Dentists

I am writing in response to Calvin Trillin’s column “A Costly Hour With Sweeney Todd, DDS,” (Op-Ed Page, Nov. 14).

I happen to be a retired dentist who was in active practice for many years. I resent the implication that all dentists are interested only in gouging their patients and determining the treatment on the money involved. If this article was written to be a comic piece, it is a failure and ends up being a vindictive diatribe against a dedicated group of honest and sincere professionals.

By the way, Mr. Trillin, how much did you receive as payment for this silly piece? Whatever it was it was a lot more than the hourly fee of your dentist, I am sure, and much more than you deserve.

SAMUEL LAVINE, D.D.S., Laguna Hills