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Don Swearingen, DDS Blog

Can I Sue For Custody If My Son Needed a Pulpotomy?

May 13, 2017

Filed under: Pediatric Dentist — Tags: , , , , , — okcitydentist @ 8:40 pm

I just found out my son needed a pulpotomy. I’m seriously mad. This sounds serious. I’m sure it means my ex-wife’s been neglecting him and I wasn’t even notified he needed surgery. Is there a way I can sue for custody because of this? What do I need to tell the attorney?

Mark L. – Chicago

Mark,

It sounds like you’re worried about your son. It’s easy to take our fear out on other people. I know it would be easy to believe this is your ex-wife’s fault, but it’s very possible it’s not. There are people who don’t take care of their teeth and hardly need any work and there are people who take impeccable care of their teeth and have all sorts of problems. Dental hygiene is only part of the equation. Genetics has a lot to do with it too.

You should be aware that a pulpotomy isn’t a serious procedure. It’s a kid version of a root canal treatment. It’s very safe and was likely not at all scary for your son. With a good pediatric dentist, your son likely didn’t look at it as any different than any other fun visit to the dentist.

Before you complicate yours and your son’s life (as well as your ex’s) make sure you have all the facts. Talk to your son’s pediatric dentist. Or maybe even talk to your ex-wife. You have a child together so communication is going to be important throughout his lifetime.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Don Swearingen.

Why Can’t I Talk Correctly Since Getting Lumineers?

April 26, 2017

Filed under: Lumineers — Tags: , , , — okcitydentist @ 11:27 am

I don’t know what to do. I got Lumineers because I’m going on a book tour and wanted to look my best. I’m supposed to read an excerpt and then do a signing line. I think they look okay, though they seem bulky. My biggest problem is I’m speaking funny and my tongue keeps catching on them. My dentist says I’ll get used to it, but I haven’t and my first tour date is coming up. What’s going on?

Eliza M. – Dayton, Ohio

Eliza,

You’re in a pickle. The problem is a combination of the dentist and the brand. Lumineers are advertised to inexperienced dentists as being easy to place, no-prep veneers. That tends to give a lot of inexperienced cosmetic dentists the confidence to move forward. That might work on cases that are textbook, but very few cases are textbook. Most, need at least minor shaving to make the case look right.

You could go back and have your dentist try to adjust the Lumineers, but depending on his skill it might not do much good. With your speaking dates coming up quickly, you might do better to go to an expert cosmetic and have the changes made. If you’re thrilled with how they look you can just have them adjusted. But, if there’s the slightest bit of disappointment in how they turned out, I recommend you get a refund and then have the case re-done by someone with more expertise.

Don’t be surprised if they recommend a different brand of porcelain veneers. Many highly skilled cosmetic dentists aren’t thrilled with the Lumineers brand. Much of it has to do with their lab, which they require dentists to use. It doesn’t give the most artistic results.

In the meantime, I’d recommend practicing your passages as much as possible. That’s just as a precautionary measure. You may find you do adjust enough to get through the book tour and then can deal with everything properly when you’re not feeling quite so pressured.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Don Swearingen.

The Emergency Dentist Gave Me an Ugly Crown

April 14, 2017

Filed under: Dental Emergency — Tags: , , , , , , , — okcitydentist @ 2:47 pm

I’m not sure what to do. I had a dental problem while my dentist was out of town. I went to an emergency dentist. The dentist and office were extremely kind, they worked me in without issue and were gentle the whole time. The only problem I have is the dental crown they gave me is horribly ugly. It doesn’t come near to matching my other teeth. It wouldn’t be a huge deal except it shows when I smile. Is there anything to be done?

Miranda M. – Georgia

Miranda,

It sounds like the emergency dentist is a decent family dentist, but not necessarily very good at the cosmetic side of things. It’s obvious he cares about patients, based on the way you described your office visit. Plus, he obviously makes time for non-established patients which also shows he cares.

Unfortunately, there is no way to change a crown once it has been bonded in. That doesn’t mean you’re stuck with mismatched teeth. It can be replaced. The first thing I’d do is return to the dentist who initially did the work. Explain your concern. They’ll want you to be satisfied and may agree to replace it free of charge.

If they’re not interested in replacing it, then unless there is a functional problem with the crown, you may be out of luck in getting it changed for free.

Another option is to have your regular dentist look at the work. He may put pressure on the emergency dentist to make it right. Dentists do care about what their peers think. However, even if you don’t get any assistance from your dentist, you could go to another dentist and have the crown re-done.

