Out with the stitches, in with the expert

I had stitches removed yesterday…from my mouth…while leaning on the kitchen island and tilting my head under hanging pendant lights.

See, I’m away from home and will be gone throughout the entire acceptable window of time to have the sutures removed. Plus, they were beginning to rub the surrounding areas raw. After having bizarre dreams about the cause of my discomfort, I finally decided it was time to take matters (and cuticle trimmers) into my own hands.

I thought the clippers would be the most appropriate tool for the job. I was wrong.

Though they seemed small enough and were certainly sharp enough, I found that they became quite big and bulky inside the mouth—the tip wasn’t slender enough to get under the thread and I nicked the already tender area with the sharp tip.

I needed help and I needed an expert. So I called my dear dental hygienist friend. Her reply? “Sure thing—we’ll need slender nail scissors and a good pair of tweezers.”

Moral of the story: When you’re looking for a contractor or service provider, look for someone who understands what you want to accomplish and how to get there. I felt confident and secure in her hands because she felt confident and secure.

Moral 2: I have great friends.

What dentists and mechanics have in common

My mom dusts with old t-shirts and stops just short of retiring those same shirts-turned-rags into cloth paper for scrapbooking. She is the most resourceful person I know and she passed the quality on to me.


I love a good deal as much as the next gal, but sometimes, price means very little to me. Like when it comes to body parts. Unlike lizards, who can re-grow tails, we humans don't get second chances with limbs, eyes, or teeth. That's why price is near the bottom of the list as I consider where to get Lasik surgery.

I now see dental care the same way. Until I had to have something major done, I didn't think much of it—I just trusted them to do their thing and send me on my way. So when I moved, I chose the convenience of someone nearby. But now, after nearly a year of issues and unanswered questions, I’m returning to my trusted care provider—3.5 hours away.

My clients say the same about their writing projects, especially if they’ve had iffy experiences. While they may get lower bids, they’ll pay more to know that they’re getting a quality product that matches their voice or brand.

I now have the same uneasy feeling at the dentist as I do at the mechanic—the one that says I might be getting taken advantage of and there's not a damn thing I can do about it.

I'll pay a premium to avoid that. I'll drive across state lines and take a full day out of my life just to feel secure that my dentist (or mechanic) knows what he's doing, can give me honest answers, and is looking out for my best interest.

And that’s exactly the peace of mind I strive to provide my own clients.