1. You Don't Floss
Neglecting to floss is one of the top pet peeves most dentists have about their patients. Flossing helps remove plaque and food debris from areas that brushing alone can't reach. When you skip flossing, you allow bacteria to build up and raise your risk of cavities, gum disease, and bad breath. Dentists can immediately tell who flosses regularly and who doesn't, and they'll be sure to admonish you if you fall into the latter category.
2. You Lie About Flossing
Lying about flossing is even worse than not flossing at all in your dentist's eyes. When patients claim they floss daily but show no signs of it, dentists know they're either lying or doing it wrong. Being dishonest about your oral hygiene habits wastes your dentist's time and makes it harder for them to properly assess your dental health and treatment needs.
3. You Constantly Cancel or Miss Appointments
Dentists schedule their days tightly and rely on patients to show up on time. When patients frequently cancel appointments at the last minute or simply no-show, it throws off the dentist's schedule and prevents others from being seen. Repeated cancellations and missed appointments signal to your dentist that you don't respect their time. This lack of courtesy frustrates even the most patient dentist.
4. You Have Unrealistic Expectations
Some patients have impractical expectations of what can be achieved through certain dental treatments. For example, expecting a single whitening treatment to transform yellow teeth into a perfect movie star smile. If you have unrealistic hopes, your dentist has the difficult job of bringing your expectations back down to earth. This can create disappointment and conflict, which dentists prefer to avoid.
5. You Over-Question Treatment Plans
Dentists don't mind answering thoughtful questions about treatment options. However, some patients aggressively question or refuse every recommendation, implying that the dentist is untrustworthy or incompetent. Excessive interrogation signals to your dentist that you lack faith in their expertise and judgment. This quickly sours the dentist-patient relationship.
6. You Blame Them for Your Oral Health Issues
While dentists perform treatments, patients themselves are responsible for their daily oral hygiene. However, some patients unfairly blame dentists for dental problems like tooth decay and gum disease that result from their own poor brushing and flossing habits. This criticism is unjustified and deeply frustrating for dentists trying to help patients improve their oral health.
7. You Refuse X-rays
X-rays allow dentists to detect cavities, tumors, abscesses, and other issues not visible to the naked eye during an exam. When patients decline x-rays, dentists are left "working blind" and cannot accurately assess dental health. Refusing x-rays against a dentist's advice compromises your care and makes their job considerably harder.
8. You Have Bad Dental Anxiety
It's understandable for patients to feel some anxiety before dental procedures. However, extreme anxiety can be disruptive and make treatment difficult. Signs like hyperventilating, refusing to open your mouth, and even passing out frustrate dentists and prevent them from doing their job properly. In severe cases of dental phobia, dentists may have to refer you to therapy before attempting further treatment.
9. You Constantly Seek Pain Medication
With the opioid epidemic, dentists must exercise great caution when prescribing pain medication. Frequently asking for pain pill refills or specific narcotic medications raises red flags about possible dependency or abuse. These requests place dentists in an uncomfortable position and could lead them to take you off their patient roster.
10. You Don't Take Their Advice
Dentists base their recommendations on years of medical training and clinical experience. When patients fail to follow a dentist's advice about quitting smoking, using a nightguard, or extracting wisdom teeth, it suggests a lack of trust in the dentist's knowledge. Disregarding professional advice signals to your dentist that their counsel is unvalued and unappreciated.
To keep your dentist happy, show up to appointments on time, follow treatment plans, maintain good daily oral hygiene, and communicate openly about your dental health history and concerns. This establishes a positive dentist-patient relationship based on trust and cooperation.
FAQs
What are some common pet peeves dentists have about patients?
Top dentist complaints about patients include missing appointments, lying about flossing, having unrealistic expectations about treatments, refusing x-rays, blaming the dentist for oral health problems, and not following the dentist's advice.
Why does my dentist get annoyed when I miss appointments?
Dentists schedule their day tightly around patient appointments. When patients cancel at the last minute or fail to show up, it wastes the dentist's valuable time and impacts their ability to see other patients. Missed appointments also signal to the dentist that you lack respect for their schedule.
What happens if I refuse recommended x-rays?
X-rays allow dentists to detect issues like cavities, abscesses, and tumors that can't be seen during a visual exam. When patients decline x-rays against a dentist's advice, it compromises their ability to properly assess your oral health and could lead to bigger problems going undetected.
How can I keep my dentist happy?
You can maintain a positive relationship with your dentist by showing up on time for appointments, being honest about your oral hygiene habits, following treatment plans, voicing concerns respectfully, and demonstrating that you trust your dentist's training, experience, and recommendations.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.
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