A patient of Dr. Hadley’s, DDS recalls her experience at Jeffery W. Hadley Dentistry after going 10 years without an oral exam…
So I’ll admit, 10 years is an unreasonably long time to go without visiting the dentist. Most people are good enough to schedule their yearlies on time every time, but I’ve never been a fan of dentistry, mainly because they always told me what I couldn’t eat. Besides, as a kid I was subjected to every yearly exam out there (my parents were borderline hypochondriacs, but they meant well). After I graduated high school and was no longer under the nagging rule of my parents, I decided that I wasn’t going to do those annoying dental exams every year, and I was going to eat all the junk I wanted.
10 years later
Well flash forward to ten years later and I’m brinking the age of 30, sitting in Dr. Hadley’s office, with my nerves doing the disco. What called me out of my ten year oral exam hiatus? I had been suffering from horrible bad breath. I mean horrible! I felt like a dragon lady every time I spoke, and no matter how often I brushed and rinsed, the bad breath returned. It seemed as if my last 10 years of binging on sodas and candies was finally catching up to me, and I was worried the worst could happen. Bad breath, I learned, could be a sign of many dental or oral issues. I heard about Dr. Hadley from a friend, so I gave them a call and set up an appointment.
My experience with Dr. Hadley
The folks at the reception desk were extremely kind, and they were swift with handling my paperwork. Dr. Hadley saw me just moments after I arrived, and he greeted me with a firm handshake and a bright, white smile. Inside the examination room, I got set up in the examination chair (which I’ll add was very comfortable), and after fastening a bib around my neck, Dr. Hadley asked me to open up.
I was embarrassed because I knew my mouth smelled rotten, but I had to trust my dentist. He didn’t even flinch when I opened up (despite the stench!). He instead carefully examined my teeth, painlessly checking for cavities, decay or any other signs of poor dental health.
“I can see you’ve been eating a lot of sugar, Dana,” he said with a smile. I was embarrassed, but he laughed and reassured me. “Everyone eats too much sugar, don’t feel bad. It’s all about managing your intake and taking care of your teeth.”
An easy to understand diagnosis
Throughout the rest of the examination he pointed out 2 cavities, a filling that needed restoration, but nothing that I thought was causing my bad breath. Finally at the end of the exam, Dr. Hadley raised me from the seat and explained to me the diagnosis.
“It seems you have a slight case of Periodontal gum disease. It comes from improper brushing and flossing, and build up of plaque and bacteria that causes bad breath.”
I felt I was just diagnosed with leprosy, but Dr. Hadley reassured me not to worry.
“This is an easily treatable condition, and we’ll get started today to help you get your teeth on the up and up.”
Following his pep talk, Dr. Hadley professional brushed, flossed and rinsed my teeth. Next he instructed me on how to brush my tongue and how to reach the back of my teeth to clean out any food hiding back there. He then gave me an instructional pamphlet on Periodontal gum disease and care for it. He also prescribed me a periodontal antibiotic that would help clear up my condition. After the examination I felt relieved, happy that Dr. Hadley could help me. I felt silly for not going to the dentist sooner, but I was excited that I found a dentist I could trust.
Set a follow up appointment
“Make sure to set up an appointment so we can take care of those cavities and fillings next time,” Dr. Hadley said as I stood ready to leave the office. I asked him if he’d seen a case as bad as mine after 10 years of avoiding the dentist. He shook his head and laughed. “You went a long time without a dental visit, and if you came sooner you may have been able to avoid some of your issues. But the important thing is that you understand why yearly oral exams are crucial to your health. And now we’ve got you on track so you keep that smile of yours healthy!”
I thanked him for all his help, and for being so kind. He said it was his pleasure, and smiled again at me with those shining teeth. “Watch the sugar!” He said to me before leaving.
That day I went home feeling a hundred percent great about the experience. I learned the importance of visiting the dentist, and of properly caring for your teeth. With such an impressive experience, I’ll be back to visit Dr. Hadley at his office, certainly before the next ten years.
When was your last oral exam?