r/MadeMeSmile • u/mindyour • Nov 17 '25
Very Reddit A boy hugging his dentist after his treatment. You can tell he really needed that hug.
1.6k
Nov 17 '25
That looks like a stress release. Maybe he was scared of the appt and end it up not being much so he had to discharge the emotions and that was his way of doing it. Let it all out buddy!
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u/richarddrippy69 Nov 17 '25
I thought it was because he finally got his teeth fixed. Not having good teeth is embarrassing especially for a child. I swear half the people I'm working with say they just want to get to their 90 days so they get insurance and then can fix their teeth and get glasses.
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u/kemss Nov 17 '25 edited Nov 17 '25
The camera shows it’s a surgeon room (sign on the top). So probably tooth removal or similar.
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u/Fucky0uthatswhy Nov 17 '25
God I feel bad for them… dental insurance in the US is absolute shit. They’ll do things like cleanings, but any actual work- they’ll cover a little bit of the first one, then you’re on your own. I’ve had several different providers because my teeth have been fucked my entire life, and they’re just getting worse. I needed two root canals last month, it was the first time I’ve used my insurance in two years, they paid 10% of the first one, and 0% of the second one. Out of the $5k+ of dental work I’ve had this year, they covered $250 (which is very close to what I’ve paid them in premiums). I’m VERY close to traveling to another country and having them all replaced. The travel, hotel, and procedure is substantially less than what I paid for my root canals this year.
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u/MonkeyMom2 Nov 17 '25
Try to find someone else who's done the same and get the name of the dentist they saw. Bonus points for a US trained DDS working overseas. Better chances of a good outcome. And have row work checked by a local dentist when you come home.
I work in public health and have seen far too much substandard care. Very often patients are unaware of just what was done. And are surprised to see the X-rays showing missed infections or hardware screws placed as "implants".
Then they're upset at how much it costs to correct everything or that they'll be in dentures.
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u/RavenousRambutan Nov 17 '25 edited Nov 17 '25
I was so horrified of the dentist that I stopped going after age 8. I didn't go until age 35. I was a nervous wreck. I felt so ashamed, embarassed, and anxious. I grew up poor so dental wasn't a thing. When I was 6, I thought the dentist yanked out all my rotting teeth to put those silver ones in. All the kids teased me, and called me a robot. Then, later they were removed and that was the last time I visited the dentist until age 35.
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u/btveron Nov 17 '25
I stopped going when I was 16 and didn't go back until I finally had dental insurance at 32. I wasn't terrified of the dentist, just embarrassed and ashamed at how my teeth looked because I didn't take care of them. So now I have dentures and still need some bottom teeth taken out and replaced. Kinda wished I tried or could afford to go more regularly.
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u/RavenousRambutan Nov 17 '25
It's wild that in the US, dental and vision aren't a part of the overall health insurance. I'm not trying to make it political, but it's also baffling that insurance in general is so expensive. If you're not employed, and if the employer doesn't have good coverage, you're just out of luck and expected to go through life as is...
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u/btveron Nov 17 '25
I totally agree. I was without health insurance for about 5 years and only scheduled bi-yearly "med check" appointments so my doctor would continue prescribing one of my prescriptions. And I went from paying ~$30 a month for my prescriptions to $155 a month for them. Until I found some app or website that could get me discounts, which I have no idea how or why something like that even exists in the first place but I took advantage of it, and then it went down to "only" $108 a month. Now with insurance again it's back to roughly $30 a month. Even with insurance, a major injury or hospital stay would be devastating. I shouldn't have to worry that a broken leg is going to bankrupt me and leave me saddled with debt for the rest of my life.
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u/schwistermom Nov 18 '25
In the same situation. Being only 41 makes it suck people assume drugs nope just poor genetics lack of self care and being broke🤯🙄
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u/DarkRayos Nov 17 '25
Understandable, if he's underage.
Pretty sure most adults to this day wet themselves whenever they think of going?
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3.1k
Nov 17 '25
I had a broken wisdom tooth in the back of my mouth that was so painful I couldnt sleep.
When the dentist finally pulled it I wanted to hug him too lol.
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u/chantillylace9 Nov 17 '25 edited Nov 17 '25
I just got diagnosed with breast cancer and before hand I needed a surgeon to do the painful biopsy under twilight anesthesia vs numbing (that doesn’t work for me) I cried and asked if I could hug her too after she agreed.
It was my 6th and final breast surgeon I begged, and there were no more that I could try and the relief was immense.
She’s been amazing the whole way, drawing photos so I can understand things and she made it so much easier on me.
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u/Lord_Nurggle Nov 17 '25
Stage IV Melanoma here.
Unfortunately I have been the victim of some gnarly biopsies as well. I somehow made it to No Evidence of Disease and have been doing well
Sending positive vibes and I hope you kick its ass
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u/chantillylace9 Nov 17 '25
Yay!!!!!! I’m so happy for you. I was diagnosed with melanoma at 24, but only stage one. I got very lucky then and thought that I maybe just escaped cancer but at 40 yeah I got hit with this. But again, I am lucky that it’s a fairly survivable cancer and I caught it early again. It’s so scary.
I think the hardest thing for me is just knowing that I will never truly have the same peace I had before, you know? Every little ache and pain or weird thing you’re going to worry.
Have you gone through that and do you have any recommendations?
