Anonymous wrote:Dental hygienists are petty dictators. At my dentist's office, they take your BP after the cleaning and before the exam. The hygienist admonished me for having slightly elevated BP. I had to cut her off and explain that I was recovering from preeclampsia and was under the care of a cardiologist, who was competent to manage the condition.

I had one ask me about whether or not I ever feel tired, and when I said I did I got a hard sell on a sleep apnea dental device that runs about $1k. She shut up when I told her I was under the care of a sleep doctor and have a cpap.

100% it's obnoxious. Besides dental care they're also just generally condescending. I wonder if we see the same dentist. It's like my dental office is looking for a fight, I don't get it.

As is all the upselling.

Did they try to sell you anything? At the last dentist I went to I got this from the hygeinist, with the really condescending tone, just before they tried to sell me some $600 "cleaning system." I didn't even understand what it was, some mouthwash thing.

Anonymous wrote:Dental hygienists are petty dictators. At my dentist's office, they take your BP after the cleaning and before the exam. The hygienist admonished me for having slightly elevated BP. I had to cut her off and explain that I was recovering from preeclampsia and was under the care of a cardiologist, who was competent to manage the condition.

Was she admonishing you or letting you know? Most people don’t know about their elevated bp until told. Also recommendations concerning elevated (vs “high”) bp have changed recently.

I quit my dentist for this reason. Would be in my seat seething because of something dentist or hygienist said, trying to talk me into Invisalign or something else, it just got to be too much.

They are taught in school and by the dentist to ask you these questions. It's nothing to get angry about. They see 7-8 patients a day and truthfully it's pretty boring and repetitive.
Some patients were never taught anything about dental hygiene so they must treat everyone the same. It does not matter how clean your teeth are. I'm married to the dentist and the hygienist treats me the same way.

I think they have a list of things they have to ask and recommendations re flossing/brushing whatever they are supposed to give. They don’t actually care whether you take the advice or not; it’s just the job to give it and record your answers about it.

For the person who is offended that their vacation is remembered vs their flossing habits…I would definitely remember mention of an interesting vacation more than the innumerable discussions about flossing habits that I have with 100+ or however many patients. People remember unusual things, not the mundane details.

Anonymous wrote:I think the whole century twice a year is insane. And they do a “cleaning” before dentist examines. I told them, I can clean my own teeth, no thank you. The nasty glares I got were unexpected. So, I only go to the dentist every few years and no need for “cleaning”, therefore bypass the lecture from hygienist.

You sound smart. You’ve got this, I’m sure!

Anonymous wrote:Dental hygienists are petty dictators. At my dentist's office, they take your BP after the cleaning and before the exam. The hygienist admonished me for having slightly elevated BP. I had to cut her off and explain that I was recovering from preeclampsia and was under the care of a cardiologist, who was competent to manage the condition.

This is so unusual. Why do they do this? Are you on Medicare or something?

I think the whole century twice a year is insane. And they do a “cleaning” before dentist examines. I told them, I can clean my own teeth, no thank you. The nasty glares I got were unexpected. So, I only go to the dentist every few years and no need for “cleaning”, therefore bypass the lecture from hygienist.

Ya, that is a you think if it happens every time. You probably feel embarrassed because you aren't brushing & flossing as they expect and are lying.

They ask me if I floss regularly and I'm like, " you can tell I don't. you're looking in myouth."

Dental hygienists are petty dictators. At my dentist's office, they take your BP after the cleaning and before the exam. The hygienist admonished me for having slightly elevated BP. I had to cut her off and explain that I was recovering from preeclampsia and was under the care of a cardiologist, who was competent to manage the condition.

They’re just doing their job.

I think they just run down a mental checklist (“Are you flossing regularly?” “Are you using an electric toothbrush?” Etc., etc.)

But yes, I do take it a little personal because my hygienist will remember that I took a specific vacation within the past six months but can’t remember that yes, I floss and yes, I use an electric toothbrush?

I just got back from my bi-yearly dental check up. I am fortunate to have pretty good teeth (only 2 cavities in my life 35+ years ago) and I do brush and floss regularly.

Does anyone feel like a scolded child when the dental hygenist talks to you about what you should be doing or asks about your flossing or what type of toothbrush you use or whatever? I get irrationally angry every time they talk to me about my routine. I have never had a dental hygenist that I didn't feel like she was a condescending scold.

Am I the only one who seethes in the dentist chair? I don't say anything back, I just silently fume.

Anyone else?