Dental Care for Bipolar Disorder Patients

I've suffered from Bipolar Disorder most of my life. Admittedly it's a condition most people don't know much about. I've felt for the longest time that dentists need some sort of background in mental disorders. Because of that, I decided to write this article, from the viewpoint of a dental patient.

Going to my new dentist, I had to provide a background medical information sheet. Several illnesses were missing, so in the other section I had to write 'Bipolar Disorder.' I was skeptical, and slightly worried as to what was the point of admitting my disorder, but did anyway.

It wasn't long before I discovered that I did the right thing by sharing, but unfortunately, my dentist had no understanding. Approximately ten minutes into my treatment, I sat shaking, hard to breathe, or swallow, unable to communicate to my dentist. She performed dental work that to this day has damaged my health because she was unable to understand my condition. I tried several attempts to get her to stop working, even almost biting the dental assistant. When she was finally done, it was too late, and I tried to explain. She didn't listen, and proceeded to tell me that what was wrong with me, had to be "Bipolar."

I've not been back to a dentist in several years because of this lack of understanding. I shake in fear picking up the phone to try to make an appointment. I cry at the thought of making the appointment, and what more damage she will do for lack of understanding.

If dentists were required to have some sort of formal training, it would not only make them better a dentist, but better people. The manner in which the comment was made about my mental state was not only insulting, even though it wasn't intended, it was derogatory. It's very hard for a person with Bipolar Disorder to admit their conditions to themselves let alone any medical professional.

I realize that this could change the way dental professionals are trained, but it is required in an ever-growing community, and illness. Bipolar Disorder affects approximately 5.7 million American adults, how many of them would like a dentist who understands? I would.

I had submitted this article to The Journal of the American Dental Association but because I am not a dentist, they refused publication, clearly missing the seriousness of this issue. Added to that, the rejection notice from the editor of Yahoo Voice said this: "We do not pay for op-ed content on topics that are well-covered, general in nature or news-related (which has too short of a shelf-life)." They too missed the point of this important issue as it's clearly not well covered or it wouldn't be a mass problem with dentists lacking the care for Bipolar patients. If you too suffer from Bipolar Disorder be sure to spread the word, maybe someday, someone will hear us.