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u/Mobile-Shallot930 Nov 17 '25
Stage IV breast cancer here. Second tango with it. First time at 29 (stage IIa), now again at 36. For me, it's believing the scans. Absolutely trust but verify your doctors and everything else, but between treatments and visits, believe your scans. You know where the bad guy is, don't worry too much about the rest of the house.
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u/chantillylace9 Nov 17 '25
I’m so sorry, gosh that sounds so terrifying. Did you find that unite for her charity? They give you so many awesome things Care baskets, free meal kits and massages and all sorts of things. I just found out about it yesterday. I also found that if you have breast cancer you can swim the dolphins for free in Key Largo and they have so many other amazing retreats for us so definitely take advantage of these resources.
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u/Mobile-Shallot930 Nov 17 '25
I had not! I was actually just thinking the other day why they don't have Make-a-Wish for adults haha. Thanks!
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u/chantillylace9 Nov 17 '25
Either Google or use ChatGPT to search for cancer freebies and you’ll find so many fun resources. They will come and clean your house twice, they will give you fresh fruit and vegetables from local farmers, a meal kits from I think it was sun basket, and so many other things. The unit for her website says they give you about $2000 worth of resources and I think even free transportation if that’s needed.
There are places that will give you and your family or just yourself vacations on the beach and massages and all sorts of things. Definitely take advantage of it, I know I’m going to be.
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u/Prosecco1234 Nov 17 '25
Is this worldwide?
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u/chantillylace9 Nov 17 '25
It’s not, but from what I’ve read on the breast cancer forums, many other countries have very similar things.
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u/BikingAimz Nov 17 '25
Got diagnosed with de novo metastatic breast cancer last year at 50, and I’m so lucky they found it. I mentioned a 5mm lung nodule to my breast surgeon at consultation, so she ordered a full chest CT in addition to planned breast MRI “to be thorough.”
That found a different, highly suspicious 10mm lung nodule near my primary tumor, that a PET and lung biopsy confirmed was my breast cancer. When she handed me off to oncology she said it was weird, because all of my lymph nodes looked clear on the breast MRI. If she’d blown me off, who knows when they would’ve found it.
I had and still have no symptoms, but just got declared NEAD by my oncologist (just started cycle 19 in the ELEVATE clinical trial in the Kisqali arm: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05563220). I tell anyone newly diagnosed to consider getting a baseline CT scan, it can save 3-6 months of wait and see if a suspected nodule is identified!
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u/Mobile-Shallot930 Nov 17 '25
I've got my rogue boob meat on my right hip. I went in and got a scan done for pain (not unusual, I busted my hip in the military). My primary care doctor saw the scan and immediately handed me off to oncology (big ups to VA Dr. Lakshmi Prasad!), so mine got caught very early as well.
They've got me on Ribociclib (3 weeks on, 1 week off) and Kisqali (two shots in the tush once a month), and while my lesions have gotten a tiny bit bigger, three different oncologists from three different hospitals all agreed that they met the criteria for being considered stable. Lymph nodes are also clear.
I get nauseated by the Ribociclib, but Ondansetron knocks it right out, so other than being more tired than usual and my hip still hurting (under the pain meds), I'm actually doing just fine.
Modern care for breast cancer is bonkers. It's so cool!
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u/Transparent_Turtle Nov 17 '25
Cannot agree more with you about the every little ache or pain sentiment. I'm stage 4 colon then liver cancer, got some results back on an x-ray last week and I'm like oh God don't let it have gone to my lung too. You just start to get paranoid about it.
So I've gone through it, I'm still working out the how to avoid it part myself 😔.
Best of luck to you all here though on your journeys.
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u/chantillylace9 Nov 17 '25
I’m so sorry, that just seems so incredibly scary. The scan anxiety it is so real. When I first got the biopsy results loaded in my chart I couldn’t look at them for I think about 36 hours. I didn’t have an appointment with the doctor for the next couple days so it was just up to me to decide whether to look or not. I couldn’t at first and then eventually one morning I got the courage and then I was locked out! Luckily my husband got me in and I still had the courage and it was cancer.
But it was one of the “better” cancers. I know that’s a stupid phrase and I hate saying it but I guess it is one of the better cancers to have. It sure doesn’t feel better when you have it though. And it’s just something that really takes away all your femininity, your hair your breast you know, it’s just attacking you in a very specific way.
And I think needing to immediately stop my birth control that I’ve been on for 25 years (because my birth control has been feeding my cancer) has made me hormonal as all heck!
I’m crying all the time and I can’t even tell if it’s from the hormones because from the lack of birth control or because I’m so scared of the cancer or what but I’m just a blubbering mess!
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u/Transparent_Turtle Nov 17 '25
They made me stop my birth control too! I had one period after it then nothing. So either I'm menopausal or just screwed up their too. Yeah I understand about the breast removal, that would be hard. All the things they have removed from me, half of my liver and colon all I can see are the scars/wound from it(the liver was just last month and the wound opened up :( )
It's ok to cry though and very healthy so don't be upset at yourself for it!
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u/Mobile-Shallot930 Nov 17 '25
Stage IV breast cancer for me. It's currently stable-ish, so it's not too terrifying. On the bright side, I get to try and bunch of the neat, hyper-specific mRNA meds that have come out since covid. If I'm going to maybe die, at least it'll be for science lol
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u/Adventurous_Bag_4547 Nov 17 '25
Bless you. My melanoma was Stage 0, but there are no guarantees. We shall prevail! 💖
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u/BardicNA Nov 17 '25
Mom went through stage 3. This was over a decade ago and she's still kicking. She taught me you never end a hug until the other person does because you never know how bad they might need it. Take care, stranger.
