The call came in while I was treating a patient, so it went straight to voicemail. The message went something like this…
Hello, Dr. Chaffee…
We’re calling on behalf of our human owner.
You may remember us. At our last visit, you asked him to come back in six months because our condition was beginning to decline a little. You mentioned that our gums looked irritated, and that his oral hygiene needed more attention.
Well…six months came and went.
And now we’re getting worried.
Lately, whenever he brushes, we notice blood appearing around the gums. The tissue surrounding us looks red, swollen, and tender. There’s also an unpleasant odor developing that wasn’t there before.
To be honest, Doctor…we’re afraid it could be the beginning of gum disease.
Oh—and hold on a second…
(The teeth in the back are tapping on my shoulder.)
They want me to mention that they’re starting to feel exposed…like the gums are slowly pulling away and more of the roots are showing.
Doctor, we’re concerned.
We know that when plaque and bacteria remain too long, the infection can begin affecting the bone that supports us. And if that bone starts disappearing, we may loosen, shift…or eventually be lost altogether.
We’re trying our best to hang on, but we really need our owner to understand something important:
Dental problems don’t usually get better on their own. They quietly get worse.
That’s why we’re asking for your help.
Could you please remind him that routine dental visits are not just about cleaning teeth—they’re about preventing pain, infection, bone loss, and expensive treatment later on?
Maybe if he hears it from you, he’ll finally schedule that appointment he keeps postponing.
Thank you for caring for us all these years.
Sincerely,
His Concerned Teeth & Gums
Paraiso Family Dental & Orthodontics
350 Via Las Brisas #210
Newbury Park, California 91320
805-480-0033
smilebeautifully.com
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