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Discrimination?
I'm 18 and I have Hep C.
I'm not legally required to tell my dentist I have it, but in the past (when I didn't have it) I've noticed he hasn't used gloves in my mouth and my gums tend to bleed.
So I told him today when he was going to remove my braces. He then proceeded to ask me if I was contagious. I told him I am until I recieve treatment, but he could only get it from blood to blood contact.
He asked why I haven't had treatment, I said I haven't been to my appointment yet and I would hopefully be starting soon.
I sat in the chair for 40 minutes while a dentist assistant removed everything from the room and brought in the outfits used in operating rooms. I almost cried, but I just wanted my braces off so I sat there and didn't say anything.
The Doctor finally came in and told me he wouldn't remove my braces because blood could be brought up digging in my gums and he didn't want to put the other patients at risk. I told him I was in a room by myself and the only way to put them at risk is to mesh my blood with an open wound on them. He said my blood could evaporate and the others could inhale it! I was livid. I'm learning to be ok with having this virus and this man refused to take my braces off because I had Hep. C. He said I could come back when all the other patients were gone and he'd take them off then.
Please tell me this is wrong because I sure as hell think it is.
I'm not legally required to tell my dentist I have it, but in the past (when I didn't have it) I've noticed he hasn't used gloves in my mouth and my gums tend to bleed.
So I told him today when he was going to remove my braces. He then proceeded to ask me if I was contagious. I told him I am until I recieve treatment, but he could only get it from blood to blood contact.
He asked why I haven't had treatment, I said I haven't been to my appointment yet and I would hopefully be starting soon.
I sat in the chair for 40 minutes while a dentist assistant removed everything from the room and brought in the outfits used in operating rooms. I almost cried, but I just wanted my braces off so I sat there and didn't say anything.
The Doctor finally came in and told me he wouldn't remove my braces because blood could be brought up digging in my gums and he didn't want to put the other patients at risk. I told him I was in a room by myself and the only way to put them at risk is to mesh my blood with an open wound on them. He said my blood could evaporate and the others could inhale it! I was livid. I'm learning to be ok with having this virus and this man refused to take my braces off because I had Hep. C. He said I could come back when all the other patients were gone and he'd take them off then.
Please tell me this is wrong because I sure as hell think it is.
That dentist is dangerous,you say he was working with gloves,thats against the health codes,stay away from this guy,hes proberly got some diseases himself.
The personnel in my dentists office including my dentist wear masks, plastic visors that shield the face, gloves and follow the same protocol for EVERYONE. They do not require you to disclose you have hepc and when I informed them I had hepc they didn't bat an eye. After I leave, they don't give the instruments used on me any extra turn in the autoclave and before I arrive, no one dresses up in combat gear. It is not necessary if they are doing what they are supposed to do.
I questioned them about their position on infectious disease and they said it was not necessary to take extra precautions because they use the same precautions on everyone of their patients. This should be universal throughout the dental community, unfortunately it is not.
I questioned them about their position on infectious disease and they said it was not necessary to take extra precautions because they use the same precautions on everyone of their patients. This should be universal throughout the dental community, unfortunately it is not.
you did the right thing in telling your dentist...first off.
legal obligation is not the morality we should gauge our behavior by...it's what we would want done to us, that we should do to other.
If you would like docs and other patients to be protected...if you would appreciate them protecting you if they had HCV or HIV, then youdid the right thing.
I know it feels weird to see all the equipment come out...but the workers have a right to protect themselves as well as an obligation to others.
Your doctor is an idiot to be in anyones mouth without gloves, and has probably spread more disease than he possibly could know.
However, if you go to someone else, I would not be offended by the gear, or afraid to tell..
my dentist has been very understanding, and they treat me very well, sympathetically and are friendly.
When they clean my teeth they hand scale them, because there is some concern that the blood does become airborne by the sonar cleanings and could be inhaled.
Although I could find no reserch indicating HCV is spread this way, I understand their concern for themselves and others....as there are numerous deadly viruses that are spread this way...such as SARS etc. I think if they have to areosolize some of your blood..having the other children gone already would lessen their fear level.
As long as they were still willing to treat you, I'd have no problem with their precautions...
you see I still remember that burnt smell that comes from every sonar dental cleaning...that smell is the smell of both dental plaque AND blood becoming heated and airborne....you can't blame them for not wanting to risk breathing that if you have such a serious disease.
I hope you will find a dentist as I did who is compassionate....but don't be offended by the gear...it actually comforts me to know that they are doing all they can to protect themselves, AND the next person in the chair.
mb
legal obligation is not the morality we should gauge our behavior by...it's what we would want done to us, that we should do to other.
If you would like docs and other patients to be protected...if you would appreciate them protecting you if they had HCV or HIV, then youdid the right thing.
I know it feels weird to see all the equipment come out...but the workers have a right to protect themselves as well as an obligation to others.
