WWYD Seeing a new dentist

[pattieice]

I moved back to my hometown this summer. I haven't been to a dentist in close to a year, so I am due for a cleaning and check up. One of my childhood best friend's husband is a dentist and I am seriously considering going to him.

I've known him since high school, he is very smart and a nice guy. I have playdates with my friend and her kids probably monthly, so I see him on a regular basis.

It makes me feel a little weird to think that he will be all up in my mouth, but it is dentistry, not gynocology. Anyone else see a dentist, doctor, etc. that they know socially?

[qwerty]

My FIL and SIL are both dentists. It was a bit weird at first going to them, but it's actually better knowing them and that they will take good care of me.

[livinitup]

I would absolutely use a good friend as my dentist. Because I would really, really trust that they weren't recommending unnecessary work, and they might be extra accommodating in an emergency/urgent dental problem. I LOVE my dentist and trust him.

[VillainV]

Ask yourself how you would feel if a procedure didn't go well, billing got screwed up, or whatever. Would it affect your friendship? If so, would that be a big deal to you? Sometimes things go wrong in any business relationship, that may or may not be anyone's "fault", and you just have to decide how you would handle that and how you would feel.

I generally try not to do business with friends. But, well, now we're renting a house from some friends, and it's just fine. I think being friends with each other (AND having lots of mutual friends) helps us keep things on a friendly level. We know they won't screw us over (and they know we won't screw them over) because A) we're all good people, and wouldn't really do that anyway, but if we did, B) there is social pressure to be nice about stuff.

[Susie]

Dec 17, 2014 8:32:52 GMT -5 pattieice said:

 it is dentistry, not gynocology

That's kind of how I feel about it.  I don't see my dentist socially but I'd be fine with it if I did.  A gyn... yeah, not so much.

When I needed a physical therapist for an ankle injury, I went to a practice run by my friend + her H.  Yeah there was potential for something to go wrong, but I wasn't there for anything I was sensitive about, and it was definitely better than picking a random out of the phone book.

[bonnie]

Dec 17, 2014 9:11:49 GMT -5 livinitup said:

I would absolutely use a good friend as my dentist. Because I would really, really trust that they weren't recommending unnecessary work, and they might be extra accommodating in an emergency/urgent dental problem.

100% agree with this.

[h]

It wouldn't concern me at all.

I see my gyno, our family doctor, my kids' pediatric dentist, and the orthopedic surgeon who set my kid's broken arm all socially to varying degrees. I love it--they give us lots of attention and work us in quickly when needed.

My mom's gyno is her BFF's husband, and she sees him socially pretty much weekly. Now that would cross a line for me, but to each her own.

[noodleoo]

Dec 17, 2014 9:11:49 GMT -5 livinitup said:

I would absolutely use a good friend as my dentist. Because I would really, really trust that they weren't recommending unnecessary work, and they might be extra accommodating in an emergency/urgent dental problem. I LOVE my dentist and trust him.

This!  Especially with dentists, I would love knowing someone and trusting that they aren't ripping me off.  My dentist who I trusted and loved just moved away and I'm bummed I need to find a new one.  

ALso, at my dentist, the hygenist does the actual cleaning and the dentist only pops in for 5-10 mins to check x-rays and stuff.  Or do actual fillings.  So you might not have him up in your mouth for that long anyway.

[mich1]

Yep.....some f my best friends are dentists and I have no problem with them working on my mouth.

I worked in dental research for 30 years.....it is really hard NOT to know the dentists on more than a professional basis.

[cheezer]

I'm not usually about mixing business and friends but a dentist doesn't bother me, especially if it's just for normal cleanings.

[mcsangel2]

Dec 17, 2014 10:09:48 GMT -5 h said:

It wouldn't concern me at all.

I see my gyno, our family doctor, my kids' pediatric dentist, and the orthopedic surgeon who set my kid's broken arm all socially to varying degrees. I love it--they give us lots of attention and work us in quickly when needed.

My mom's gyno is her BFF's husband, and she sees him socially pretty much weekly. Now that would cross a line for me, but to each her own.

[mich1]

Dec 17, 2014 14:34:03 GMT -5 mcsangel2 said:

Dec 17, 2014 10:09:48 GMT -5 h said:

It wouldn't concern me at all.

I see my gyno, our family doctor, my kids' pediatric dentist, and the orthopedic surgeon who set my kid's broken arm all socially to varying degrees. I love it--they give us lots of attention and work us in quickly when needed.

My mom's gyno is her BFF's husband, and she sees him socially pretty much weekly. Now that would cross a line for me, but to each her own.

I used to work in a medical center and I would occasionally run into my gyn in the cafeteria.  I used to pretend not to see him.

Same thing, when I used to run into my gyn at the gym.

[bostonmichelle]

I started going to my dentist because her office is across the hall from mine at work. Now I (usually my DH) sees her weekly because are dogs go to the same obedience class and are all goldens. I don't care one bit about her. I had a couple clients that were cleaning ladies by trade but decided against hiring them to clean my house.

[havarti]

Awww..this is making me feel bad for all the poor, shunned gynos out there! I'd ask your dentist friend how he feels about it. We have a dentist friend who prefers not to see people he knows socially at his practice.

[Deleted]

I would be fine with it. Like you said, it's not like he is an obgyn or anything. Unless you have a particular disgusting mouth that you are embarrassed of I think you should go with someone you know (and trust).