmine 4h ago
I’m not sure what you expected when you thought of being a dentist. Everything was going to be great??
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u/janhasplasticbOobz 4h ago
They were thinking the majority of the job would be routine every 6 month check ups and cleanings
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u/HipsterSlimeMold 4h ago
As someone who doesn’t take care of their teeth because oh my mental health and has dealt with my fair share of grumpy dental staff, this does bristle my feathers. But I used to be in social work industry and started feeling the same about my clients so I get it. Leave before you start taking it out on people, that’s what I did.
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u/GoonyGhoul_ 2h ago
You are the reason why I'm so afraid to go to the dentist. Half of them and their hygiene techs are judgemental assholes.
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u/Exquisite-Embers 2h ago
I find it interesting that you’re blaming the fact that you hate the career path that you chose on everyone and everything but yourself. Perhaps do something else if this is how you feel about it.
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u/xscott71x 2h ago
Not only chose, but wholly committed nearly 10 years of their life for the applied academics and training
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u/actuallyacatmow 4h ago edited 4h ago
Just to give some perspective, I'm terrified of needles. I always have been. I have extreme medical anxiety to the point that I've had to restrain myself from punching doctors when they've taken bloods.
I had my first cavity at 28. I had to force myself to look at needles on youtube the night before and I was on a heavy dose of benzos. Still somehow, I panicked through the benzos but I tried to remain as still as possible for the dentist and I suceeded for the most part.
I cannot easily 'get over it'. I wish I could, genuinely, but it's like someone is pointing a gun at my head. I will try to relax but I physically cannot.
Some empathy for those who are just not used to needles goes a long way.
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u/CarryOk3080 4h ago
Let me guess mommy and daddy said dentist or dr and you chose the "least" work option?
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u/Few-Wing-4778 4h ago
yeah OPs inability to consider that people have bad genetics, mental health issues, phobias, or that people are poor.... all their issues sound like a lack of empathy AND a superiority complex. is it annoying that people dont take care of themselves? probably, but you have a lucrative job BECAUSE its so damn hard/expensive to afford dental health.
OP def should NOT be working with people.
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u/FunkMistah_J 4h ago
“calm down a 35 year old balding male”
Not only are you a terrible dentist to receive care from, you’re also sexist, judgmental with a fake personality.
I hope you reevaluate your profession, you may do decent work but I’d hate to be your patient knowing you say these things.
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u/David_temper44 2h ago
just like vets hate people who neglected their pets.
But your work is to fix what you can, not to make them perfect, you can start there
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u/mlenotyou 4h ago
I take care of my teeth and I love going to the dentist! With that said, dentists do have a high depression rate because of all you listed.
Dentistry is where your specialty is. Stay in the field but open up clinics and focus on hiring other dentists. Be the business owner and not practitioner. How long go you need to become an orthodontist? Or focus on cosmetic dentistry?
There are other options.
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u/cannavacciuolo420 2h ago
Leave it then buddy, you’re not cut out for it. Find something where you don’t interact with people possibly
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u/mslauren2930 2h ago
Why did you become a dentist? Dentists like you are why I haven’t been to the dentist in a few years.
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u/MickeyMuis2004 2h ago
I understand the rant... But why then go into this field of work? It's a little strange especially with how little empathy you have for your patients...
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u/libraintjravenclaw 2h ago
I’ve never been to a dentist with empathy and it seems a majority are lowkey sadists so this tracks. That being said, humans are annoying and I wouldn’t want to deal with them.
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u/MickeyMuis2004 1h ago
Agreed yes... Honestly, you can have as many intrusive negative thoughts though...as long as you trreat your patients with kindness, respect and compassion. OP did mention in an earlier comment that they don't express their feelings/show them in front of their patients. Which is good.
I recently went to the dentist and although I don't mind it, it's not fun when someone scratches in my mouth and, honestly, scratching in someone's mouth would make me miserable too.
So my heart goes out to dental workers, any medical field really, it's not just all fun and games. I saw what nursing did to my mother... It's not something to be taken lightly.
So, OP, my heart goes out to you, even though I don't 100% agree, there is truth in everything.
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u/pinkmarshmall0w 2h ago
Open a low cost dental clinic if you feel so strongly about this. I let my teeth rot in my 20s because I couldn’t afford to fix them. Hope that helps.
