Patient asked dentist’s name twice just to get his first name — then revealed the bizarre reason he refused to call him doctor
A visit to the dentist can take an unexpected turn when a routine conversation becomes personal. DMD Dr. Ivan Alpizar experienced this during a consultation when a patient questioned him about how they should address him. The appointment was going normally as he explained the proposed treatment, but the patient suddenly interrupted him and asked for his name again. He answered politely, but the follow-up question made the exchange uncomfortable. Dr. Alpizar later shared the experience on Instagram on September 24, 2026, through his account @dr.ivanalpizar. The interaction left him thinking about how quickly a normal appointment can change.
The patient first asked for his name after he had already introduced himself as Dr. Alpizar. When he repeated it, they made it clear that they wanted his first name instead. He told him it was Ivan, but their response surprised him. The patient then said, "I will be calling you Ivan from now on because you are way too young to be referred to as a doctor." Dr. Alpizar said he froze for a moment and laughed because he does not need to be called a doctor in every situation. Still, the direct way the patient dismissed his title caught him off guard. The dentist later explained that the comment bothered him less because of the title and more because of how the patient spoke to him.
Respectful communication can make professional interactions easier, especially when someone is providing care and explaining important choices. He said the patient had interrupted him while he was presenting the treatment plan, then immediately explained why they would not use their professional title. Dr. Alpizar also pointed out that his age is not something he could simply change to satisfy someone's expectations. "I can't really do anything about my age other than continue to be alive." The encounter left him thinking about what he could have said differently. After the appointment, Dr. Alpizar admitted that he kept thinking about the exchange and wondering how he should have handled it. "What should I have done differently?" he questioned himself, as well as the viewers.
Professionals can also face prejudice and disrespectful behavior based on their age or gender. In another similar incident, a female dentist dealt with a patient who doubted her role before treatment began. She introduced herself and asked about his tooth pain, but he interrupted to ask when the dentist would arrive, looking at her in her pink scrubs. Even after she explained that she was treating him, he continued questioning her.
The patient also questioned whether she would remove his wisdom tooth. After the procedure, he said, "So you actually are the dentist." The remark frustrated her because she had already explained her role several times. She admitted she was "fuming" inside but stayed calm and professional. The experience reminded her that appearance, age, or clothing should never be used to judge someone's abilities. Her qualifications, rather than assumptions, should have been enough.
For more dentist-related content, follow @dr.ivanalpizar on his Instagram account.