A New Level of Desperation

Just when you think you have seen and heard it all, someone comes along and blows your mind and brings you back to the reality of life here. I was sitting in the reception room with Joyce our receptionist today and in walked a translator followed by a patient. He explained to me that she had been here before and the we had removed a few of her teeth and she had lost the appointment card with the denture man for a replacement fitting. I said ok no problem just give me your name so I can look up your chart. She complied and I proceeded to pull her chart. The notes from the day she received treatment stated that we had removed 2 teeth the very front 2 on top and that those teeth needed to be replaced.

I thought ok easy, just make her out a new appointment card and I will be on my way. Just to make sure I did not miss any teeth that need to be added into the replacement I asked the patient to open her mouth. When she did the patient had NO upper teeth at all. I then looked back at the name and age of the patient to make sure I had the right lady. Sure enough the name was the name the lady had provided us with. 

First red flag the age on the chart said 24... this lady looked about 40. I asked her again is this you she nodded yes.  

Second red flag and the biggest of all. There is no dentist in the right state of mind that would request only 2 teeth be replaced if there were no other teeth left. What would you attach it to. Why would you only replace 2 when 14 other teeth are missing. 

Anyway come to find out this lady.. had used her friend, sister or daughters name to come in and attempt to receive an appointment to get a denture for her toothless mouth. I figured if someone is in that sate of despair then who am I to say no you can not have one. Someone asked me if I wrote on the appointment card that she only get the 2 teeth out that the original lady was suppose to get out, and I said no b/c then she will just return with a note from the denture man saying it is not possible..... just when you think you have seen it all.

Can you imaging being so desperate for a denture that you had to lie about who you where.... I am sure this lady did not even second guess this decision.  There is an entire different lever of desperation here and this is just one mild example.