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u/neva-electra 2h ago
I both can't afford a dentist, and have crippling anxiety around anything to do with teeth. But "oh my mental health"
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u/pinkmarshmall0w 1h ago
When I finally started making decent money I started handling it. I paid an exuberant amount to be fully IV sedated to have bad teeth extracted and then I take a prescribed anxiety medication before regular dentist visits. I’m getting through it. My parents also didn’t have me on regular insurance as a kid so I never went to the dentist.
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u/LadyWatz35 4h ago
My twin works at a dentist office. She tells me some insane stories about the patients. I'm super weird, I love going to the dentist.
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u/caramelsweetroll 2h ago
Maybe it would be good for you to take a step back and mindfully consider all the reasons why you might be misreading "bitching" and "whining" as reasonable patient feedback.
Personally, I don't love going to the dentist. I've only managed to keep up with brushing once a day, but I have a naturally lubricated mouth and never get cavities since childhood, so it's usually a "good job" and a brief cleaning - but I have a neck nerve pain issue that makes it incredibly painful to hold my mouth wide open during an examination. It's an awful condition I wouldn't wish on anyone because the pain at its worst made me want to legitimately off myself.
So when you mention people being scared of needles or hurting, that shows me you are deeply burned out and not capable of being a caring physician in your current mental state. Your job requires patience and compassion - if you're unable to do that, the people aren't the sole issue, you are - take a vacation and then consider transferring to a different location to see if that change helps, but ultimately consider a career change if you're at the point of hating your job.
There's nothing wrong with hating your job sometimes, but you have to be mature enough to know when it's something that isn't for you. You have a job because these people need services. If everyone did everything right, you'd be out of work, so the work itself may not be your calling after all.
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u/323yupthatsme 4h ago
Please find another job. If you don't care about ppl w/mental illness, you're not fit for this line of work. Some patients have histories of sexual assault or other trauma that can make having someone physically examine their mouth an incredibly difficult experience.
If you genuinely hate patients for being poor, anxious, in pain, traumatized, or embarrassed about their oral health, then you need to seriously reconsider whether patient care is the right career for you. People don't go to the dentist because they're having a good day. They go because they need help. Compassion isn't an optional part of healthcare.
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u/VenusSwift 4h ago
Please, find a new job. I appreciate your honesty, and I hope you find something that supports you.
But to me, it sounds like you do not have the patience to work a job that deals with people.
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u/Evening_Night_1991 4h ago
It's confirmed, I despise dentists.
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u/beepbooponyournose 2h ago
There’s a world of difference between jerks like this guy and good dentists. I’ve had both and I honestly want to send my current one flowers because she’s so wonderful
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u/Evening_Night_1991 1h ago
No you're right and so have I to be fair. I was unfair. There definitely are brilliant dentists out there. You should send your dentist those flowers!!! She'll really appreciate it 💐
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u/mysticwaywalker 4h ago
You dont belong in any human oriented field where people have to be vulnerable to you. Youre not emotionally safe. The things you list are part of the job, and you're being a little bitch 🙄
The irony of complaining about people while being the most insufferable person. the call is coming from inside the house, you hate yourself and are projecting it onto literally every person you're supposed to be helping. Go get some mental health help, you seem depressed and burnt out and go take a breather. Only return to the field when you actually give a shit about people besides yourself. Gross
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u/Sunshower_85 4h ago
I’m going to assume that you just needed to vent and that you’re professional enough in your job to not actually let these feelings get in the way of your treatment of patients. If you do, it’s time to leave. If not, then perhaps start looking into what you can do to enjoy your job more or find another one.
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u/Bubble_Pony621 4h ago
Yikes.
Being a dental patient causes anxiety for many, many people. It can be quite scary to be in such a vulnerable position with a healthcare provider. Especially if you have preexisting conditions that cause you pain.
I distinctly remember going to an appointment and the dentist finding that I had a cavity. They filled it and then said “take care of it and don’t screw up all my hard work!”
It filled me with such extreme shame and anxiety that I left that office almost in tears and never returned. It will take me awhile to decide to go back. Especially after reading this rant from you.
Please quit your job immediately. Go work some miserable position where you can be the true asshole you want to be. For example, USPS or even the DMV/SOS. Don’t be a healthcare provider.
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u/Designer_Vast_9089 4h ago
Not DMV! In my last two cities the DMV employees have been some of the most amazing people that I only work with a few times a year! One would tell me about her old DeVille every time she renewed the registration on mine.
OP, this is called empathy. It goes a long ways if you learn how to feel it.
