Why is everyone acting like this is the most normal thing to do?? Do you guys also give presents to your bus drivers and cashiers?
this post was submitted on 31 Jan 2026
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With as much as they fucking charge? They can be happy with the fact that I paid my bill.
Pay your bill on time. If you're in the US, you've paid them for an hour's worth of work what you might make in a day or a week or a month. (Or they were paid that between you and your insurance.) They're good.
If you're not in the US... same as anyone, I suppose. Start with a well-written note (like in a card). Unless you're in a third-world country, I still think dentists and their assistants are paid well. So a gift card might not be so well received. Flowers are often linked to romance, and chocolates are the same and kind of go against the spirit of clean teeth. One of the best gifts is something more personal that they're not likely to think of. That's harder. Something from your life, your interests, that will remind them of you. Think of it like a video game and a quest reward. It's fine to get a sack of gold coins, but it's cool when it's something you can decorate your home or office with that reminds you of the quest. Well, I'm a gamer so I think like that. I'm coming up short on examples, though. The best personal gifts require a lot of thought, but, I think once you come up with something, it'll click and you'll know it's right.
Send them a nice card with a personal note of thanks
Teeth
TEETH! TEETH! TEETH!
Agreed. Nothing makes them happier than clean, well maintained teeth and gums.
I think me means someone else's teeth, to add to their collection.
Floss next time
Whoa whoa, let's not go overboard here...
A watch stuck at 2:30.
Hi Doctor, I'm Dad
A big box fancy candy.
I thought about that but figured it would be too on the nose.
A big fancy candy box filled with empty wrappers.
With a card that says "See you next time!"
Lawful Evil answer...
Scented candles? Relatively affordable, easy to re gift if they don't like it
This is what I came you say.
Scented candles and nice soaps are the gifts that you can pretty much give anyone to communicate "thank you" without having to give the gift any thought.
My wife is a dentist and this would totally be her response.
Not eating oreos on the way to the appointment.
For 2 individuals, 2 units of something. If they might feel obliged to share with the office, then something divisible and all non-perishible.
So 2 bottles of wine vs. a gift basket.
For individuals: wine, gift cards, baked goods or something else that's an artisinal good made by a professional and sealed. Maybe flowers if you think they might be into that.
For anything likely to be shared with an office: candy or chocolate, fruit or gift basket, assorted baked goods (maybe arranged with a receptionist for their peace of mind).
Would it not be better to ask them directly?
They know their own preferences, and could mention if they have policies in the clinic that prevent them from accepting gifts from patients and the like.
as someone who's got a close relative who happens to be a dentist, here are my recommendations based on gifts that people have actually given her.
- chocolate bar, box of chocolates - might seem a bit counter intuitive, but it's actually the most common gift given by far. can be a hit or miss, especially if you don't know the persons preferences / alergies / diet.
- tea or coffee - honestly a really underated gift, surprised it's not mentioned more offten, also most doctors drink coffee so if you're unsure about whether you should get tea / coffee, the latter is the safer choice
- small household items like coasters, hand towels, potted plants - not as commonly given but a lot more memorable, pretty much always usefull in some way, (she uses the decorative turkish towels one patient got her 6 years ago to this very day)
- something handmade - listed last because it's by far the hardest to do, since your options are pretty limited unless you're skilled in some sort of handiwork, the easiest to do i imagine would be some sort of caligraphy / word art or (even a relatively simple) origami project.
but of course something like a thank you note will do just fine, a little kindness and appreciation can go a long way :)