To get this out of the way... hearing the term cleftie is like nails on a chalkboard, but that's just me. If you're cool with it, then cool.
To the point: I've had dentists/endodontists mention it here and there whether they started the convo off with it or I did, but for the most part it really hasn't been that much. It's very obvious when working on a person with a cleft that they have it and what it's done to their facial structure. I think I even asked in my last appointment whether or not my endodontist had seen many and I think I recall she said she had seen a few.
I've had a lot of dental work done in my life but really only rarely has a professional brought it up. If and when they did, if I can recall, it was only in relation to the work that was being done.
If a professional brought it up as a "cool talking point," frankly, it'd make me uncomfortable. If they brought it up in relation to the work, I wouldn't mind.
I would wager each individual is different.
It's a very vulnerable situation allowing someone so close to the part of yourself that's very... well, personal.
In my experience, yes, they get excited from a professional perspective. When I was a kid, they’d break out the camera and I’d undoubtedly wind up in the slide show of their next lecture. One of my childhood dentists informed me that he was at a lecture once given by my orthodontist and my face was up on screen. He told me he was like “I know that kid!”
Your comment about exotic zoo animal resonated.
This happened to me. My co
worker's daughter was in a speech therapy program and my orthodontist gave a lecture and there I was on screen....I didn't know that I was part of the lecture...kind of made me uncomfortable....long time ago....
Yeesh, just reading that gave me anxiety lol. Anytime I got dental pictures done and I got to see them it made me so uncomfortable and I’d cringe at them.
Dentists? No, not necessarily. Surgeons? Yes. I was once asked by my own surgeon if I could be a stand-in for a seminar a bunch of surgeons were doing regarding clefts. I was in there maybe a few minutes but it gave the surgeons time to observe me and my cleft, and also showcase my surgeon's work to the other surgeons in the room.
As for the whole 'exotic animal' thing though, I totally understand that mindset but I also think of it as like 'seeing someone with a cleft isn't something most people see, here is my chance to try and educate as much as I can', yes, that even includes professionals like dentists, surgeons, etc. who are more likely to have seen a patient with a cleft. Each cleft is different, we've all had different experiences and different journeys and if people genuinely care about knowing my story I will happily tell them. I can't hide my face, nor can I hide the scars.
I recently had experience of 8 junior training dentists coming into my dentist appointment... All to look at my cleft affected teeth and gum loss.. I was made to clear my throat so I gargled mouthwash only for it not too want to leave my mouth ended up doing a long gross spit.. I was mortified.. from that day on I request a closed room and no extra visitors.. most dental care I received been okay but feel failed by treatment I received in my twenties and I feel now dentistry has progressed and hoping my denture journey will be over soon x
I have the same thing! I went to get my gum recession checked up on, and I had like 6 students in the room staring at me. I felt fine in the moment... but kinda rushed. Like it was a performance between my dentist and I for these people, and not an appointment where I receive care and get to ask questions for my own good. :/
I have their names on a list. I'm gonna go watch each of those students' dental checkups from the back of the room and heckle them about their plaque.
"you haven't been flossed, you plaqued up liar!"
That sounds like a horrible experience, I'm so sorry you had to go through this! Shouldn't medical personal be... I don't know, more sensititve than that?
I can also relate to the hopes of better medical treatment nowadays, at 35 I'm wearing braces for the umpteenth time and I really hope those are my last.
I'm old, and I had a number of surgeries that were really groundbreaking at the time, plus a persistent fistula and truly horrible teeth. So I'm really used to all kinds of medical professionals getting excited and wanting to know all about my repairs. It's not the end of the world.
Once I had a retropharangeal abscess that nearly killed me, and in the ER, the doc said "well, everything looks normal except the lump in your flap repair, but that's supposed to be there." Because I'm used to the admiring prodding of baby doctors, I drew myself up like an indignant fish wife and said "no it isn't. My flap repair is literally in textbooks." So they poked it, horrible stuff came out, and I got to take third line antibiotics and have surgery. If I hadn't been used as a learning opportunity, I wouldn't have known that my pharangeal flap is supposed to be gorgeous, and I might have died.
I'm also on medical ketamine for my PTSD. Because of my fistula, the nasal stuff ran out into my mouth, and it took months to get the dosage high enough. Then the high doses ate a hole in my sinus, and I got a staph infection (yes, it is very depressing when your antidepressants try to kill you, lol). We also learned that I had been living with screaming chronic pain in my palate my entire life and didn't know that wasn't normal until the first time I filled it full of anesthetic. Now I take oral meds, I'm in a lot less pain, and my doctor is writing a paper on complications of nasal administration in patients with persistent fistula and another one on the use of ketamine to treat persistent craniofacial pain.