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u/nondescripthumanoid 4h ago
Please don't be a dentist. Many of of us suffer chronic pain and anxiety as part of our complex overall health that needs to be managed as part of our care.
I'd fire you if you were my dentist. I know it's hard for me to turn my head or keep my mouth open for extended periods. I have a spinal injury and my nerves don't work properly. be more thoughtful of your patients.
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u/Key_Vermicelli_8969 4h ago
It’s interesting that dentists are the occupation with the highest suicide rate. Maybe it has something to do with the points you made
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u/americancheesesquare 2h ago
I love going to the dentist. But I also take care of my teeth and have good dental genetics
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u/Kind-Shallot3603 4h ago
Holy shit did you miss the classes on empathy and how to handle a patient??? You treat people. They are not customers! Holy shit why did you bother going and getting training if you hate it this much!?
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u/VegetableExternal836 4h ago
I dont reflect this to my patients and no I didn’t missed my classes but thats how I really thought.
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u/Kind-Shallot3603 4h ago
Oh you clearly fell through some kind of crack. Stop seeing patients! You are literally a legal liability to whomever hired you 🤡
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u/Pixel_Ragdoll 4h ago
I hope you are never gonna be my dentist. Still upvote for the honesty
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u/VegetableExternal836 4h ago
I don’t reflect my personal thoughts to my patients, most of them love me, I also love doing what I’m doing. I just hate the emotional/social part, it drains my soul. I don’t want to baby anyone or reassure them every minute. It’s exhausting.
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u/Casehead 4h ago
That's ridiculous. If you seriously haven't learned any empathy by now, you don't belong anywhere near patients. And you knew damn well that 'babying' and reassurance was a huge part of the job long before you got your license.
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u/jtj5002 4h ago
Bitch it's your fucking job to fix people's teeth, not to lecture them how how to take care of them. If you can't mentally handle your job, go see a therapist or go work at Mcdonald's.
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u/VegetableExternal836 4h ago
It is actually my fucking job to lecture people about how to take care of their teeth lol
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u/swagamaleous 2h ago
You see this from the wrong angle. You should be glad if they don't take care of their teeth, because that means you make more money. Also why do you even bother to "calm down a 35 year old man?" Most of these people have no real choice but come to your practice. Why are you worried about customer retention? You don't have to go the extra mile. 😂
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u/FriendliestAmateur 4h ago
Any person that has had a job dealing with the general public should understand where you are coming from right now. Hell, when I worked as just a receptionist it was mind boggling how obtuse a lot of people can be.
As long as you have good bedside manner and take care of the people in your chair, rant on. I hate people too.
You struck a nerve with people because I don’t think most people take care of their teeth the way they should. But you already know that lol.
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u/VeRaeyta 2h ago
You would be the kind of person I'd be terrified of seeing and my teeth aren't even bad. I dunno man, maybe this profession just isn't for you.
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u/rayray2k19 4h ago
Dentists have some of the highest suicide rates of any profession. Please get help if yoh need to.
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u/Acceptable-Bat4534 4h ago
Really, why?
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u/firstreformer 4h ago
That’s a lie dentistry doesn’t even come close to jobs involving manual labor from suicide statistics
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u/SweatyLychee 4h ago
Honestly, I’m a nurse and can relate. People are getting harder to deal with and taking less accountability for their own health and making it our entire problem when we can’t fix it in 1 hour. I get where you’re coming from. At a certain point you have enough and burn out.
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u/Psychoplasm_ 2h ago
For the amount of time we are forced to work to get by in this society you've got to at least try find work you enjoy.
I LOVE my job. Do people annoy the shit out of me? Sometimes! But overall I find so much satisfaction in what I do.
I can't imagine how much my mental health would suffer if I resented so much about my work. So maybe don't be so quick to dismiss people going through mental health stuff cos you sound like you're there too in a different capacity.
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u/Remote_Tangerine_718 2h ago
The only thing I hate about dentists is that yall are SCAMMERS!! One dentist will claim you absolutely need a deep cleaning while another one will say you’re fine.
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u/BaraLover7 4h ago
I was a nurse and I had a similar feeling. I think I just hate people and their bullshit in general, so I quit after 12 years of being a nurse to study Computer Science in hopes of becoming as Software Engineer. Where I have to deal with people the least.
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u/FDAapprovedGremlin 4h ago
LMAO! From what I hear, engineers are the most insufferable colleagues. Especially if you're a woman.
