Inquiring minds want to know

[Guest guest]

My OS asked me to do a little research with all of you. He wants to

know, from the general public, what it is that you do and don't

like/need/appreciate in your doctors' manner and presentation. He's

looking for specific little things rather than obvious big things.

Especially for those of you who 'shopped around', what was it that

made you pick the doctor that you did?

Some specific questions:

When you were first told that you needed surgery, in the first

consultation, what was it that either made you freak out, or kept

you from freaking out? What would have been the best way to be told?

When your doctor explains the surgery to you, do you like or hate

the model skeletons, drawings, x-rays, or photos? What was the

best/worst part of the explanation of what you would go through

during surgery?

What was the most helpful and most (avoidably) awful thing your doc

said or did?

Any bits and pieces of help would be appreciated. Thanks.

Kris

(8 days post-op and on the mend)

[Guest guest]

I went to 5 different doctor offices before i picked the 6th one (i

have 3 drs). For me, it was about their background (one dr is the

chairperson at hopsital and head dr at trauma center) and experience

since all my drs perform this type of surgery more often than other

drs i saw. They are also very friendly and understanding to my needs

and as to why i wanted this surgery. As far as drs' presentation, it

was important for me to have my drs be honest w/me and not sugar coat

issues like some other drs i saw before did. I asked this one dr

about the mortality rate and he just said, " it rarely happens " and

that's it. i need more info than that. My current drs i ask the

same question they say, " if your going under the knife, sure there is

a possibility of complications leading to death, but that's your

choice to make " .

My first consultation w/this one oral surgeon recommended the surgery

and i knew i was a perfect candidate from researching on net so

nothing she said freaked me out because i knew what was going to

happen.

When my drs explained the surgery, i actually like seeing the models,

x-rays, etc because they help me visually of what they were going to

do. They also explained to me how recovery would be slow and steady

and kept reminding me of what i was about to face. I was actually

more terrified before surgery because i thought i was going to be in

pain, etc but turns out, it wasn't bad at all. The worst part was

when this one dr held this plastic skull and said, " w/this surgery,

we'll be cutting your jaw off your face but don't worry, it will

still be attached " . lol i didn't like the phrase, " cutting off your

jaw " .

The most helpful thing my drs did was to decide on not doing lower

jaw surgery. All other surgeons were more than ready to perform that

on me but not these drs. They did the measurements and weighed the

risks and told me, " we could tweek your jaw but the complications

would far outweight the benefits and you really wouldn't see a

difference so why put yourself through that " . I'm not going to argue

w/3 men w/more years experience than my age alone lol.

The worst thing drs have said to me is recommend more surgery than

what i wanted. I don't know if it's intentional so they can sucker

more money outta you or for medical purposes recommend more surgery

without thinking of what'll do to your feelings. Drs need to be

sensitive. I went into this one office thinking all i need is upper

but it turned into having upper/lower/genio/rhinoplasty,,,i ran out

of there as fast as i could lol.

Lia

> My OS asked me to do a little research with all of you. He wants

to

> know, from the general public, what it is that you do and don't

> like/need/appreciate in your doctors' manner and presentation.

He's

> looking for specific little things rather than obvious big things.

> Especially for those of you who 'shopped around', what was it that

> made you pick the doctor that you did?

>

> Some specific questions:

>

> When you were first told that you needed surgery, in the first

> consultation, what was it that either made you freak out, or kept

> you from freaking out? What would have been the best way to be

told?

>

> When your doctor explains the surgery to you, do you like or hate

> the model skeletons, drawings, x-rays, or photos? What was the

> best/worst part of the explanation of what you would go through

> during surgery?

>

> What was the most helpful and most (avoidably) awful thing your doc

> said or did?

>

> Any bits and pieces of help would be appreciated. Thanks.

>

> Kris

> (8 days post-op and on the mend)

[Guest guest]

Hi Kris,

I have not had surgery yet, but here are my feeling on my OS. I've

known that I would need surgery since I was very young ( 12 maybe?).

