If your receptionist lost a tooth...

[MixedBerryJam]

May 21, 2012 20:12:34 GMT -5 pugz said:

dental work is so expensive, I'm sure she just can't afford it at this point.

we had a patient recently needing to have all of his teeth removed before he could have heart surgery. He had no insurance and it was going to be $6000 for the extractions. Ouch, in more than one way!

I'm kind of shaking my head at the "But we have free dental" comment. Even if your dental insurance is 100% employer paid, I guarantee the receptionist's dental work won't be free. Please don't try to be helpful. That would not help this situation.

[basilosaurus]

I had to have a tooth removed, and with the implant process, it was a full 12 months after extraction before I could even get the crown. This had nothing to do with money. It actually took that long for the implant to heal in the bone before I could get the crown for it. I felt awful enough about it, even though I was fixing a congenital issue, that it would have been absolutely horrifying to have it mentioned at work. It's certainly not a fireable offense.

[maris63]

Sorry this is off topic and probably won't help but it could be worse...My receptionist is 75 years old (refuses to retire) and pees herself on a daily basis. I'd gladly take a broken tooth!

[CloudBee]

WTF to some of these responses.

[Deleted]

May 21, 2012 20:24:30 GMT -5 papiercherri said:

Yeah, I'm not even sure why the reference to hair color was made. Bad analogy.

seriously, wtf.

also, attempting to support your original point =/= playing devil's advocate

[Deleted]

We had this situation at a firm I used to work at. The main receptionist had a front tooth break in half and it didn't appear that she planned to do anything about it. It looked ridiculous, and she was the person who greeted clients when they walked through the front door.

I can see both sides. I don't have dental insurance, and I've also had to have a couple of old fillings replaced as crowns. I think each crown was $1,500. That's a lot of money on a receptionist's salary. That said, it's definitely not a good thing to have a person missing a front tooth as the face greeting clients and other lawyers at the reception desk of a law firm.

My firm handled it by asking a dentist friend of a partner if he could work with her on a payment plan and also give her a good deal on the price. He agreed, so the office manager (who was friendly with her) approached the receptionist and mentioned that they could get her a reasonable price and payment plan to fix the tooth. It was a win-win for everyone, as she certainly wanted to get her tooth fixed.

I don't think anyone should say anything, though, unless they are willing to help her pay for the work, can get her a payment plan or great rate that she can afford, or the firm has fantastic dental coverage where she really has no excuse to not get it done.

[bronxgirl]

OP, I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt that this is some wierd type of joke and not a legitamate question.

[basilosaurus]

Again, finances aside, do you people realize that it could be a year long process between implant and crown? For me, it was extraction, then 3 months before 1st stage implant, then 6 months before 2nd stage, then another 6 months before the crown. So I was actively perusing it, had the finances for it, but there's only so much you can speed up the bone actually healing.

[WOT?*]

May 21, 2012 18:15:19 GMT -5 thedutchgirl said:

Tooth equals medical stuff, which starts involving HIPAA. I suspect that is what a PP meant.

One of the partners I work with had a similar issue last year. Start to finish it took fourish months to have fixed, although he was able to have a temp on a retainer until he could get the implant.

This. Dental is a medical issue and she very may well be protected under federal or state law (FMLA-ish and HIPAA type stuff). You may mandate appearance as a job requirement but there are always exceptions to every rule and protections for employees are out there. This, honestly, would be a "tread lightly" area, imo.

FWIW, I had dental coverage (double coverage, actually) and my crowns were still in the $1200-1500 range each; if she can't have a crown but needs an implant instead, that would be multiple month process and a cost of about $8K between the dentist, oral surgeon, anesthesia, surgery, equipment, crown and whatever else. (Mine took more than a year between extraction, healing, post implantation, healing, measuring for crown, having crown made and having crown placed.)

If she is able to have a flipper made, it would be quicker and less expensive than an implant but it would still take time to measure and manufacture, and on a receptionist salary, time for her to save up for it too. Unless you have a way to help her get it/pay for it or a valid reason (other than "it's not pretty") to tell her it needs to be fixed I would not say anything. (This from the gal who spent the last three years and about $20K fixing her teeth - after insurance.)

It's a tooth. She's already aware it's broken. I'm sure either she's already doing something about it or she can't afford to do something about it.

[Deleted]

My firm pays the receptionist $11/hour. I would never say anything. I'm sure my asshoke boss would, though.

[StJess80]

I haven't read through all of the responses, but usually if you lose/break a crown they have to remake the whole thing, which can take 3wks. If it just fell out and she has it, tell her to put toothpaste inside and set the tooth where it goes, and then hold firmly for 5 min. Then call the dentist. I don't think cost will be high at all for either one.


