Last week's Health North story on dental fear hit close to home for Ipswich resident Sande Weinhold.
Weinhold, 67, said she avoided seeing a dentist for about 30 to 35 years because of a deep fear of dentistry - the dental pick, most of all - that began in childhood. She needed a lot of dental work as a child, and her dentist was not sympathetic.
"If you were frightened, he would tell you you were a baby," she said.
Weinhold avoided seeing the dentist for so long that many of her teeth snapped and broke off. Her teeth became such an embarrassment, particularly in her job as a nurse, that she habitually covered her mouth with her hand.
Then about two years ago, she heard about sedation dentistry. She said her body was shaking when she searched for information online. She eventually mustered the courage to make an appointment with Peabody dentist Frank Varinos, though she told the receptionist she would probably cancel it.
But she didn't. After a few visits just to talk to Varinos and have her teeth examined - no picks involved - Weinhold agreed to have major dental work done under conscious sedation. She needed a whole set of top dentures and, as best she recalls, about seven crowns and a bridge, "and never felt one single thing" during the procedures.
Weinhold said the work, which cost her $10,000 because she didn't have insurance, has changed her life. "I am much more confident. I don't hold my hand up to my mouth."
Varinos said Weinhold is a good example of the type of fear he sees in male and female patients who seek him out for conscious sedation.
"They've broken into a sweat," he said. "They start to cry. We're talking men."
Weinhold says she can now see the dentist with much less anxiety. She gets nitrous oxide for a little help getting through cleanings, she said, but doesn't avoid care anymore.
Wound healing rates high
Anna Jaques Hospital in Newburyport is on a winning streak at its wound center. The hospital was acknowledged this month for having such a high success rate for healing people, compared to other hospitals nationwide whose wound centers are managed by the same company, National Healing Corp.
The hospital received the Best Overall Clinical Indicator Award. It's the third consecutive year Anna Jaques has achieved the honor, according to an announcement of the award from the hospital. The award is based on patient care data in nine clinical areas.
Weinhold, 67, said she avoided seeing a dentist for about 30 to 35 years because of a deep fear of dentistry - the dental pick, most of all - that began in childhood. She needed a lot of dental work as a child, and her dentist was not sympathetic.
"If you were frightened, he would tell you you were a baby," she said.
Weinhold avoided seeing the dentist for so long that many of her teeth snapped and broke off. Her teeth became such an embarrassment, particularly in her job as a nurse, that she habitually covered her mouth with her hand.
Then about two years ago, she heard about sedation dentistry. She said her body was shaking when she searched for information online. She eventually mustered the courage to make an appointment with Peabody dentist Frank Varinos, though she told the receptionist she would probably cancel it.
But she didn't. After a few visits just to talk to Varinos and have her teeth examined - no picks involved - Weinhold agreed to have major dental work done under conscious sedation. She needed a whole set of top dentures and, as best she recalls, about seven crowns and a bridge, "and never felt one single thing" during the procedures.
Weinhold said the work, which cost her $10,000 because she didn't have insurance, has changed her life. "I am much more confident. I don't hold my hand up to my mouth."
Varinos said Weinhold is a good example of the type of fear he sees in male and female patients who seek him out for conscious sedation.
"They've broken into a sweat," he said. "They start to cry. We're talking men."
Weinhold says she can now see the dentist with much less anxiety. She gets nitrous oxide for a little help getting through cleanings, she said, but doesn't avoid care anymore.
Wound healing rates high
Anna Jaques Hospital in Newburyport is on a winning streak at its wound center. The hospital was acknowledged this month for having such a high success rate for healing people, compared to other hospitals nationwide whose wound centers are managed by the same company, National Healing Corp.
The hospital received the Best Overall Clinical Indicator Award. It's the third consecutive year Anna Jaques has achieved the honor, according to an announcement of the award from the hospital. The award is based on patient care data in nine clinical areas.
Free HIV test
Health Quarters is offering free, confidential rapid HIV testing at its health centers at 101 Amesbury St., Lawrence, and 215 Main St., Haverhill.
Both centers are open Monday through Thursday, with extended hours in Haverhill on Tuesday. Call the Lawrence center at 978-681-5258 or the Haverhill center at 978-521-444 to make a confidential appointment.
The test results come back in 20 minutes, so you get an answer before you leave the office.
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Julie Kirkwood's Health and Science Journal runs in Health North on Fridays. She can be reached at 978-946-2251 or jkirkwood@eagletribune.com.
