Dentist with familiarity with trauma
March 26, 2008 2:42 AM Subscribe
I need to find a female dentist who has some experience with patients who have experienced trauma/ have PTSD in Sydney, Australia. How to best go about this process? Where would you start? Who would you call or talk to? I guess I need to work out what direction to head in, and who'd offer the most useful tips without thinking my request was 'weird'.
Response by poster: Wow, thanks anitanita, that's great! I've discussed this a little with my counsellor and she is helping, but your suggestions read very sensibly :) and make me feel a little less nervous.
posted by gerls at 3:59 AM on March 26, 2008
posted by gerls at 3:59 AM on March 26, 2008
I think you might like Gizelle. Depending on where you live. She's not my regular dentist, but I used her when I was pregnant and couldn't access my normal guy. She was absolutely lovely. Intelligent, sensitive, educated and informed. Everything you could want in a dentist. And the people in her posters...... her kids. Best of luck, possum.
posted by taff at 5:14 AM on March 26, 2008
posted by taff at 5:14 AM on March 26, 2008
Oh.... I should have added..... she's from South Africa and we had a long discussion about indigenous health... she brought it up.... I got the feeling she's had some pretty 'damaged' patients. Either here or there. Sorry to spam your question.
posted by taff at 5:17 AM on March 26, 2008
posted by taff at 5:17 AM on March 26, 2008
Response by poster: Thanks taff, I'll look into that. I'd be willing to travel to Cremorne to get panic free dentistry - and that way I can visit my granny in the (nearby) old folks home as well!
posted by gerls at 6:20 AM on March 26, 2008
posted by gerls at 6:20 AM on March 26, 2008
This thread is closed to new comments.
This website might help just in terms of thinking through the issue: http://www.sidran.org/sub.cfm?contentID=51§ionid=4
I'm in the US, but here's what I'd recommend to someone in your situation.
1. Google to see if there are any PTSD support groups in your area. They probably have the best list.
2. Many dentists are trained in behavioral dentistry issues these days. But you might see if you're near any dental school/teaching/research institutions where they might have a faculty practice. Faculty practitioners are also often the researchers looking at these issues and teaching future dentists.
3. Find the dentistry journals in Australia and see who's doing research in that area - then check out suggestion 2.
4. Just first focus on finding a female doctor, and give their front desk person a call and ask if they have experience working with patients with PTSD. You'd be AMAZED at how common it is for dental professionals to work with a wide range of issues: PTSD from war veterans, ADD in children and adults, anxiety, Tourette's Syndrome, etc. If the practice deals with it, they will probably normalize the conversation and schedule the appt. You can start off your appointment discussing the information in suggestion 1 - and come up with a plan together that you are comfortable with. If you're not comfortable, don't do it! Hold out for someone who fit's your needs.
Be well,
anitanita
posted by anitanita at 3:20 AM on March 26, 2008