Posterior Teeth?

The other day I had a patient with immaculate dental hygiene. However, she was missing all of her posterior teeth. During my nutritional counseling, I asked her what happened to all of her back teeth. The explanation she told me was heart breaking. She explained that when she was growing up she lived in North Carolina and during that time there was still a lot of prejudice towards African Americans. At any sign of tooth problems the dentist would pull the tooth. I asked if they at least numbed her and she could not recall anything other then it being traumatic. I told her how sorry I was to hear about what had happened to her. This patient made me realize that I am going to hear sad stories throughout my career as a dental hygienist. I am going to have to be able to sympathize for the patient but still get my job done.