And since then, I learned to dislike a certain assistant, who is just plain rude and incompetent. I need to vent, and I need advice.
First, when I first had my brackets installed, the ortho. told the assistant to put some cement on my mollars to prevent me from bitting the braces. The assistant did that. It was horrible, I couldn't close my mouth and chewing was a challenge, but I didn't think much of it until the cement on one side fell off.
Then, I called then and asked if I should come in to have it replaced. The assistant said "No, it won't interefere with the treatment." So I didn't. But night after night my tooth (with the cement) kept hitting the top one and waking me up. It must have been from increased pressure, since now there was only one mount of cement to hold my mouth "open". It got to a point where I couldn't stand anymore, unable to eat, to sleep without waking up in the middle of the night...
So I call again. And she is quick to dismiss me. I tell my husband what is going on, he calls and demands to talk to the ortho., who isn't there, so we make an appointment. When I get there, the assistant looks at me and goes: -sigh- "What is wrong NOW?"
And I tell her: "I just want to talk to the orthodontist, that is all." So she goes and gets the ortho. I tell him what was happening, and while he is looking at the cement, the assistant says to the ortho "it just needs another one on the other side". But he decides to take the cement off. Now I am happy and relieved. The assistant is annoyed.
Next appointment get a different assistant.
The office has two orthos., the one I signed up for (let's say ortho-1) and the other guy (ortho-2). I get the ortho-2, but no problems.
Then today's appointment. I get the "ortho-2" again.
The ortho-2 is telling the assistant what he wants. Change wire on top, keep wire on the bottom, powerchain 1-1, etc. She says "You know what would be helpful? Write down everything you want us to do" and walks away while the ortho is dictating. I find that amusing, but whatever. She comes back and change the wires. She didn't put power chains anywhere, or any of the other things the ortho. said. I don't notice that until I get home.
So I am home, and the wire is sticking out poking the inside of my cheek. I am already upset, now I have to drive all the way back to the office to have that wire trimmed down. Great.
I go there, ortho-1 is now there. He cuts the wire. I don't say anything to ortho-1 about what happened with ortho-2, about power chains, etc., because the assistant was in the room on the next chair also.Everything is fine, except that everytime I get that assistant it gets on my nerves, I have to keep going back to have things fixed, or she is rude, sometimes both. My problem is... The appointments are based on time, so whoever assistant is free at that time gets the patient, so requesting a diff. assistant won't work. Talking to the ortho about the assistant is tricky, because she is the daughter of ortho-1!
What can I do?
How can I tell my ortho. that his daughter is rude and incompetent without ruining everything?
I am not the type of person that likes to have confrontation and I really try to avoid it. I think an unsigned letter would work for the initial complaint. In the complaint letter I would suggest that they ask patients of Ortho #1 about the service from that assistant. If they actually do what you suggest, then you will be able to voice your opinion openly with the ortho.
