Dentist drilling.

[Shy]

My dentist hasn't seen me without a beard so turning up today for a filling, clean shaven, nails done, eye makeup raised an eyebrow or two.
I told her I was trans just before the drill went in. Probably not the best time for such a reveal, but luckily she was as gentle as ever.

[JeanetteLW]

OMG Shy,

  You could have given her some warning. She could have been "One of them" and refused to provide you service or worse yet she could have caused you more pain than necessary. I think I would have  like to know how she felt about people like us before I'd let her near my mouth with a drill.

Glad it wasn't a bad experience.

Hugs,
    Jeanette

[Michelle_P]

LOL!  I've got my 6 month checkup next week. This will be interesting. A sort of test of professionalism, if you will.

I plan to just show up early and make sure my record is corrected and up to date. If they decide to decline service, that's OK. Lots of other dental practices in the area.



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[AnneK]

My dentist hasn't seen me without a beard so turning up today for a filling, clean shaven, nails done, eye makeup raised an eyebrow or two.
I told her I was trans just before the drill went in. Probably not the best time for such a reveal, but luckily she was as gentle as ever.

I doubt it would be surprise for my dentist.  She has seen me in pantyhose & nail polish.  She even complimented me on my ear studs on one occasion.  I don't know if she's noticed my bra though.

[Shy]

OMG Shy,

  You could have given her some warning. She could have been "One of them" and refused to provide you service or worse yet she could have caused you more pain than necessary. I think I would have  like to know how she felt about people like us before I'd let her near my mouth with a drill.

Glad it wasn't a bad experience.

Hugs,
    Jeanette

I thought best to tell her strapped into the chair But I did try not to look at all the pointy, sharp medical things lined up on the tray next to me.
I've never been one for thinking things through . But she was going to find out anyway when I start HRT because you have to declare the medications you're on. So best be upfront from the start I thought. She and her assistant did go a little quiet at first, but it worked out fine. They were the consummate professionals

LOL!  I've got my 6 month checkup next week. This will be interesting. A sort of test of professionalism, if you will.

I plan to just show up early and make sure my record is corrected and up to date. If they decide to decline service, that's OK. Lots of other dental practices in the area.

Yeh, I was on the same wavelength, you can't hide your medical records and i'm done with hiding anyways.
I'm sure you'll be fine Michelle, if not there are a million other dentists out there, but only one of you.

I doubt it would be surprise for my dentist.  She has seen me in pantyhose & nail polish.  She even complimented me on my ear studs on one occasion.  I don't know if she's noticed my bra though.

Yes, most professionals are there to do a job, not make judgments about us. At my doctors surgery I always get nice comments about my nails. People are on the whole very receptive if you are upfront with them. At least that's been my experience thus far.

[AnneK]

Yes, most professionals are there to do a job, not make judgments about us.

I agree.  As I mentioned in another thread, I wore a bra to my physical for the first time this week.  There was no comment from my doctor.  She just used the stethoscope as usual.

[KarynMcD]

This was a few months before I transitioned.
At my office we have a medical unit and in the fall they give free flu shots. So I went to get one.
I couldn't roll my sleeve up high enough and had to take my shirt off. I was wearing a bra top underneath. The nurse didn't say anything and we continued.
As I was leaving, she verified my name. "Your name is [old name]." I replied, "for now."
She gave me a look like, "oh. I get it now."

[Shy]

This was a few months before I transitioned.
At my office we have a medical unit and in the fall they give free flu shots. So I went to get one.
I couldn't roll my sleeve up high enough and had to take my shirt off. I was wearing a bra top underneath. The nurse didn't say anything and we continued.
As I was leaving, she verified my name. "Your name is [old name]." I replied, "for now."
She gave me a look like, "oh. I get it now."

Awesome Karyn.
Your leaving response brought and a smile when I read it, and a nice acknowledgement from the nurse too.
I always forget that I may be the first trans person a medical professional may have encountered and often sound very 'matter of fact' about it all. But I suppose in their job they must have seen and heard it all, so no big deal.

