About two years ago I had a series of health issues, none of which were serious, just annoying and painful. During the time it took to resolve each (there were 3), I spent lots of time with an endocrinologist, a podiatrist and a dentist.
The endocrinologist was quiet and scientific. No bedside manner to speak of ... which struck me as exactly what you want from someone who is sticking a needle into your neck.
The podiatrist was (and is, I still see him) a real cowboy. Charismatic as they come, pizazz to spare, tons of enthusiasm and a damn good surgeon. He was delighted by the presence of my camera at every appointment as I documented the removal of the bunion that had been my life's nemesis.
The dentist was a slight Asian man who performed what turned out to be the most painful procedure I've ever endured -- a tooth extraction and bridge installation. During the very medieval experience, I cursed at him, cried, gasped and probably even hit. Poor guy.
Fast forward two years, I was recently referred (by a new dentist) to an oral surgeon for another tooth extraction. Enter Dr. Warren Torchinsky. I never got a chance to experience his handiwork, because upon inspection of said tooth (and x-ray), Torchinsky rightfully questioned the necessity of the procedure and presented a yin to the yang of my new dentist's diagnosis.
Now, granted, the tooth is old. It's a baby tooth that never fell out because there's no adult tooth under it. And I just turned 40. It owes me nothing. That said, it causes me no pain or irritation. It's doing just fine for now. Torchinsky looked me in the eye and said, "your dentist isn't going to like that I'm disagreeing with him, but if you were my daughter, I wouldn't pull that tooth. Wait for it to fall out." (which, by the way, is exactly what my childhood dentist advised many years ago as I was headed off to college)
How's that for bedside manner? I'm grateful for his honesty, his candor and his sense of humor. It's so nice to have a few good doctors on my team!
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