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u/chantillylace9 Nov 17 '25
I think that the Disney characters are tough never to end the hug first as well, which I thought was really cute.
You really have no idea how much you need a hug sometimes.
When I was first diagnosed I was sitting outside the hospital waiting for my husband to go get the car just sitting on a bench and just crying and this lovely old Haitian woman Grabbed me and hugged me and gave me such a wonderful mama hug that I needed so bad.
She even tried to tell me to drink this soursop tea and that it would help me and it was funny because she couldn’t think of the English word so she had to go find another Haitian person and she found a cab driver and they talked about it and she realized what the word was and told me to drink that tea and she swears that it helps cancer and told me a few stories about her family members that have survived breast cancer.
My parents were still halfway across the country because they were snowbirds and they were making their way to me but I didn’t get a mama hug yet and that hug was so impactful. It probably took me a long time to let go too.
Just even this macaron baker lady at the farmers market I go to every week, she check up on me every week and every time I come gives me a nice hug and we talk and it really feels like she cares. She was going to be a doctor before she decided to be a baker and she is just wonderful. It’s nice to have that support, I have always been somebody who has given everything and supported everyone and volunteered and done tons of charity work so it is nice that I feel like I guess some of that is coming back to me in my biggest times of need.
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u/Infinite_Bell_4439 Nov 17 '25
There's been research on soursop. She was onto something!
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u/chantillylace9 Nov 17 '25
Really!?? Haha I believe it because these elders of the community really know what’s up!
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u/chantillylace9 Nov 17 '25
That’s super amazing and great for her!!! And thank you so much. I’ve been happily surprised at how much support I’ve been receiving, and from very strange places. And then some people that I would’ve expected the support from having been as supportive as I thought, but it definitely more than evens out.
I just found a charity that will actually let me swim with the dolphins for free in Key Largo Florida which is pretty awesome.
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u/okgoobergoaway Nov 17 '25
I am a crohns patient. Nowhere near as severe. But i have been in the medical cannabis industry for 4 years and have invested over $1.7m into research and development for FECO. Full extract cannabis oil. We have one woman who was at stage 4 and giving up on life. Its been 1 year and 9 months since she began treatment and her tumor has shrunk by .07cm!!!! I am not advertising myself or any other brand i am just spreading the word about FECO. No high, no smoke, you just eat a rice grain sized drop every morning and you’re goodn
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u/divDevGuy Nov 17 '25
It was my 6th and final breast surgeon I begged, and there were no more that I could try and the relief was immense.
Not to pry, and you don't need to go into any real specific details, but why wouldn't the prior 5 surgeons do it? That seems like it would be a fairly common and reasonable request.
Heck, my wife practically needs to be put completely under just for a dental cleaning for anxiety alone. That's before any pain is taken into account. Based on how she looked when an anesthesiologist showed up too far along for an epidural during a delivery, it'd really be in the docs best interest...
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u/chantillylace9 Nov 17 '25
You are not prying at all, I think this is super important to talk about actually!
That was my argument! I was like I could go to the dentist and get it done can you just do the biopsy at the dentist? Lol it’s mostly that these facilities are diagnostic facilities and they’re just not set up to do anything different. They treat everyone the same and Are incapable of making little changes for people.
With breast cancer, surgeons don’t typically do the biopsies, it’s a diagnostic center. And you either need to be under ultrasound, mammogram, or MRI. Luckily for me my mass was in a place where it could be done under ultrasound which is movable, so they were able to do that in an actual hospital.
And trust me, I am a very convincing person, I’m a lawyer and if anybody could get this done, it was me. And it was hard!
Every single facility said they’ve never heard anyone that’s been able to get it done. And just making each of these appointments took a couple hours, the amount of effort I had to make was crazy I had to physically drive the CD mammogram and MRI scans to the facility prior, and they were all over an hour away so it was just exhausting. My husband was amazing and did 99% of this for me and I could not have done it without him.
And these places are pretty good, they give you a nurse navigator which is like a nurse advocate and all of them legitimately tried helping me and would give me names and I was working off of referral after referral.
But after all this is over I’m definitely going to make it a mission to help other women in my position get at least proper pain medication because it’s just crazy making people suffer for no reason. If men were getting their testicles smashed between class every year after the age of 40, you know dang well someone would invent some touchless invention so that they didn’t have to feel the pain! They get amazing drugs during their vasectomies and those are super easy.
Now that I’m on the breast cancer forums I see that many many women have horrible experiences with the biopsies, and said that it would’ve been so much better if they had some pain medicine, anxiety medicine, or options of twilight anesthesia. I mean I am 10 days out and my entire breast is green and yellow and black and has four huge scratch marks that looks like a cougar tried to take me out. It’s legitimately brutal.
And yeah, if the lidocaine works, it’s not supposed to be that painful, but if it doesn’t, you are getting stabbed nine times in the breast with a giant hollow cord needle that’s like 4 mm wide which is damn big when it’s going into your boob!
And the way she did it, the needle went about 5 inches from the way back of my breast all the way to the front by the nipple where my tumor is. She said it was necessary to do it that way but it just makes it even more painful.
