39
Volume3 Issue5
|
S
upporting
Y
our
P
ractice
Dr. John O’Keefe, CDA director of knowledge networks, spoke with
a dental colleague who had recently retired and they were reminiscing
about denturepatients theyhad seenover the years. Someof theseclinical
experiences brought back a smile when remembering them with the
privilegeofhindsight!Herearea few shortvignettes that they recounted.
THEMASKED
DENTIST
Anonymousby choice,
the “MaskedDentist”
will providehis/her
personal experiences
aboutpractisingdentistry
inCanadafrom time to
time.
TheMaskedDentist
This interviewhasbeencondensedand
edited.
Theviewsexpressedarethoseoftheauthor
anddonotnecessarilyreflecttheopinions
orofficialpoliciesoftheCanadianDental
Association.
Denture Patients’ Stories
x4
“I did an externship in the late 70s betweenmy 3rd and 4th year in dental
school. Itwaswithadentist (let’s call himBob for this story)who is to thisday
a real hero ofmine. It was an amazing experience that allowedme todo so
muchdentistry, that I foundmy4thyear indental school tobeabreeze!
Hehadapatientarrivewithnoteethwhowantedasetofdentures. Inevergot
to see thepatient. Bobexplained that itwould take several visits, thepatient
toldhimhewasonlycomingbackonemore timeand thatwas topickuphis
dentures. Bob took a set of alginate impressions andestimated thebite, etc.
Thepatienthadhard ridges that showed littlebone lossbecause thepatient
had all his teeth removed andnever haddentures, but claimedhe could
eat everything—except Braziliannuts.
When the patient came back for the denture fit
appointment, he put the teeth in and Bob did
a few adjustments. Then, the patient put the
dentures inhispocket.WhenBobaskedwhyhewas
getting dentures, the patient responded that he
was going towear them at his eldest daughter’s
wedding and that he had four daughters and
planned towear themonly4 times! ”