Your doctor is an idiot to be in anyones mouth without gloves, and has probably spread more disease than he possibly could know.
However, if you go to someone else, I would not be offended by the gear, or afraid to tell..
my dentist has been very understanding, and they treat me very well, sympathetically and are friendly.
When they clean my teeth they hand scale them, because there is some concern that the blood does become airborne by the sonar cleanings and could be inhaled.
Although I could find no reserch indicating HCV is spread this way, I understand their concern for themselves and others....as there are numerous deadly viruses that are spread this way...such as SARS etc. I think if they have to areosolize some of your blood..having the other children gone already would lessen their fear level.
As long as they were still willing to treat you, I'd have no problem with their precautions...
you see I still remember that burnt smell that comes from every sonar dental cleaning...that smell is the smell of both dental plaque AND blood becoming heated and airborne....you can't blame them for not wanting to risk breathing that if you have such a serious disease.
I hope you will find a dentist as I did who is compassionate....but don't be offended by the gear...it actually comforts me to know that they are doing all they can to protect themselves, AND the next person in the chair.
mb
I’m soooooo sorry you were exposed to the ignorance of a medical professional. It amazes me how “in the dark” the medical community in general is about HCV.
In the dental world, universal precautions should be practiced at all times, but there is not an agency that checks to make sure precautions are being followed, i. e. Health Inspectors, like the kind that grade restaurants. So our dentists are self-governing and the machine that properly sterilizes equipment is costly. Wouldn’t it be nice to walk in and see the grade your dentist or other health provider was given posted on the wall, like in restaurants?
If I were you I would consider myself lucky to find out your dentist is an idiot before you’ve treated, rather than run the chances of being reinfected by a moron that is reactive rather than proactive. Which shows he cares nothing about the safety of his patents or staff.
I would report him.
Ann
In the dental world, universal precautions should be practiced at all times, but there is not an agency that checks to make sure precautions are being followed, i. e. Health Inspectors, like the kind that grade restaurants. So our dentists are self-governing and the machine that properly sterilizes equipment is costly. Wouldn’t it be nice to walk in and see the grade your dentist or other health provider was given posted on the wall, like in restaurants?
If I were you I would consider myself lucky to find out your dentist is an idiot before you’ve treated, rather than run the chances of being reinfected by a moron that is reactive rather than proactive. Which shows he cares nothing about the safety of his patents or staff.
I would report him.
Ann
HE DIDN'T WEAR GLOVES????? OMG that is so unsanitary!!! He is wrong, wrong, wrong. Glad you are looking for another
Denise
Denise
Way to go girl!!! You gotta make him feel it where it hurts him! Maybe it will also open other morons eyes.
I refuse to go back there. I'm going to have another remove my braces.
I'm planning on making this a big deal, because it is.
If this is discrimination that legally fits under the Hepa Laws I'm pursuing it.
No ifs, ands, or buts about it.
His Name is Dr. George he's an orthodontist and his practice in in East Greenbush NY.
I'm planning on making this a big deal, because it is.
If this is discrimination that legally fits under the Hepa Laws I'm pursuing it.
No ifs, ands, or buts about it.
His Name is Dr. George he's an orthodontist and his practice in in East Greenbush NY.
You poor thing. What a horror story. As said previously, the dentist is a moron. If you're ever asked if you are contagious, just say "Hepatitis is infectious when infected blood gets into the bloodstream of an uninfected person? The word contagious makes people think if you breathe on them they can catch it.
I agree with others that a letter should be written to the locaql board with a copy to the stupid dentist.n And I would mention that he does not use universal precautions. What a jerk!
I agree with others that a letter should be written to the locaql board with a copy to the stupid dentist.n And I would mention that he does not use universal precautions. What a jerk!
What an idiot!!!! I'm so sorry that you have to deal with such a moron. A minimum requirement for dentists should be to be more knowledgeable about infectious diseases.
That is THE most outrageous behaviour from a health professional regarding Hep C I have heard to date. I am very sorry that you had to go through that experience.
Sorry if you were treated that way, but it truly sounds ridiculous. So did you go back when all the other patients were gone? Also, what is this idiots name and location, so others can avoid him? Another thing is you really should file a complaint with the dental board in your State because if he's stupid enough to think that your blood is going to evaporate, then he shouldn't be practicing dentistry. Dentist do have a right to treat whoever they want or don't want. His ignorance about blood is what should be reported. good luck
He said your blood could evaporate and other paitents might inhale it?!? What an imbicile! You are correct - this is wrong. The only way his other patients are at risk is if he does not practice scrupulous procedures to sterilize his instruments, handsets inculded. Unless, of course, you bleed into the open wound of another patient.
Sorry to hear your dentist is such an a$$hole! You sound like a bright person so I'm guessing you are already looking for another dentist. Good luck to you.
jd
Sorry to hear your dentist is such an a$$hole! You sound like a bright person so I'm guessing you are already looking for another dentist. Good luck to you.
jd
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