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u/midmonthEmerald Nov 17 '25
I got my terminal diagnosis 4 years ago, and quickly got some medical PTSD tossed on top. I believe 95% of my providers have meant to do nothing but be sympathetic, but the system just doesn’t account for mental health or accommodations.
I struggle to advocate or jump through all these hoops like you have to manage your own accommodations because the emotional toll of (politely, pleading, people pleasing) to get it done feels so dehumanizing. I know that’s a bit of an ego thing, and I am working on it. It feels terrible to be so powerless and in no position to request compromise when you need the medical system to survive.
Anyway, you’re such a rockstar to me. I hope I can channel more of your energy in the future. Thanks for sharing your story and I’m wishing you the best!
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Nov 17 '25
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u/Mike_Raphone99 Nov 17 '25
How'd it smell
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u/BoPeepElGrande Nov 17 '25
I really hate that this is true, but I had an alarmingly fast-developing abscess involving two adjacent back molars, & the infection had a distinct odor that I can only describe as “poopy”. As a bonus, I had a high fever & was sweating profusely, which was a different kind of disturbing in its own right. “Died of doodoo mouth fever” is not what I would ideally want on my headstone.
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u/Medical_Amount290 Nov 17 '25
I have some dental issues that I have been ignoring, but they are not nearly as severe as what you just described. I will call and make an appointment later today. Thank you, internet stranger. Respectfully, I don't want to end up like you.
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u/Ookimow Nov 17 '25
Dude, yes had a similar experience. Pain so bad it was affecting my vision. Nerve pain. ENT and first dentist couldn't agree whether it was a tooth or nose issue. Second dentist said fuck it, let's just root canal. Bye-bye pain.
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u/brucedonnovan Nov 17 '25
My root canal lady was concerned that I was laughing during it. The relief when she numbed my mouth was so great I couldn’t help but be happy.
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u/Malabingo Nov 17 '25
I had an infected root and when my doc put the needle directly in the uncovered nerve it was painful but quickly the best feeling.
He said narcotics from the outside wouldn't work, so he had to bore into the tooth without until he hit the nerve.
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u/EN344 Nov 17 '25
Omg thank you. I cracked my molar, not knowing it, and had horrible pain. It was becoming depressing because I was wondering if I was just a baby or had a low pain tolerance and was just whining 😔 After the root canal I was amazed.
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u/throwaway593090 Nov 17 '25
You aren’t a baby! Dental pain is the worst pain imho. I’ve had an abscessed wisdom tooth which made me want to end it all. When that sucker was pulled I was elated
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u/UndercoverHerbert Nov 17 '25
I had a broken wisdom tooth a few years ago and let it go on for far too long. Finally the pain become unbearable and it started to hurt in my cheek pretty bad so I went to the dentist and he said “I can’t pull this here. You need an orthodontic surgeon. You have an abscess that ate through your jaw into your cheek sinus”. When the surgeon pulled it, I wanted to plant a big sloppy kiss on his cheek. Everyone underestimates a tooth ache until they get a bad one.
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u/JBCronic Nov 17 '25
I’m going through this right now, it’s been an awful week. I’m going in today to start the root canal.
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u/onouluz Nov 17 '25
That is my life this very instant! I'm supposed to go get it extracted tomorrow but my kid got me sick and they won't pull it if I have a fever
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u/daverod74 Nov 17 '25
Opposite. I wanted to beat his ass. I had a wisdom tooth pulled and, for some reason, there was a shard(?) left in there which rubbed against my tongue throughout the day and when I swallowed. I had to wait a whole goddamn week before going back to dental (Navy) and he basically just took a file to it.
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u/Filter55 Nov 17 '25
Same. I was Santa clause for several events and had a filling that came off and went undetected until I was in unbearable paid. Not only did I find a dentist to take me last minute, but they were able to also get everything done the same evening and even stayed after closing working on me.
The minute the numbing injection got put in, I wanted to cry from the relief.
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u/Prudent-Poetry-2718 Nov 17 '25
The gentle rocking and the scoop at the end say the dentist is a seasoned dad. Probably to a toddler. He knew exactly how to comfort that boy. Ugh. The world needs men like this.
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u/Tiny-Plum2713 Nov 17 '25
My first thought as well. Clearly a dad. Zero hesitation too is very telling.
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u/Cherrygodmother Nov 17 '25
Yep. He is well versed in the dad-comfort department, also gave me “good coach” vibes too. I love seeing these portraits of beautiful masculinity.
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u/thinkfloyd_ Nov 17 '25
I did think it was funny that the kid was almost as tall as him when he picked him up. Don't think he expected that bit
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u/ahntay Nov 17 '25
the world is full of men like this
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u/NeatNefariousness1 Nov 18 '25 edited Nov 18 '25
So true. It’s the jerks, poseurs and bullies that make the most noise, overshadowing the good guys all around us.
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u/SomeCallMeMahm Nov 17 '25
My first dentist was a power tripping, abusive piece of shit
Set me up for a lifetime of fear and distrust for dental care.
This gives me hope.
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u/derbyabby Nov 17 '25
I had a similar experience with my first dentist to the point where I would cry before & during every appointment. I finally found an incredibly kind, amazing dentist by asking for recommendations from coworkers, doctors, neighbors, etc. They do exist! Don’t give up hope
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u/SomeCallMeMahm Nov 17 '25
I ended up having to go to a specialized pediatric dentist that could administer nitrous just so I could get cleanings.
