For context, I’m a 21m college student and got my braces 2 months ago. I was supposed to get them during secondary school, but because of covid and the already years-long waiting list I ended up only getting them this year.
I have been going to the same dentist since starting the process. At first he seemed kind and made me feel calm whenever I discussed the procedures with him. On the day I got my temporary wires for the braces he gave me a few instructions on how to clean them:
- Clean them 2 or 3 times a day.
- Don’t get too close to them or apply too much pressure as it could damage them.
- Drink water with each meal to help remove pieces of food, as-well as use a small brush.
Pretty standard stuff. Which I tried to remember and follow. And when I went in to get the actual wires for the braces he said my method was doing great and to continue with it until I see him again.
Which I did.
But, since I was trying to not get too close to the braces and was going gentle, like he said, some plaque started to build on the bottom of them. I thought this was odd, but placed it down to whatever sticking-agent he used to put the braces on just getting a bit dirty.
Because of this, when I went to see him again, he went off at me for the amount of plaque on my teeth. He kept saying it was like I hadn’t brushed them at all. Even though I’d been doing it daily, which I kept telling him. To no avail.
While he was cleaning them up, he kept saying stuff like that over and over again. Acting like he didn’t believe me when I reiterated that I was brushing them. And it wasn’t in a kind manner whatsoever.
It got to a point that he threatened to stop seeing me if I didn’t do a better job at brushing them. Which for one, isn’t his call. And would leave my teeth in a horrible state. Even though this was only my first time checkup with him after getting them on, was still getting used to it, and was doing the methods he told me.
He even made me hold a mirror over my face to see how bad of a job he thought I did.
Once it was over, I at-least tried asking him what I should do. And this time he said to go right under the braces when brushes and apply a lot of pressure. Despite saying the opposite during every talk I had with him about this procedure.
And after that I went to the bathroom and tried not to burst into tears.
Idk how to feel about it. I have been trying to do better when it comes to my braces and to forget his attitude.
But was he unprofessional?
Or did I deserve this?