Dentist search

This week we have been on the search for a dentist for my son. I've put it off for awhile, but it is definitely time for him to have his teeth cleaned. My son's only insurance is Medicaid. It is fantastic insurance, we don't pay for anything out of pocket most of the time, but it is sometimes hard to find doctors who accept it.

A friend recommended a particular dentist in town so I tried there first. They didn't accept Medicaid. I tried another office who informed me that they didn't see children until age 4 (contrary to what everyone else has said). As a last ditch effort, I called one of the dentists listed on a local billboard. Not the way I want to pick a health care provider, but I was getting desperate.

When I called with my list of questions...do you accept new patients?...do you accept Medicaid?...is my son age appropriate for a visit?....I spoke to THE nicest woman on the face of the earth. She spoke to me like I was the one and only client she had, and had all the time in the world to talk. She asked me questions in return and I even learned she has two nephews with Autism and she understood clearly some of my concerns.

It turns out that this office has multi-patient rooms for those who need to be around other kids as well as single-patient rooms for those who get stressed out in groups. She made the appointment for me and even asked if my son was the type who was bothered by waiting if the staff were a bit behind. In that event, she would suggest a different time of day. I hadn't even thought of that! We are so used to waiting, it never occurred to me that someone would go to the trouble to be sure we had a time which was most comfortable for us. I could go on and on about this particular woman...what a gem! I only wished I had asked her name.

My son gets nervous at any new thing, so being able to go online, see pictures of the exam rooms, pictures of the doctors and even a picture of a doctor examining a child's teeth...it all helps. And I can credit it all to this wonderful receptionist who took the time to guide us along.

It still amazes me that God can use a frustrating situation, like finding a dentist, to lead us down the right path. He had this place in mind for us all along. We pass the billboard for this dentist almost every day. He was pointing me in the right direction the whole time. But boy, was I slow to see it!!!

Thank you God for sending people down our path that understand us. Thank you for closing doors when we go the wrong way...and opening the door wide so we are sure to enter the one you have chosen for us. And Lord, please bless those who take the time to be extra kind. We are so grateful.