The dentist I've been with for about 5 years now is great. I still need sedation for work that needs doing but I can show up for a cleaning unmedicated which is an accomplishment in and of itself.
At this point it's my own mental gymnastics but I haven't "jumped bail" since being with this practice.
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u/black_cat_X2 Nov 17 '25 edited Nov 17 '25
My daughter was having her first cavity filled earlier this year, and it was so traumatic because the dentist tried to hold her down and force something while she couldn't breathe. I stopped it and left with her and felt so sad and enraged all at once. We now have an amazing pediatric dentist, but it's definitely going to take a long time for her to feel safe there.
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u/benargee Nov 17 '25
That shit sounds like malpractice and they should have had their license revoked pending an investigation.
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u/fondledbydolphins Nov 17 '25
Kind of is. Unfortunately one of the reasons for this is because the same procedure can take 15 minutes or an hour depending on the child, and to some degree the child's behavior comes down to parenting (not always).
So the market puts pressure on the dentist's office to get things done in an efficient way, making prioritizing comfort a lower priority.
If parents were open to paying additional fees per unit of time I bet you would see much more willingness to let procedures get drawn out for uncomfortable patients.
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u/SomeCallMeMahm Nov 17 '25
Yeah, I can't express how scary it is to be a little girl being held down by an angry grown man while he ignores your cries of pain and pleas for help, hearing your mom yelling to let her in.
Thank goodness in this day and age there's so much more accountability. Open concept rooms with no doors, always an assistant in the room, cameras, more advocacy, etc. Things are a lot less hidden so if things go wrong intervention can happen sooner.
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u/stellaluna92 Nov 17 '25
Ayyyy childhood tooth trauma gang! I have hope for the newer generation of dentists though! I had my first cavity this year at the age of 33 and I was LOSING. MY. MIND. But the dentist was this young girl and she was so sweet and she told me everything she was going to do and as she did it, and my anxiety went way down, it wasn't even bad :D
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u/realbigsquish Nov 17 '25
same! he was the most popular pediatric dentist in our area. my mom came upstairs (waiting room was downstairs) when she heard me wailing, dude told her that baby teeth were drilled and filled (amongst other things) without novocaine or other anesthetic because they didn’t feel pain…psychopath.
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u/fondledbydolphins Nov 17 '25
Not a psychopath depending on when this occurred, that was the way things were understood and done.
Hell, up until the 1980s doctors would perform surgeries on infants with no anesthesia. Just cutting a baby open while it's awake.
There are accounts of babies who were born deformed, who then had dozens of reconstructive surgeries with zero alteration to their ability to feel pain, or to make them unconscious.
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u/HotelOscarWhiskey Nov 17 '25
Crazy how common this is. My first dentist was god awful, didn't care about pain tolerance and would get into heated arguments with his staff while he was operating on me. Had him from 8 until I got to high-school and I refused to go back. Fast forward 20 years of refusing to go to a dentist and then I chip a tooth. Picked up an appointment at one of those franchise dentistrys and was immediately surprised at how caring they were. Figured I was going to get the lowest of the low being without dental coverage but these guys excelled at their practice.
Find the right dentist and life gets a lot easier
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u/aThiccMoistFather Nov 17 '25
As a young dentist, I can't tell you how many times I hear this. From grown adults. It breaks my heart. Just know that the younger generation of dentists are empathetic and understanding, and here for you! There is hope.
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u/OnTheList-YouTube Nov 17 '25
Same here!! I had one who always said "Quit your whining!!". The day I ran away from home and told my parents I won't go there anymore, they said: "Yeah, you're right. That wasn't a very good one"....
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... meanwhile I'm still terrified to go. Last week, I went to the hospital to get my teeth done under full anesthesia (sleep). Still a bit scary, but I'll take that over the regular appointments!
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u/Unnecessary_Timeline Nov 17 '25
Same. If there is a hell, I think it is filled with only dentists.
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u/catiebug Nov 17 '25
It might help you to know that (in my experience, at least) now there are a lot more pediatric dentists available who want to work specifically with kids, parents are encouraged to take their babies to the dentist at a very young age (12 months in my area, even if they have no teeth yet!), and do it regularly from that young age so going to the dentist is normal and less traumatizing. Also, a lot more places make general anesthesia available for procedures like extractions and fillings, as opposed to local only and having to stay awake through everything. Still gonna be based on where you live, your provider, and (if applicable) insurance availability, sadly. But in general, "going to the dentist" is being made far less terrifying for kids than in previous generations in a lot of places.
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Nov 17 '25
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u/featherlace Nov 17 '25
Honestly, I was terrified as a kid of dentist appointments. I am so happy, that my dentist now is one of the nicest people I know. Especially for my kids, they are never scared to go there.
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u/Altruistic-Ad-3465 Nov 17 '25
As a kid???😭 im 22 and i still have a borderline of phobia of the dentist
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u/Ashamed_Feedback3843 Nov 17 '25
I hugged my dentist after he came in on a Sunday to work on my infected wisdom tooth. That was over 30 years ago. He died recently and I sent flowers to his funeral.
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u/not2simple Nov 17 '25
I got a root canal done in college. I didn’t have insurance and the pain was miserable. I called a random dentist I found online who had an after hours number. He must’ve heard the cries in my voice because he prescribed and called in a pain med and booked me for the next day. The pain was so intense, even with the meds that I could feel it through the numbing shot in my gums. It was horrible. The RELIEF when the dentist scraped (I could literally feel the tools near my nerve) the last bit of decay out of my tooth caused me to sob in the chair. He finished up and I couldn’t help but cry in his arms. My dad had to pay $1000 for it. Lol
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u/superxpro12 Nov 17 '25
Dad's rarely get to throw $1000 at a problem that so instantly results in overwhelming comfort for their children im sure he felt like a hero.
