PHILADELPHIA—Following 30 minutes of scrubbing, flossing, and scraping performed by a dental hygienist, local dentist Dr. John Cepollo spent approximately 5 minutes counting the patient’s teeth and asking how they were doing. “To be fair, he also asked what my job is, after repeating the joke his hygienist made, but louder, receiving more laughs,” admitted patient Celine Williams. After Dr. Cepollo left the room, the hygienist, who requested anonymity, cleaned up the patient’s raw gums and provided her with a goody bag, including a toothbrush, floss, and a union poster. “I thanked her profusely, and she nodded her head knowingly. When I offered a tip, she refused it and became visibly nervous, rushing me out of the room,” reported Williams. Williams claims she saw her dentist drive away at 1:59 PM in a Porsche.
–L. Conklin