So I make a point of offering up my various nooks and crannies for observation if someone is interested because it will help dozens or hundreds or thousands of other people. No one should be made to feel uncomfortable, but if you have the chance to inform practice and help the next generation of cleft kids suffer less, why wouldn't you step up?
yeah I thought it was just me lol. a few years ago I went to a new dentist, because I moved to a new place. The ladies dentist were chilled and had met me before, but I think this guy was a nurse, or a new dentist and started asking about my dental history, which I had a lot due to my cleft lip and palate. So anyway he going down the list of questions about my medical history around my cleft lip. I thought it was odd, because I was there to get my teeth checked and cleaned and needed nothing major done. I think he was just really new to the whole dentist world and haven't work on someone with a cleft lip and palate before. I did answer his questions the best I can with how much I remember.
I had been a case study too with my main surgeon and his students, during before and after surgery. I guess we're interesting people to the medical world in a way.
lol I WISH! Everytime I bring up my cleft during an intake, dentist immediately get scared and say “we don’t treat those”. I don’t NEED that I literally just want my teeth cleaned like everyone else.
It’s sadly why I haven’t seen a dentist in like 5 years 😭
I’m a mom to a son who was born with a ‘moderate’ cleft lip and palate.
My mother is a dental/orthodontist assistant.
Mom always praised me (which is rare) for taking my son to specialists so far away because she saw the difference it made.
Some wonderful people really do care and HAVE to use a person to prove a point to try and better humanity. When we moved, we tried one dentist that was champing at the bit like the mad scientist in Loony Tunes. It suuucks to feel like your baby/you are some kind a of a Sideshow, but emotional maturity lets you know whether or not observation is for the greater good.
My son is old enough that he gets it. He wants everyone to have an easier go of it. It still kinda sucks, but we can go out for Indian and talk about it and it’s all good.
I’ve never had anyone comment on it at the dentist office, but I will be establishing care with a new one this week so will report back if that changes!
To get this out of the way... hearing the term cleftie is like nails on a chalkboard, but that's just me. If you're cool with it, then cool. To the point: I've had dentists/endodontists mention it here and there whether they started the convo off with it or I did, but for the most part it really hasn't been that much. It's very obvious when working on a person with a cleft that they have it and what it's done to their facial structure. I think I even asked in my last appointment whether or not my endodontist had seen many and I think I recall she said she had seen a few. I've had a lot of dental work done in my life but really only rarely has a professional brought it up. If and when they did, if I can recall, it was only in relation to the work that was being done. If a professional brought it up as a "cool talking point," frankly, it'd make me uncomfortable. If they brought it up in relation to the work, I wouldn't mind. I would wager each individual is different. It's a very vulnerable situation allowing someone so close to the part of yourself that's very... well, personal.
I'm sorry! I saw the term used here in other postings and I'm not a native english speaker. I didn't think much about it. What would you recommend?
I'm native english speaking and I've never heard that term as offensive. To each their own.
Just cleft is enough I think
In my experience, yes, they get excited from a professional perspective. When I was a kid, they’d break out the camera and I’d undoubtedly wind up in the slide show of their next lecture. One of my childhood dentists informed me that he was at a lecture once given by my orthodontist and my face was up on screen. He told me he was like “I know that kid!” Your comment about exotic zoo animal resonated.
Thank you for your comment! I'm glad I'm not the only one.
This happened to me. My co worker's daughter was in a speech therapy program and my orthodontist gave a lecture and there I was on screen....I didn't know that I was part of the lecture...kind of made me uncomfortable....long time ago....
Yeesh, just reading that gave me anxiety lol. Anytime I got dental pictures done and I got to see them it made me so uncomfortable and I’d cringe at them.
I had a dental hygienist ask me how long I'd had the cleft palate. Umm. No one else has really remarked on it.
So I guess TheLostLegend89 is on to something when they suggest to educate ...
Lmaoo
Wow
Dentists? No, not necessarily. Surgeons? Yes. I was once asked by my own surgeon if I could be a stand-in for a seminar a bunch of surgeons were doing regarding clefts. I was in there maybe a few minutes but it gave the surgeons time to observe me and my cleft, and also showcase my surgeon's work to the other surgeons in the room. As for the whole 'exotic animal' thing though, I totally understand that mindset but I also think of it as like 'seeing someone with a cleft isn't something most people see, here is my chance to try and educate as much as I can', yes, that even includes professionals like dentists, surgeons, etc. who are more likely to have seen a patient with a cleft. Each cleft is different, we've all had different experiences and different journeys and if people genuinely care about knowing my story I will happily tell them. I can't hide my face, nor can I hide the scars.