Over the years I've seen many dentists, orthos and Maxillofacial

surgeons. They have had a number of diferent opinions. I finally

decided to go through with it because my upper teeth were staritng to

loosen and I was in danger of losing them. I started with my Family

doctor (he's been for over 20 years) he recommended a surgeon and my

surgeon in turn recommended my ortho so they work well together.

After that I did not seek another opinion because:

1. I liked the senior associate immediatly, he di not hold back

he answered all of my questions that he could at the time and as I

progressed continued to answer them.

2. There are 3 surgeons in their group and the one who will

actually perform mine is the junior but has participated in many

surgeries already, he did all of his sutdies at the University of

Pittsburgh and will do the surgery at U of P medical Center. They are

consistently rated one of the top dental school.

3. They gave a number of other patients they have done different

things on and I have the chance to contact them to speak to them

(very important!)

As for the models, I love the fact that for the past 3 months

everytime I go to the ortho he takes new molds and I wait til they

make a quick plaster model so he can show me exactly how things are

progressing, it helps a lot with the impatience to see what is going

on and understand that you are not quite ready.

The thng that frightened me the most was when the OS spoke of the

potential for permanent numbness in some areas. But the fact that he

was honest about it made me feel very good about him.

I think the thing that has impressed me the most so far is that my OS

has taken the time to go to my otho's office when I have an

appointment so the the two of them can discuss my progress and next

steps with me together. This has made me feel very secure in my

choice.

As I said I am still pre-op so this is all I can contribute at the

moment.

Hope it helps.

> My OS asked me to do a little research with all of you. He wants

to

> know, from the general public, what it is that you do and don't

> like/need/appreciate in your doctors' manner and presentation.

He's

> looking for specific little things rather than obvious big things.

> Especially for those of you who 'shopped around', what was it that

> made you pick the doctor that you did?

>

> Some specific questions:

>

> When you were first told that you needed surgery, in the first

> consultation, what was it that either made you freak out, or kept

> you from freaking out? What would have been the best way to be

told?

>

> When your doctor explains the surgery to you, do you like or hate

> the model skeletons, drawings, x-rays, or photos? What was the

> best/worst part of the explanation of what you would go through

> during surgery?

>

> What was the most helpful and most (avoidably) awful thing your doc

> said or did?

>

> Any bits and pieces of help would be appreciated. Thanks.

>

> Kris

> (8 days post-op and on the mend)

[Guest guest]

Kris,

I found out I needed the surgery from my OD. He told me he had good

news for me, that he could fix my alignment. He then told me he

couldn't do it alone, and that I would need surgery to completely

make it work. He told me he could align the teeth by removing more

on the top, but that wouldn't give me a functional bite. I figured

as long as I was going into it, I might as well get the bite right.

I ended up seeing two different OS due to a change in insurance. I

didn't have a choice of either because they were the only ones

covered under my plan. When I got to my current OS, I liked that he

took time with me. The first guy tried to get me in and out in 5

minutes for my first pre-surg consulatation. This guy took half an

hour with me, when I already knew most of what I needed, and had

been in braces for almost a year and a member of this site for that

long as well.

I liked the models. It showed the location of the nerve, and how

much care he'd have to take to insure minimal damage. I liked that

his office staff treated me with respect and didn't treat me like

just another case. I like that he doesn't expect me to call him Dr.

X. Yes, he is a professional and has earned that right. But, I'm

near his age, and a professional myself. I'm not a Dr., but in my

profession I deal with CEOs on a first name basis. No pretetion on

his part.

I like that he treats my like not only a patient, but a customer.

Yes, I am paying his bill, even through insurance. I'm putting

money in his pocket. Act like it matters. (OK, stepping off my

soapbox now...)

And, I like that his office isn't cramped. The

consultation/workrooms are small, but they feel larger due to the

way he's set them up. Every patient looks out the window.

Dammit

> My OS asked me to do a little research with all of you. He wants

to

> know, from the general public, what it is that you do and don't

> like/need/appreciate in your doctors' manner and presentation.

He's

> looking for specific little things rather than obvious big

things.

> Especially for those of you who 'shopped around', what was it that

> made you pick the doctor that you did?

