Where do I find a feminist dentist?

[Ellen Forradalom]

Today the dentist I saw for a toothache called me "honey" and said I had an "itty-bitty mouth. What's up with that?"

:grr:

[bliss_eternal]

1. Dentistry seems lacking ...

...in that sense. There seems to be little for women in terms of equality, but lots of reinforcement of outdated gender roles (woman as supporter, helpmate, etc.) even when dealing with female dentists.

Most dental practices feature a male practitioner, surrounded by female support staff in the front office and back--from assistants to the hygienists. Male dentists Having women defer to them all day, every day seems to merely reinforce the whole "man on top of society" thing.

I was friends w/a few dental hygienists and assistants and temped in some dental offices. The common thought was that women would be better to work with and for. At the very least, one could escape the male "dental staffing couch" bullshit by working for women. Sadly, some female DDS's just utilized other forms of "interesting" behaviour (toward staff and patients). Most women dentists won't throw instruments when their assistant makes a mistake, nor will they chase their assistants around the chair to cop a feel. But they were no less oppressive people to work with and for. :scared:

Something weird seems to happen to people that spend that much time peering into people's mouths all day long.

[Ellen Forradalom]

2. It might be the fishbowl effect

Dentists work in these tiny offices that become their personal fiefdoms.

[bliss_eternal]

3. Definitely.

They are small businesses in every sense of the word. Temping was enough for me. I stopped taking assignments in dental offices. The few I experienced seemed way dysfunctional.

[noamnety]

6. Wow, that is exactly my dentist's setup.

One male dentist, 100% female assistants and hygienists.

I can't really switch - he's a relative, so all the extended family goes to him.

[Ellen Forradalom]

7. I noticed the billing person referred to other office staff as "girls"

x(

[bliss_eternal]

9. Sadly, I'm not surprised (by the billing person)...

...and the "girls" thing. That's quite commonplace in dentistry (at least as far as what I saw and experienced). Sexism is quite commonplace in the dental field, and most of the women in the field don't even get it. (sigh)

Spoke to lots of offices where the female office manager spoke of the staff as "our girls" this and "the gals that work here" that.

Seems to be a lot of low self esteem from women that choose the field. I don't blame the women of course. Training to enter the field at the assistant level is in many cases inexpensive and brief--and the pay beats flipping burgers if college is out of the question (expense and time wise for single moms, etc.). Hygienists have a longer time in school, but in most cases not more than a two year degree or certificate.

When so many people entering the field have low self esteem, there's little accountability. The few that have tried to raise the standards are frequently silenced in one way or the other. I found it to be a weird dysfunctional system with lots of in-fighting between the women (prisoners keeping the other jailers in line I guess) over looks, responsibilities, etc.

Oh and fyi--heard (and seen) tales of dentists having affairs with the pretty young hygienists (or assistants) and trading in the wife that supported him through dental school for a younger model. :eyes:

[Lydia Leftcoast]

4. I go to a dental practice in my neighborhood that has

two women and one man, and the man is married to one of the women.

No problems there. :-)

[Ellen Forradalom]

5. Here's the freaky part

Dr. Itty-Bitty Honey is in practice with his wife! :wtf:

[bliss_eternal]

10. There's a practice in my area...

...where the local dental assisting teachers won't send any intern students. Why? Husband and wife practice, and the husband (dds) is infamous for "getting friendly" with his assistants and hygienists. :eyes:

Apparently "honey, dear and sweetie" are part of his patent vocabulary with female patients, too.

[ThomCat]

8. Ick.

:(

I bet he thinks he's charming.

[Ellen Forradalom]

11. About as charming

as dogshit on a summer day. Yeah.

[Ellen Forradalom]

12. Letter of complaint

since I'm not always good at speaking up at the time (kind of hard to do so when your jaw is on the ground):

I recently had an appointment with Dr.____. I have no complaint with the service or the dental care I received. But I will not return to the practice for followup care.

I was dismayed to hear him address me as "honey" and say I have an "itty-bitty mouth." I am a forty-five year old engineer, not a six-year-old child. I suspect Dr. _____ would not have used baby talk or diminutives with my male colleagues.

I will seek out a dentist who addresses his clients respectfully.

[bliss_eternal]

13. That rocks.

I love letters of complaint, for the very reason that I'm not always in a place to "addresss" the issue when I'm in front of the person.

[Ellen Forradalom]

14. I'm not a "joiner"

and kind of suck at organizational, activist politics, but I can write a helluva letter.

[iverglas]

15. people get me to write all their letters ;)

A couple of years ago when my dentist was elsewhere, I had a read of my chart. I was looking for something in particular (when I'd first reported persistent pain in the tooth that had finally just broken, I think), but I was amused by the notation at the top of the page.

Do Not Discuss Politics.

;)

Can't always get a compatible professional (dentists are pretty much in it for the money, I think), but you might get one who will stfu with his whining about patients on social assistance when you call him on it!

[spooky3]

16. LOL!

[spooky3]

17. Great letter.