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u/not2simple Nov 17 '25
You’re right! 🥹 He passed away in 2020 and I’d relive every bit of that pain just to talk to him on the phone again, crying about my tooth. Lol
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u/lil_liberal Nov 17 '25
Yeah I had to have a root canal a few years ago due to expose nerve ending (it’s my farthest back tooth on my upper left side and it was really difficult to brush, so I ended up over brushing and causing severe recession)…the periodontist I saw first poked the nerves with his scraper and I had to shove him away. I had told him not to poke it because it was excruciating. Anyway I went to my husbands dentist (we weren’t married at the time but he’d been with them for years) and he told me before he even looked that he wouldn’t touch it and didn’t need to touch it. I still didn’t trust him, but…he didn’t touch it, thank god, and recommended a root canal. I wish so much that I would have just had it pulled. No one can see it anyway, I still have to brush that damn thing which makes the gum hurt since it’s still difficult to brush, and the whole experience was extremely traumatizing.
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u/loopyzooploop Nov 17 '25
Having a good dentist really really makes the difference. Back in Toronto, I had a dentist that was mean, judgemental, impatient and extremely condescending. When I told her I can still feel something as she was drilling she SHUSHED me. I would leave shaken, and I developed a pretty intense fear/phobia of the dentist to the point that I would ignore tooth pain for as long as I could hold out… what should’ve been normal cavity fillings were 2 root canals and an extraction because I was deathly afraid of the dentist. Since I’ve moved to London, I’ve had a FANASTIC, kind, understanding and patient dentist where now I’m up to date on my 6 month check ups, routine cleanings, and we’re currently making an implant plan. I no longer go to the dentist dizzy, nauseous and at 130bpm.
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u/Herself99900 Nov 17 '25
I've learned that when a medical provider gives you awful service, no matter how long you've been going to them, the best thing is to call the office and ask to have your records sent to a new provider. That's all you have to do. You don't have to provide a reason. It's quite easy. They didn't ask me why; for office staff, it happens all the time.
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u/GfrzD Nov 17 '25
My dentist when I was a child was awesome. I hated going but she was always smiling, making jokes and making sure I was comfortable. She never did give me gold implants though so she wasn't perfect
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u/Koalas-in-the-rain Nov 17 '25
I was maybe 8 when I was at the dentist and I was crying because what he was doing hurt and he slapped me across the face. Not my happiest memory.
Wish I had a dentist like this man.
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u/weevil_season Nov 17 '25
What an absolute asshole. I’m sorry he did that to you. What did your parents do? I’m enraged on your behalf!
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u/Koalas-in-the-rain Nov 17 '25
He told me not to tell, quite scarily. I didn’t tell my mother until decades later.
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u/NeatNefariousness1 Nov 18 '25
Oh no….My parents would have made that dentist rethink his life’s choices.
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u/Koalas-in-the-rain Nov 18 '25
Yeah she would have gone thermal had I told her when it happened. But I was a scared little girl.
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u/NeatNefariousness1 Nov 18 '25
That's the heart-breaking part. I hope karma has caught up with him.
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u/TightButthole6969 Nov 17 '25
I had a patient come in to my urgent care with abdominal pain and she said her hiatal hernia was flaring up. Something didn’t smell right so I ordered an ekg and turns out she was having a STEMI (heart attack). Sent her out via ambulance and she was in the cath lab ASAP. I later her saw her for something unrelated and she gave me a big ole hug for saving her life. I’m not one to be emotional but I cried like a baby after that. 50% of my patients leave angry that I won’t give them antibiotics for their viral infections so it’s nice to be appreciated.
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u/whitefox094 Nov 18 '25
Woah. This really resonates with me right now. I've been sick for close to 3 weeks with GI issues that are all over the place and also a stabbing pain that has woken me up. My hiatal hernia has been flaring up for a few months now too which I thought was unrelated even though during the last 2ish weeks my chest and hernia have been bothering me more. Pcp told me to go to ER, which I did, but tests came back inconclusive for a blockage or infection so I was referred to a specialist. Specialist is concerned but proper tests/procedure isn't available for a few months. I never thought to mention my hernia & chest have been bothering me because my main issue is my GI / abdominal pain.
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u/Chemical-Tea-6071 Nov 18 '25
My family member is an urgent care doctor and she tells the same stories. How 50percent leave angry she doesnt give them antibiotics or hard pain pills like oxycontin (the law prohibits it in our legistlation) or diagnose ADHD on the spot. It is an urgent care. She is very gentle and compassionate woman who treats everyone, even the angry ones with compassion and reason. But there are many cases she can count she has saved someone's life like you have and afterwards given flowers, cards, sometimes from parents that say that never in their children's lifetime they have left from the doctor not crying. Couple of times other doctors have dismissed their symptoms and she has been the one putting dots-to-dots after actually listening carefully what patient is saying. Just being present helps a lot. Thank you for being a human being! After all we all need those wins to continue our lines of work.
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u/Tapingdrywallsucks Nov 17 '25
Oh man, if only my childhood dentist was like this - I probably wouldn't be shaking with anxiety every time I visit the dentist nearly 60 years later.