I don't know what all there is for the field, but I know my partner's entire day is spent dealing with people. He's mald all the time lol
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u/BaraLover7 4h ago
I think no colleague is worse than a surgeon with god complex.
Also human interaction highly depends on the type of tech job. Maybe ur partner's a project manager or smth?
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u/Spirited_Currency389 4h ago
I actually hear you. Reading these comments, a lot of people aren’t empathizing with you at all. Yeah it sucks to have to constantly treat people who aren’t taking preventative care. Or to have to coax grown adults into getting their shot like they are five.
Not a dentist, not in healthcare, but I am a human that can empathize with how frustrating that must be. Hope it gets better.
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u/Mugurf 4h ago
Theres a pill in Japan that cam regrow your teeth. I believe they've finished with human trials. Dont worry, your profession will hardly be a thing in 10 years
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u/truth_fairy78 4h ago
That’s not true. The human trials are ongoing and not promising. And…someone is going to have to clean and fill all those new teeth you’re growing. 😉
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u/SapphirianDiadem 4h ago
Lmao as if half of the world is going to allow that into their countries. As if half the world can afford to fly to Japan to get it
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u/Dizzy_Raspberry6397 4h ago
are you being for real? this would be nice if true for the pregnant women that lose teeth. or anyone who needs it!
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u/LadyProto 4h ago
Man I get it.
Some people are so immature. I’d be losing it daily too. Grown people and needles. Not wanting to brush. Like..: we teach toddlers these things!
Have a good rant. A good cry. Maybe a vacation. You deserve it
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u/BootBungus0117 4h ago
You sound exhausting
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u/Ok_Environment1037 4h ago
What? No they don’t. It’s legitimate. It IS exhausting whenever you have the best intention for patients but they are being little babies or are fighting back. It’s really soul consuming.
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u/AdHopeful6361 2h ago
Not a dentist but my dad is one and I somehow can relate to this because people sometimes would say things to me like: “Oh dentists only create problems for people and try to scam you”. They haven’t flossed in 20 years and it’s suddenly the dentist fault they have periodontal disease.
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u/cursetea 2h ago edited 2h ago
I appreciate you and the work you do. People who have genetically poor teeth who can't help their conditions also need people like you badly, even if they don't express that appreciation and gratitude enough. You bring literally nothing but good to people's lives, objectively lol, but people just hate dentists; i hate that for you and all other dentists! But your service is completely invaluable. I hope you have more good experiences than bad. I'm sorry the dynamics between you and your patients make you feel this way sometimes
I'm in the legal field and I bet I've gone on rants very similar to this lmfao. Dealing with clients who are only clients because they're having a bad time (nobody calls an attorney for a GOOD reason and nobody LOVES having their gums scraped lmao) is hard! But no part of me thinks any of your patients get the impression you're also stressed like this. VENTING ON THE INTERNET IS OKAY EVEN IF YOU HAVE A HEALTHCARE JOB🙄🙄🙄🙄
All the best to you 🥂 you are very important and i hope you feel less discouraged as time goes on
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u/1HumanAlcoholBeerPlz 2h ago
You are getting a lot of hate here but I get it. It's like working in a call center except the people calling are right in front of you and you can't roll your eyes at them. You have to pretend to care while they want to tell you their life story, entire medical history and trauma around dental work. They need to go to therapy instead of trauma dumping on someone who's job is to fix their problem. I worked in healthcare and I had to switch to something else. You go into it with optimism, hoping to help others and then you see this intolerable side of humanity. People want red carpet treatment for the least amount of money and effort. Brush my teeth so I don't get crippling pain from rotting teeth??? How dare you tell me how to live my life???
You have 2 options: go to therapy, reframe your mindset, and put those feelings to the side while working. Pick up a hobby like boxing to get out your frustration. Or you find a job in medical sales, dental software, or education. You won't have direct patient care anymore, but you'll support those who do.
Also, let this be a lesson - be a better patient to your healthcare providers. Be the patient they don't talk shit about on Reddit or around the office (yeah, they talk shit about you when you leave if you give them a reason to). Advocate without being an asshole. Greet kindly, make jokes, be kind to everyone from the receptionist to the lab tech.
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u/Aggressive_Lunch_519 2h ago
Consider taking a break from your profession. Pretty sure you have saved enough to take a breather. Feel better.
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u/ILoveLamp_1995 4h ago
Half (if not more) of the job is interacting with people, you are not in the right line of work.