>

> Some specific questions:

>

> When you were first told that you needed surgery, in the first

> consultation, what was it that either made you freak out, or kept

> you from freaking out? What would have been the best way to be

told?

>

> When your doctor explains the surgery to you, do you like or hate

> the model skeletons, drawings, x-rays, or photos? What was the

> best/worst part of the explanation of what you would go through

> during surgery?

>

> What was the most helpful and most (avoidably) awful thing your

doc

> said or did?

>

> Any bits and pieces of help would be appreciated. Thanks.

>

> Kris

> (8 days post-op and on the mend)

[Guest guest]

Hi Kris!

Hope things are going well for you now that you're 'on the other

side', it will be quite some time before I'm there myself!

I've been to see three doctors, and have finally settled on the

third. After being referred to two horrible doctors by my dentist, I

finally decided to find one on my own. She's wonderful! I like her

because she is a woman, and can relate to many of my problems. She

has always been very straight-forward with me, and has taken the time

to answer any questions I may have.

While I don't doubt the skill or ability of the other two doctors,

they both had personalities as exciting as wallpaper. The first

doctor showed me no molds, no photos, no pamphlets. The second was

only a little better, giving me one pamphlet to take home which

contained only hand-drawn pictures. My current doctor has gone above

and beyond. She has shown me molds, diagrams, real pictures, x-rays,

even similar case studies to mine, and the results that were achieved

from them.

Computer simulation also helps a lot! It's a way to really see your

progress, and what it will look like when it's all said and done.

The most important thing to me was the upfront knowledge about

recovery. I have never been under the knife, and even started to cry

one day because it was just so overwhelming and scary. She has

prepared me for what to expect before and after, and has given me

some great advice on how to deal with my emotions and thoughts

dealing with this process.

She may be my doctor, but it feels like she's a friend too. I think

this makes her incredibly valuable, and I wouldn't have it any other

way.

Hope this helps and that you're feeling great!

-

[Guest guest]

For me, it was all about picking an ortho/surgeon team.

When my dentist told me that surgery was now more of a need rather

than a recommendation, I first went to the ortho his own daughter

used. Problem was the surgeon he worked with did not believing in

seeing the patient until right before the surgery. I wanted an

ortho/surgeon team that worked together.

Next, I went to an ortho that a work colleague of a friend had used.

The surgeon he worked with though, did not accept insurance but I'd

be able to file on my own. No thanks.

So I begged their office for a recommendation. That led to my

surgeon -- Dr. Fonseca -- who at the time was the chairman of

the dental school at the University of Pa. I met with him and what I

appreciated was his manner -- professional and personal. He explained

things in English, rather than med-speak. His staff were kind and

considerate. And, petty as this sounds, he saw me within a few

minutes of my scheduled appointment, a big deal when you can only be

out of your office for limited amounts of time.

I next saw the ortho. What impressed me was his diagnosis was

identical to that of the surgeon. Everyone had said I needed the jaws

moved...these both also explained why I needed the surgical rapid

palate expander.

My dentist knew them both which meant a lot to me because I trust my

dentist for more than 12 years.

I saw one more person -- the ortho that my surgeon works with

regularly. This person was HORRIBLE! First, he looked at my gums and

was worried about receding gums for someone my age -- it turned out

to be a backwards compliment because he thought I was in my 20s and I

was approaching 40! What it really meant was he hadn't looked at my

chart. This became a recurring theme...he'd reschedule because he

hadn't seen my records, would then confirm that he had all the

materials, and then I show up and he didn't. I ran as far from him as

I could and went back with the ortho/surgeon team 3.

So the little things that mean the most?

1. Consideration for me as a person -- my time, my health, etc.

2. Explaining the implications well in advance -- my ortho was

horrible at this (which is why I'm not IDing him by name). I remember

when he put in the SRPE he didn't tell me I'd have a mouth full of

saliva for days. This is a problem because my job requires

presenting. So I couldn't do my job and I didn't know!

3. Checking in and following up -- both my surgeon and my ortho call

and write to see how I'm doing. It means a lot.

Hope this helps.

Fran