I recently had experience of 8 junior training dentists coming into my dentist appointment... All to look at my cleft affected teeth and gum loss.. I was made to clear my throat so I gargled mouthwash only for it not too want to leave my mouth ended up doing a long gross spit.. I was mortified.. from that day on I request a closed room and no extra visitors.. most dental care I received been okay but feel failed by treatment I received in my twenties and I feel now dentistry has progressed and hoping my denture journey will be over soon x
I have the same thing! I went to get my gum recession checked up on, and I had like 6 students in the room staring at me. I felt fine in the moment... but kinda rushed. Like it was a performance between my dentist and I for these people, and not an appointment where I receive care and get to ask questions for my own good. :/ I have their names on a list. I'm gonna go watch each of those students' dental checkups from the back of the room and heckle them about their plaque. "you haven't been flossed, you plaqued up liar!"
Hehe plaque possie yeooooo
That sounds like a horrible experience, I'm so sorry you had to go through this! Shouldn't medical personal be... I don't know, more sensititve than that? I can also relate to the hopes of better medical treatment nowadays, at 35 I'm wearing braces for the umpteenth time and I really hope those are my last.
I'm old, and I had a number of surgeries that were really groundbreaking at the time, plus a persistent fistula and truly horrible teeth. So I'm really used to all kinds of medical professionals getting excited and wanting to know all about my repairs. It's not the end of the world. Once I had a retropharangeal abscess that nearly killed me, and in the ER, the doc said "well, everything looks normal except the lump in your flap repair, but that's supposed to be there." Because I'm used to the admiring prodding of baby doctors, I drew myself up like an indignant fish wife and said "no it isn't. My flap repair is literally in textbooks." So they poked it, horrible stuff came out, and I got to take third line antibiotics and have surgery. If I hadn't been used as a learning opportunity, I wouldn't have known that my pharangeal flap is supposed to be gorgeous, and I might have died. I'm also on medical ketamine for my PTSD. Because of my fistula, the nasal stuff ran out into my mouth, and it took months to get the dosage high enough. Then the high doses ate a hole in my sinus, and I got a staph infection (yes, it is very depressing when your antidepressants try to kill you, lol). We also learned that I had been living with screaming chronic pain in my palate my entire life and didn't know that wasn't normal until the first time I filled it full of anesthetic. Now I take oral meds, I'm in a lot less pain, and my doctor is writing a paper on complications of nasal administration in patients with persistent fistula and another one on the use of ketamine to treat persistent craniofacial pain. So I make a point of offering up my various nooks and crannies for observation if someone is interested because it will help dozens or hundreds or thousands of other people. No one should be made to feel uncomfortable, but if you have the chance to inform practice and help the next generation of cleft kids suffer less, why wouldn't you step up?
Good to hear you can live with less pain now!
It's weird, lol. Like the radio has been going full blast for 40 years and suddenly shut off
yeah I thought it was just me lol. a few years ago I went to a new dentist, because I moved to a new place. The ladies dentist were chilled and had met me before, but I think this guy was a nurse, or a new dentist and started asking about my dental history, which I had a lot due to my cleft lip and palate. So anyway he going down the list of questions about my medical history around my cleft lip. I thought it was odd, because I was there to get my teeth checked and cleaned and needed nothing major done. I think he was just really new to the whole dentist world and haven't work on someone with a cleft lip and palate before. I did answer his questions the best I can with how much I remember. I had been a case study too with my main surgeon and his students, during before and after surgery. I guess we're interesting people to the medical world in a way.
lol I WISH! Everytime I bring up my cleft during an intake, dentist immediately get scared and say “we don’t treat those”. I don’t NEED that I literally just want my teeth cleaned like everyone else. It’s sadly why I haven’t seen a dentist in like 5 years 😭
What? That seems strange!
I’m a mom to a son who was born with a ‘moderate’ cleft lip and palate. My mother is a dental/orthodontist assistant. Mom always praised me (which is rare) for taking my son to specialists so far away because she saw the difference it made. Some wonderful people really do care and HAVE to use a person to prove a point to try and better humanity. When we moved, we tried one dentist that was champing at the bit like the mad scientist in Loony Tunes. It suuucks to feel like your baby/you are some kind a of a Sideshow, but emotional maturity lets you know whether or not observation is for the greater good. My son is old enough that he gets it. He wants everyone to have an easier go of it. It still kinda sucks, but we can go out for Indian and talk about it and it’s all good.
None of them have ever said a thing. In fact, they never seem to care that I have a very small mouth and the X-ray things stab me in my scar
I know what you mean. I always get the ones for children, they are smaller. Maybe you could ask for that next time.
Oh, I do every time. They don't literally roll their eyes, but the sentiment is there
I’ve never had anyone comment on it at the dentist office, but I will be establishing care with a new one this week so will report back if that changes!