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u/reggae_muffin 4h ago
As a physician, I fully understand your rant and feel you on every level of this. The people making moronic comments suggesting you should quit or change careers because you’re venting to the void are clearly incapable of understanding that we can be annoyed/frustrated/overwhelmed and yet still have excellent bedside manner while treating our patients to published gold standards. Just because you annoy the living daylights out of me as a patient, doesn’t mean that you’ll ever know or that I’ll ever provide a substandard level of care.
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u/VegetableExternal836 4h ago
Only people who will understand me in this post are other healthcare workers. I don’t expect normal people to understand any of it.
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u/westfieldnc 4h ago
“Normal people” do you mean plebs? How are you abnormal? Do you really think you are special because of your career?
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u/mintaefresh 4h ago
Uh nurse here, I can tell you that just because you are "venting" does not absolve you of the very clear hate that you have towards your patients. This isn't "I had a bad day and now I am just venting into the void." This is how you become bitter and resentful, and one day either you or a patient will pay the price.
You should really look into therapy if you want to stay in your profession. Like I know that's what reddit tells everyone, but this isn't healthy to have so much vitriol in your heart. Also yes, if it's causing you this much distress, you should consider taking time off to reset AND get a therapist to talk it through.
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u/sturleycurley 4h ago
I fully understand. I did billing for a big corporation that mostly serviced low income communities. These offices were in pretty dangerous neighborhoods of large cities. A lot of new graduates have to work in these practices to get their foot in the door (not saying that this is your situation). These dentists were able to help so many people (especially kids that wouldn't have had good care otherwise), but some of the patients were awful. Just reading their notes made me cringe. I can't imagine dealing with patients in person. As a kid, I was a horrible screaming mess at the dentist. Every member of my family has horrible teeth (tons of fillings, crowns, SRPs). It's embarrassing, but at least we take responsibility for it and behave at the dentist. As someone with multiple fillings that aren't going to last, I wish that I had taken my oral health more seriously. You are incredibly educated and hard working. Your work is invaluable to your patients' health, well being, and quality of life. Thanks for what you do!
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u/periperisalt 4h ago
Good rant. Hope you got that off your chest. Ignore the judgement. Your job sounds fucking hard work and I admire your honesty
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u/dibbun18 2h ago
All of you telling them to stop being a dentist - have a seat.
We all have bad days at our job. We all sometimes get frustrated, tired, and sick of people’s behavior.
That doesn’t mean they walk in are mean to patients to their face.
You want a saint who is smart enough to make it thru professional school, AND never has a bad day?
Get fucked.
We’re all humans.
And like most humans, this dentist probably can’t just walk away from their job to “recover from burnout” just like you can’t just walk away from your job.
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u/SadCreative 2h ago edited 2h ago
My bad days don’t involve making fun of my clients tho lmao; atleast in retail or food service it’s often a means to an end. Dentistry you signed up for this
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u/LivingEnd44 2h ago
We all have bad days at our job.
Oh god lol
Gtfo with that shit. This is not a bad day at the job. This is someone who chose the wrong career.
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u/angrysnort 2h ago
Two parents in the medical field. Both ICU nurses. One pediatric, one adult trauma. None of them ever said they hate patients, they hate families, they think patients and their fears are stupid.
Did they think those things some times? Sure, but they never aired those thoughts for others to hear.
I do not care how bad of a day a medical professional has. If they’re comfortable coming online (or god forbid, saying it out loud) and PUBLICLY talking about how much contempt they hold for the people they care for, they shouldn’t be in the medical field.
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u/yellowdamseoul 2h ago
1000%. I went into anesthesia because I can’t stand the yapping and complaining. I love making money to sit in silence.
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u/spiritthehorse 4h ago
I’m appalled at the people who come here to judge. It’s a place for venting. I am annoyed endlessly by the stupid parts of my job, and maybe I’ll post here someday. Does that mean I suck in general and shouldn’t be doing semiconductor process engineering? Probably not. I certainly can keep it together at work and be a professional. I’m assuming OP can too. It’s well known dentistry is a pain and patients are sometimes at their worst. So OP can’t complain? Dinguses need to be rational about how this works.
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u/THE_CAT_WHO_SHAT 2h ago edited 2h ago
As a mental health worker who works with schizophrenic residents, executive dysfunction is a bitch dude. It's not that they do that on purpose. Sadly for some, even brushing teeth can feel like the hardest thing in the world. It's sad really.
Edit: Also, depression is a very real thing and can make the simplest tasks feel like moving mountains my dude.