I read with great interest in the N.Y. State Dental Journal the story of a dentist, who was attacked in his office by a 300 lb. patient, who he was trying to help.

Me too! (Almost)

It was a lovely Saturday morning in my Jamaica dental office. My 8:30 a.m. patient lived in the apartment house where my office was located.

In the midst of treatment a husky man in his late 30s walked calmly into the dental operatory. "Can I speak to my woman?" he blurted out. From his tone, I thought it wiser to say "Yes" and I retired to the waiting room.

My next patient Mr. Smitherman had arrived and was reading a magazine. We began to chat. Mr. Smitherman let me add, is about 6 feet 6 inches with the build of a defensive lineman in the NFL.

We talked easily and I looked at my watch to see that 15 minutes had passed since I had left my patient. I re-entered the operatory and asked politely "Are you through with your business yet?"

He looked at me coldly and sneered "I am talking to my woman!" I beat a hasty retreat back to the waiting room and continued my conversation with Mr. Smitherman. He was not harming my patient but the conversation was heated.

After another 20 minutes had passed I told the gentleman in my office "I really must insist that you finish your conversation as I have a busy morning schedule and you are making me late." His answer was curt but definite "It is my woman and I will tell you when I am finished."

I then asked my office manager to dial 911 and ask for police help. I shouted this loud enough so he could hear that we were calling for the police. Again, I sat with Mr. Smitherman and continued our conversation. It did not seem to faze the intruder at all.

Five minutes later he left the office and as he passed me and Mr. Smitherman he cursed at me. He lived in the same building and I had seen him many times previously. I dreaded meeting him again.

Two minutes after he left the NYPD burst into my waiting room. Two burly and lovely NY Cops entered but were told the situation was over and "thank you" for your response.

The story has an unusual ending. I don't remember how but eventually the intruder became my patient. I made him a full upper denture and a partial lower denture. We got along famously and discussed baseball, football, etc.

The one thing we never talked about was that Saturday morning at 8:30 a.m. when he took over my office.

Stanley Greenberg