So, it’s back to my dentist again tomorrow to get my new implant crown readjusted one more time. Sigh. Twenty-four hours after Dr. K cemented the new, improved version into my mouth, I felt it wiggling. I called the office and asked to have his partner, Dr. F., take a look.
This is complicated. Dr. K has been my dentist for more than 20 years, and he’s been a great resource, fully understanding my issues with scleroderma. My mouth is tight and hard to work with. Then there are all the resorbed teeth requiring implants. However, the reality is that his fingers are too big to easily maneuver when dealing with a crown for a molar. Dr. F has small, deft hands, and she also doesn’t get stressed like he does (he worries he’s hurting me—which is sometimes the case, if he stretches my lips too much).
The silver lining is that Dr. K has been cutting back his hours as he shifts into retirement. Last Monday when he installed the crown, he told me it was probably the last time I’d see him because he was cutting back even more. I thanked him for all his good help over the years.
And, with a clear conscience, the next day I asked for an appointment with Dr. F to tighten up the crown and finish the job. She’s been his closer when my mouth presented problems before, and I have total faith in her.
Self-advocacy with medical professionals can get a bit dicey when you have long-standing relationships with your providers. But, ultimately, you have to stand up for what is best for you. And be sure to say thanks along the way.
Evelyn Herwitz blogs weekly about living fully with chronic disease, the inside of baseballs, turtles and frogs, J.S. Bach, the meaning of life and whatever else she happens to be thinking about at livingwithscleroderma.com. Please view Privacy Policy here.
Image: Kevin West
So sorry you have to deal with this recurring problem, one of many, I know, accompanying scleroderma. Now complicated by the fact that a trusted care provider is retiring. I’ve lost several trusted doctors myself over the last few years as they retire, and even if I respect the expertise of the replacements, it just takes time to develop the kind of relationship I had with the others.