I was on my oral surgery rotation earlier this week. We had “a frenectomy” coming in. (Yes, I try not to refer to patients by their procedure, but the head assistant kept saying that. For the sake of my sister I try to refer to the patient not the sarcoma.) Anyway, a patient was coming in who needed a frenectomy. I asked Dr. Sam
if I could do the frenectomy procedure. He said “We’ll see.” Just then the assistant came through the door with a sobbing 9 year old girl. Dr. Sam looks from the weeping child to me and says with a big smile “You can do this one!”
So I proceeded to allay the girl’s fears and help her to feel comfortable. I talked a lot about High School Musical and how much she likes Troy. She was able to calm down and did a wicked good job. She held still and didn’t have a single issue throughout the procedure.
I really enjoy helping these kids get past their fears and showing them how much they can accomplish. I don’t mind spending the first 10 or 40 minutes talking them through things. (Although it may be a little harder when my income depends on my speed.) It makes me feel so good to see a scared or crying patient leave the room happy.
There you go dad!