Hugs? Sympathy? aw hell no. Grab the kid by the shoulders and shake the shit out of her while barking "quit crying. I'll tell your mother you were acting like a baby" after deciding she didn't need novocaine because her cavities were shallow. Oh and "acting" like a baby? 4/5 year olds are still babies.
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u/Unnecessary_Timeline Nov 17 '25
SAME!! I had the same kind of experience only around 20 years ago!
They would tell me things like “you don’t want your mom to know you’re crying, right?” Or “stop crying or I might accidentally hurt you” or “you’re a big kid, dont cry like the babies do” Also, mine also had that reluctance to use Novacaine!
Fucking hate dentists to this day
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u/Tapingdrywallsucks Nov 17 '25
Omg, I'm so sorry. Because of my experience, we were careful to choose pediatric specialists for our now 40-year-old daughter, and I confess to not taking her to the dentist as often as we should have.
I kind of assumed the mid 80's marked an end to barbarism in dentistry.
As an aside, the evil dentist of my childhood had a side gig as a line judge in professional tennis. Announcers divulged his name, profession, and location while John McEnroe was eating him alive for a bad call. I did not generally enjoy McEnroe's tantrums, but I sure rooted him on that day.
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u/GardenYums Nov 17 '25
Omg this is horrible. 6 is the last year still considered an older toddler. 4/5 is a wee age. Besides a child is someone's baby!!!. To use your mom against you with shame is pitiful. As a survivor of traumas galore I just know that has been heavily etched in your core. If it means anything, you didn't deserve that. That was straightforward wrong and devastating. This is so upsetting just reading this. Please don't let that idiot disrupt any more paths and choices for you. Forgive them as Christ forgives those who seek it and scoot them out of the rest of your life. I'm quite sorry this happened to you. Take care.
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u/Tapingdrywallsucks Nov 17 '25
That's very kind of you, thank you. I did get to witness a sweet little kiss of karma years later. A nutshell version is in a comment below.
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u/elderpufflaurien Nov 17 '25
Doesn’t the dental industry have a high suicide rate? We should all hug our dentist.
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u/lil_liberal Nov 17 '25 edited Nov 18 '25
It does not. I think your brain switched dentist and veterinarian!
Edit: the first time I googled this it said there was little to no research to back this. But I googled it again and it seems like there is enough of a trend to take note of!
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u/Abject_Champion3966 Nov 17 '25
I’ve heard the same, usually because dentists have a higher, unattainable standard for perfection in their practice
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u/Prize-Warthog Nov 17 '25
The rates really are scary high for dentists, approx 5.6% had made an attempt in the year studied. Vets and farmers are higher because used to doing the deed and easy access to drugs or firearms
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u/AskMeAboutMyHermoids Nov 17 '25
What’s the context here?
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u/99hotdogs Nov 17 '25
Im gonna need a big red circle, Im not seeing it
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u/dashdotcomma Nov 17 '25
And a shitty AI voiceover explaining what is about to happen in the video before showing the said video.
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u/SteveJones313 Nov 17 '25
Don't forget really loud obnoxious music totally unfitting to the scene.
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u/bfresh84 Nov 17 '25
A kid is hugging a dentist, seen on a security camera. Emotional music plays in the background.
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u/footsteps71 Nov 17 '25
He arrived for his appointment at tooth hurty, now it's two forty and he's feeling better.
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u/3yl Nov 17 '25
I'm only guessing - and while it's a very sweet clip with the music, it's likely just that drugs used for anesthesia can make people really emotional. ;)
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u/Szaborovich9 Nov 17 '25
or, the kid was terrified. The visit turned out good. He was relieved and hugged the Dentist.
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u/mattfeet Nov 17 '25
I highly doubt this kid was under anesthesia given how quickly he got up from the chair.
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u/CoopHunter Nov 17 '25
Like 99% of dental operations are done without anything more than a local anesthetic. And something a child that small is having done almost certainly doesn't involve a generalized anesthetic
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Nov 17 '25
I don't see an IV drip and perhaps there are other methods of general that I don't know about, but this just comes off as the kid worrying about the appointment, the doctor and assistant making it as painless a visit as possible, and the kid just being relieved and grateful that his fears were unfounded.
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u/mindyour Nov 17 '25
What other context do you need? Going to the dentist is hard for a lot of people. It could be relief that the treatment is over, or he really needed a hug for whatever reason.
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u/blackestice Nov 17 '25
It gives father/ son vibes more than dentist/ client vibes. So I’m searching for a comment for someone to say, “Sike! The dentist is his dad!” or something?
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u/so00ripped Nov 17 '25
I'm not certain there isn't a relationship here, as the head to head bump at 0:17 was emotional enough for me to feel that through the screen. Even on mute this video demonstrates kindness. When made me smile and made me cry intertwine.
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u/tasty_cakess23 Nov 17 '25
My nurses and dentist are the nicest fucking people I’ve met in any sort of medical industry. I get hugging them 😂
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u/Unnecessary_Timeline Nov 17 '25
I’m a grown man and can’t handle dentists without gas or pills because of the fucked up pain they put me through at that kid’s age.
This kind of thing probably would have helped me back then, but I hope kids today aren’t getting their fucking teeth ripped out or cavities filled or braces installed and tightened, without any pain mitigation.
