The Worst Dental Cleaning Experience of…
The Worst Dental Cleaning Experience of My Life
This was honestly the worst experience I have ever had at a dental office. I go for routine cleanings every six months, I floss regularly, and I have never experienced anything like this.
From the moment I walked in, Kara Atchley, the hygienist, seemed upset and unwilling to talk to me. I came in wearing scrubs, and I don’t know if that had anything to do with it, but her attitude toward me was cold from the beginning. As a physician myself, I was left wondering whether my appearance or background had something to do with the way she treated me. I cannot say for sure, but I know how I was made to feel.
The cleaning was unbelievably rough. She was moving my face around aggressively, turning from side to side, and hurting my cheeks while working inside my mouth. I could taste blood running down my throat, and she was not rinsing my mouth or clearing the blood. I eventually had to ask her myself if she could rinse my mouth with water.
After she said she was done with my upper teeth, I had to politely tell her that my lower teeth were sensitive so she wouldn’t hurt my lower teeth as well. She said she would try her best but couldn’t promise. However, the same rough treatment continued. She even pulled my hair with her knee twice while working on me. I kept tolerating it and was trying to be polite and get through the appointment, but the entire experience was painful and extremely uncomfortable.
At one point, she pushed a sharp instrument so far back that it hurt my throat. I was in genuine pain. I have attached a photograph showing a red spot at the back of my throat, which I noticed after the appointment and believe may be related to where the instrument hurt me. My gums were bleeding, and I could see irritation in my mouth afterward.
What made the experience even worse was how she handled the instruments. She was putting and throwing them onto my chest over the dental bib and picking them back up. I was sitting there wondering why a patient was being treated this way in a professional dental office.
The cleaning itself did not even feel complete. When I ran my tongue over the backs of my teeth afterward, I could still feel what seemed like plaque. The flossing was rushed, and she barely flossed the front teeth without properly going through the rest of my mouth, including the molars. I declined polishing because, by that point, I simply did not want her to continue working on me.
As she was leaving, I had to ask for an antiseptic mouth rinse. I believe providing an antiseptic mouth rinse should be standard procedure after a dental cleaning.
When I told Dr. Josh that this was the worst experience of my life at a dental office, the hygienist, Kara Atchley, became defensive and continued arguing rather than listening to my concerns. I did not feel that my concerns were taken seriously or properly addressed.
I am now left with a sore, bleeding mouth and a visible red spot at the back of my throat. I am also concerned about infection control. I do not know whether the instruments were properly sterilized, and I expect the office to confirm that the required sterilization procedures were followed.
If I develop any serious infection or other serious complication that is medically linked to this procedure, I will absolutely pursue legal action against the practice and the responsible parties. I expect the office to take this matter seriously, document my complaint, investigate what happened, and provide a clear response.