[CarlyMcx]

I broke a molar at the mall yesterday and I have an appointment tomorrow to have it fixed.  I figure I have to tell my dentist office because they need to know what meds I am on, and that includes the spironolactone and the estradiol.

But aside from that, I've gotten to the point where I look kind of ridiculous in male clothes, and I'm going to handle the pain and the anticipation of the pain a lot better as me than pretending to be some guy.

[Shy]

I broke a molar at the mall yesterday and I have an appointment tomorrow to have it fixed.  I figure I have to tell my dentist office because they need to know what meds I am on, and that includes the spironolactone and the estradiol.

But aside from that, I've gotten to the point where I look kind of ridiculous in male clothes, and I'm going to handle the pain and the anticipation of the pain a lot better as me than pretending to be some guy.

Sorry to hear you munched a molar Carly.

To me it's all just ticked boxes, informing those that need to be informed. You're definitely right about handling pain better as yourself, I wonder if it's because we are more relaxed.

[Paige]

But she was going to find out anyway when I start HRT because you have to declare the medications you're on.

Hi Shy,

I had a conversation about this with my doctor.  He was of the opinion that it's none of their business if it doesn't affect the service they are providing.   He didn't think there was any reason they would need to know I was on E or Spiro or Dutasteride.

Take care,
Paige

[ainsley]

My dentist was very understanding and supportive.  She even did a free enameloplasty on me because she said my teeth were very masculine.   success!

[CarlyMcx]

So here is my follow up on the broken molar.  I went to my usual dentist in my own town, and when the receptionist asked if I had any changes in medication, I told her that I am on estrogen and spironolactone, and when she asked about my high blood pressure, I truthfully told her that I no longer have it.

I had to explain to the poor girl what transgender was.  She apparently had no exposure to or experience with transgender folks.  So I explained that it is a matter of brain chemistry formed in the womb, etc. etc.  She smiled and thanked me.

When I went back and told my dentist, she said, "Well no problem there, I am just here to work on your teeth."  So coming out to the dentist was pretty much a non event. 

When the dentist finished cleaning up the molar for a crown, she noticed the cavity inside was down to the nerve and I needed a root canal.  And it turned out their root canal guy was in their office the one day of the week I am working in court.  So I ask where else is he, and it turned out I could get an appointment for him the following morning in a town forty five minutes away.

Now for the fun part.  I've done court appearances in male mode in that other town several times, and suffered panic attacks on the drive out every time.  I'm already out of the closet to the dentist's office, so now I get to make that same drive in girl mode, same time of day, going to a root canal and I am going to learn once and for all whether the panic attacks are because of work or are a product of gender dysphoria.

So I made the drive in super skinny jeans and a girly little T-shirt and after nine months on hormones I have the body to fill them out.  And zero panics on the way out there.  The only downside is, the two offices are not big on sharing records, and everything in the other office is under the dead name.  And there is this old man in the waiting room who keeps sneaking looks at me.  I don't know whether he is trying to gender me or he thinks I'm hot.

But the staff was totally professional (other than that I am under the dead name for the whole visit, and I don't feel like correcting everyone because I wont be back there before I get my legal name and gender changed.)

But getting a root canal in full on girl mode was far easier than going to court and being a lawyer in guy mode.

So it pretty much looks like I am really transgender.  Who knew?

[ainsley]

Ha, nice, Carly!!  A big well done to you.
I live in a rural area and most of them are ignorant to all things trans*.  They just aren't exposed to it.  I have found that the vast majority handle it in stride.  Some have awkward and inappropriate questions, but that is due to ignorance, not intolerance.  Once they learn about it it seems to be a non-issue.  I treat it as I must be their first encounter with any trans* person, so it is an opportunity for me to dispel some myths and stereotypes right then and there.

[Shy]

But getting a root canal in full on girl mode was far easier than going to court and being a lawyer in guy mode.

Ha, yes I ended up with a long, slow root canal in girl mode. Way better than the one I had done in guy mode a few years back. Must be something to this trans thing after all if it makes dental appointments painless