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Gayle King, an extraordinary media personality, had described, full of dramatics, her visit to the dentist’s new office, and humorously entertained the question, “Maybe I need a root canal?” The post went viral as she waxed lyrical in praise of the new facility, receiving an avalanche of supportive responses from her followers and the dental fraternity at large, considering the touted reputation of the doctor for a certain care of conscientiousness and respect for the patients.
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If even the stars become woozy for their dental appointments, Gayle King disclosed to her audience that she was “terrated of the dentist,” something that most patients can readily identify. She was soon allayed by the knowledge of her dentist for over years, Dr. Shaun Massiah. This was her first ride at Dr. Massiah’s new practice, Smiles on the Upper Westside, and she was left totally “blown away.”
It was for more than just a quick checkup; King’s new office also received a full behind-the-scenes tour. King was in one of her videos showing the tour with Dr. Massiah, who designed the office down to the very last detail. In her words, it was a melding of “Caribbean meets comfort meets luxury,” a concept that was further explained through wave-like motifs that would “hug” the patient in calming vibes. Detail had been thought through in the office for all types of patients, including special seating for the more mature patients and an entire area for mothers with toddlers.
The tour continued, pointing at sterilized and high-tech features that made King feel very comfortable. She described one sterilization process in detail and admitted that she sometimes wonders about these things. The hands-free system is initially intimidating to look at, but instruments are washed and then they go through high-level sterilization by heat. “Okay, but at least it’s clean,” King said after seeing the equipment. Dr. Massiah assured her it kills any germs and bacteria.
Although everything looked positively dreamy in the new practice, the news from the appointment was not all sunlight and rainbows. King shared that her problem was going to call for a root canal, followed by a very resigned “Womp womp” and “yikes!” She is immediately on the lookout for a specialist.
The comment section erupted in support of Dr. Massiah. Among the first to express their sentiments were dental professionals. One dentist declared in the comments with “I’m the BEST AT ROOT CANALS” throwing themselves into consideration. Another dental expert frankly commented, “He’s been my mentor for almost 10 years! Super proud of him and this upgrade,” addressing their respect for Dr. Massiah within their field.”
This was followed by comments from patients and colleagues who know Dr. Massiah personally. “That’s my guy! Dr Shaun!!!” exclaimed one. Another added, “Dr. Massiah’s practice is absolutely amazing and no better service or technology can be found anywhere!! Here every patient is treated as a close family member.” The primary theme was of personal care and warmth. One even mentioned that King’s support for a “Black professional healthcare provider” is major for representation.
The innovative design of the office also struck a chord with the fans. Somebody thought it must have been “incredibly thoughtful and efficient,” citing the inventory control system as excellent. That was such an enticing tour that one user simply said, “Might have to switch dentists immediately…,” which was instantly confirmed by another: “Dr. Massiah ‘the bes! Fabulous with a great personality too.”
That’s also when some reactions were a little less celebratory. Sympathies and advice arrived for the impending root canal. “Beautiful office. I, too, panic at the thought of the dentist. Good luck with the root canal,” said another, channeling King’s own fears. And another proffered some maybe well-intended, but unsolicited dental advice: “Skip the root canal, opt for inlays instead.”
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Gayle King’s unguarded commentary on a standard phobia coupled with a positively healing experience struck a chord. It showcased a dental practice that goes that extra mile toward patient comfort and clinical care and politely reminded us all that even alone-in-their-industry media giants do have to face the mundane and oft-dreaded events of the everyday, such as root canals. Sharing that moment opened up a little inside glimpse into King and propelled the small agency into bright lights. Her experience with high-tech dental equipment was particularly noteworthy.
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