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[jaylea]

This is just... ridiculous and gross, really.

I'm guessing you're not too familiar with dental insurance. Aside from cleanings and preventative care, even the "best" policies don't cover a whole lot, leading to expensive out of pocket costs for patients.

Unless your statement is going to be "I'd like to offer to pay for you to get your tooth fixed", then you should keep out of it. This is not a body piercing or a tattoo.

[Deleted]

I would say that if you have time to sit around and analyze your receptionist's lost tooth, you should probably find another job.

Seriously. It has never crossed my mind to even look at my receptionist's teeth. Never.

[chicken]

I feel bad for her not only because she has bad teeth, but also because her co-workers at her new job are badmouthing her behind her back (and online).

[eightangryreindeer]

I am seriously like, wow.

So I guess your firm wouldn't employ a limbless person who chose not to wear a prosthetic? Or who is missing a finger, or was burned badly on their face, or, or, or?

It took me two months to get my permanent crown.

She might have an infection that has to clear before they can do the work.

I'm just appalled by this.

[Deleted]

I just had to have a root canal and a crown done--it was $972 for my "share" and I have decent dental insurance. I feel bad for this girl. She likely doesn't make a lot of money and if it were between paying my bills and having to have people mock me (as I'm sure it bothers her too), I guess I'd have to pick mocking. Can you imagine never wanting to smile because you feel ugly with a bad tooth? It sucks.

[hubes]

I hope that you fire her, so she can sue you for wrongful termination and win enough money to buy an entirely new set of teeth.

[backinpgh]

May 21, 2012 18:04:23 GMT -5 NachoProblem said:

May 21, 2012 17:59:13 GMT -5 rubytue said:

I can't imagine ever saying something. Would you tell her to dye her hair, get a hair cut, get new glasses, or anything else appearance-wise? Is she still functioning at her job? Are clients complaining about the toothless hag at the front desk?

I partially agree with this. But most professional places have a certain dress code. I know for nurses that work in the local hospital it says something about hair color and piercings and stuff, since they are representing the hospital/company.

Do you guys have an employee handbook or something? If not, then I think you're shit out of luck.

Solution: Create a new employee appearance code. The only thing on the code is "All employees must have all visible teeth in place." Maybe she'll get the picture. bwahahahaha

[downtoearth]

My boss lost 2 teeth in front about a year and a half ago. B/c he broke them off with some trauma, it took over a year for him to get new/replacement teeth. He did have a retainer type thing he could wear, but there were also times that he wasn't supposed to wear it for healing purposes.

I think he had about 4 surgeries to finally get his teeth - oh and he's a professional with a PhD so he was REALLY the face of our company.

I'd say have the compnay pay for her tooth replacement if it really is bothering the bosses.

[aspentosh]

May 21, 2012 18:03:37 GMT -5 @gypsy said:

fancy dental work takes time.
Even if she is getting another crown - it may take a few visits, and then like you said, money may be an issue.

Don't say anything. I'm sure she feels bad enough.

:Y:

[steph96]

Other than her tooth, is she dressing professionally? If I see someone that takes care of themselves, but they have a missing tooth (and the other teeth look nice and aren't rotting out), I don't judge. Sh!t happens and it takes time to get it fixed. If a client is going to judge your company based on one missing tooth, you don't need them as a client.

[MadamePresident]

My mom had to have a tooth pulled. Its been so expensive and such an ordeal for her to try and get it replaced. She had to have surgery first to have her jaw bone strengthened, which resulted in her getting a terrible infection. They had to go in and reopen the area to allow it to drain. Now they are telling her it may not have been successful at all.

Dental surgery can be hard. Its not always as easy as just getting a new tooth installed.

[JKLM3981]

May 22, 2012 9:18:05 GMT -5 @booby said:

May 21, 2012 19:59:53 GMT -5 @gypsy said:

It makes me sad, is all. The people I know with bad teeth would be crushed if someone said something to them. They know they have bad teeth. Yes, it's unattractive.

I hope she is working on a solution.

so, calling her 'corn teeth' is probably a bad idea, yes?

:Y:

Sorry Gypsy. Not making yourself better than the OP...

[Ashley&Scott]

Ditto everyone else, she isn't purposely not getting her tooth fixed, obviously there's a reason. (money, healing, etc) Don't say anything, even if you're trying to help you'll only make her feel worse.

[pb1124]

Dental work such as crowns/implants can be extremely expensive--even with insurance. I'm in the process of getting a dental implant, which is costing around $4k out of pocket. And it takes a LOT of time. First I had to get the existing root canal removed, then let the gum heal for 4 months. Next I get the rod, then let the gum heal for 4 months. Then I get the rod uncovered and measured for a crown. Then it takes about 2 weeks to get a crown.