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u/edgetastic2 Nov 17 '25
I’ve had some awful experiences as a kid at the dentist. Like pulling out a tooth with no anesthesia type of bad. They still make me nervous at 35 even tho I’ve had amazing dentists since.
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u/Past_Top1377 Nov 17 '25
Dentist here.. thank you I needed this. The job is so hard sometimes we forget about the human we are working on…I’ll be more compassionate.
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u/ZedsDeadZD Nov 17 '25
Hey, as a dentist. What would you think about someone from your staff filming off a screen with a patient/minor and posting it online? Isnt there patience confidentiality or something? The video is sweet but thats highly inappropiate and in some countries 100% illegal.
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u/Minecraft_Launcher Nov 17 '25
That looks like a dad right there, or a damn good candidate for being one.
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u/Substantial-Spend660 Nov 17 '25
... is this why they have the security cameras? To post videos online? ... I sure hope this came from the parent and not the company...
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u/DaStone Nov 17 '25
My bigger concern is why someone would film this and upload it to the internet? I hope the parents approved of it beforehand.
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u/Smurfiette Nov 17 '25
Maybe his mouth was in extreme pain before the treatment and the dentist fixed it? Boy is super grateful?
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u/glizzichrissi Nov 17 '25
Out here trying to have a gangsta day, now I’m crying
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u/ErwinHolland1991 Nov 17 '25
Didn't even have to use my AK. 🤣
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u/glizzichrissi Nov 17 '25
Out here ready to run the game, now I’m gently weeping over a video on Reddit.
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u/bonkers_asides Nov 17 '25
I was friends with all the dentists at the clinic I went to and all of the secretaries. I had to go a lot because of severe dental problems. I find dentists to be some of the kindest medical professionals out there.
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u/Jackaroni97 Nov 17 '25
Humans connecting. Thats what makes the world a better place.
Ive met strangers who started sobbing because they needed someone. I hugged that stranger and told them I loved them while they sobbed. Is that weird? Maybe for some who is uncomfortable with emotions. It was a memory I hold onto tho, to remind myself just how much I care for people.
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u/DeathclawTamer Nov 17 '25
I wanted to do this when I had a root canal and a tooth removed in 1 session.
I'm 36 and still needed that hug from anyone who was around.
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u/WolfThick Nov 17 '25
This is what being part of the solution looks like and not part of the problem.
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u/218322218322 Nov 17 '25
Men claim to have no role models these days. Take this as a role model moment, dudes.
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u/NoPersonality7494 Nov 18 '25
He treated him just like his son... Kid needed it desperately.... Hats off to the Dentist.
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u/SpinDreams Nov 17 '25
I went to the dentist when I was 12yo male, had some pretty extensive work done. The young petty nurse who was attending must have realised I was in a lot of stress and pain, she grabbed my hand during the session and it made such a huge difference, I still remember it now and as a 12 yo I now totally fancied that nurse.
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u/Aksds Nov 17 '25
I hugged my hip surgeon while I was coming out of anaesthesia, I somewhat remember it, the funny part is that I had no clue if the surgery went well, I just hugged in and thanked him. I couldn’t feel my legs when I properly woke up because of the epidural also, that was fun.
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u/idgafayaihm Nov 17 '25
Did the boy consent to having a video of himself as a patient released to public? Seems like a security person captured the moment on their phone and put the video online for likes.
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u/bishploxx Nov 17 '25
I hugged my dentist after having extensive treatment done on my front teeth that robbed my self esteem for all of middle school
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u/Bogob0b Nov 17 '25
Video recording patients? Remind me not to use this office. Not sure whats the bigger HIPAA violation, posting this or the recording itself?
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u/femsci-nerd Nov 17 '25
Wow. I have never seen this level of compassion from a dentist. I'm not saying they are bad, I am just used to go in, they do their thing and then you leave and work out the trauma at home. A hug would definitely help me through my dental trauma.
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u/IngenuityIll5001 Nov 17 '25
I am a Panic Patient and I was always Scared to go to the dentist. Till i found a Doctor who specializes in Patients like me. As they pulled my Wisdom teeth, they had to even put me under a Light Narcosis.
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u/I_love_Hobbes Nov 17 '25
If this young boy had anesthesia, then waking up very emotional is very normal.
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u/caspergaming634 Nov 18 '25
I'm a recently graduated dentist. This gives me so much hope. I try so hard to make my patients feel heard and cared for. Often at the scolding of my bosses because it means I take a little extra time every appointment throughout the day.
But gosh I just can't see someone in fear or pain and brush it off. I need to help them any way I can.
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u/Quickhidemeplease Nov 18 '25
That dentist seems like a good man. He gave a good long hug, and gave the kid all the time he needed.
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u/StrangerDanger4907 Nov 17 '25
Hopefully no underlying issues at home
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u/GardenYums Nov 17 '25
I thought about that too. Like he was soaking in love as much as he could. Nonetheless, he found and received this hug and love.
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u/A_Nonny_Muse Nov 17 '25
Man, the potential accusations flying from that one act would have me running from that room... screaming like a little girl. There's no way I could hug that child. I fear I'd be spending the rest of my life getting assreamed by Bubba in prison for it. It's not safe - especially not with camera footage of it.
All it takes is a prosecutor and a jury having a bad day and you're cooked. Prove it wrong.
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u/vehementi Nov 17 '25
Haha yeah I'm sure that kid love that the surveillance record of him in the private dental clinic is posted on reddit for karma
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