This dentist put a smile on her face

To the editor: Like many people, I’m not a good dental patient. I always explain that to my dentist and then try to remind myself during the procedure that he is only doing his job, but it doesn’t usually work; I wind up a nervous wreck. This week, I needed to have a tooth pulled and was at a dentist in New Jersey who is in my insurance plan. He showed no sympathy and made me feel worse. I think he was absent for the lesson on “chair-side” manners in dental school. After 30 minutes of anxiety and pain I left, still numb, with my tooth intact. On my way home, I stopped at Warwick Valley Dental. They listened to my story about the dentist from hell, laughed with me knowing how silly I felt and gave me their next appointment. When I arrived for the procedure, Dr. Patel explained all of my options for pain management, answered my questions patiently and then proceeded to talk me through the procedure. After what felt like five minutes (it was actually 45), my tooth was gone and I had no anxiety and very little pain. While I still feel silly about my fear, I feel welcome and understood at our good old local dentist, Warwick Valley Dental, on Galloway Road. At the risk of sounding like I’m accepting the award for worst dental patient of the year, I would like to thank Dr. Patel, Hope, Karen and the rest of the staff at Warwick Valley Dental for their kindness, their compassion and their senses of humor. I should probably thank my husband too; he was extremely patient. Eileen Patterson Warwick