Make sure whomever you go to the second time around has a good track record with cosmetics. You can look at the smile galleries they have on their website to get an idea of how beautiful (or ugly) their results are. Some dentists even have a beautiful smile guarantee.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Don Swearingen.

Wine for White Fillings?

March 31, 2017

Filed under: Cater to Cowards — Tags: , , , , , , , , , — okcitydentist @ 1:09 pm

I suffered from a bit of dental anxiety. And by a bit I mean a lot. I need a filling. I’m hoping to get a white filling, but I’m having trouble scheduling an appointment.  Would it be okay for me to drink some wine before I go to the dentist? It should relax me.

Breeanne P. – San Diego

Breeanne,

I’m glad you’re taking steps to go forward with a needed treatment, even though you’re fearful. Wine is one way of dealing with anxiety. However, it may keep the dentist from any necessary work. Don’t let that discourage you, though. There is a great solution.

There are dentists who specialize in helping patients with dental anxiety. You can usually find them with a simple internet search. Look for a “sedation dentist” or a “cater to cowards” dentist.  They can give you something which will relax you much better than wine.

Just be sure you keep moving forward. Your cavity will likely be a simple fix, but if you let it go too long, it could blow up into something more extensive, like needing a root canal treatment and dental crown.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Don Swearingen.

Sealant Rip-off From Dentist

March 13, 2017

Filed under: Pediatric Dentist — Tags: , , , , , — okcitydentist @ 5:41 pm

I’m a little frustrated with our pediatric dentist. First, they insisted we get my son sealants. I actually didn’t mind that too much because I see the benefit of sealants. However, they refused to place them unless I also pay for nitrous oxide. I felt that wasn’t necessary, but sucked it up and paid the added expense.  We go back six months later for his next check-up and one of the sealants is missing. It fell off. Now they’re insisting I have it re-done at MY expense, with nitrous oxide again. Should I? I feel I’m being gouged.

Tara B. – Michigan

Tara,

The dentist-patient relationship is an important one that requires trust, especially when you’re dealing with a pediatric dentist.  Our children are so important. We have enough to worry about with their safety, we should be able to put our guard down when interacting with their healthcare providers. It sounds to me like you feel you can’t trust your pediatric dentist. That may be a sign to get another one.

There isn’t a medical reason to use nitrous oxide when placing dental sealants. It’s a simple, painless procedure which shouldn’t require any type of sedation or numbing.  If your son is anxious at the dentist and has trouble calming down because of fear, that would be a reason for the nitrous. I don’t know your son, but you do.  I’ll let you decide if the nitrous was necessary in that case.

As to the sealant falling off, this bothers me also. Sealants should last for around ten years.  If they fall off that quickly it either means it wasn’t placed properly or your son eats a lot of hard or chewy/sticky food.  Obviously, that type of diet can destroy his teeth, so if that’s the case you’ll  want to re-evaluate. If you can’t see a reason his diet could have damaged the sealant, I’d ask them to replace the sealant at their expense.

If you’re uncomfortable with this pediatric clinic you can try another one or see if your dentist enjoys treating children. It’s not a necessity that children see a pediatric specialist unless a complicated issue comes up.  For basic services, a family dentist who loves children is just as adequate.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Don Swearingen.

Lumineers with Groupon

February 23, 2017

Filed under: Lumineers — Tags: , , , — okcitydentist @ 6:03 pm

My wife has always wanted to get a smile makeover, but we’ve never been able to afford it. I noticed there’s a Groupon for Lumineers. It’s still expensive but just in my ability to cover. She’s spent her entire life putting her desires on hold for everyone else. I thought this might be a way to thank her and let her know we recognize her sacrifices.  Is it safe for me to get her a Groupon makeover?

Alex M. – Tennessee

Alex,

It’s lovely that you’re wanting to acknowledge her years of loving service. We often overlook the sacrifices our family makes because we’re with them all the time. I’d take some precautions before investing.

First, before someone gets a smile makeover they generally have to be examined to ensure they’re a good candidate for Lumineers (or any other brand as well). If you purchase the Groupon and it turns out she’s not a good candidate, then there’s no way to get a refund.

Next, I’d like you to know a little more about the dentist who’s doing the procedure. Not all cosmetic dentists are alike. Two dentists can do the exact same type of smile makeover with the same materials and the cases will look totally different.

There are lots of cosmetic dentistry horror stories. I’d hate for your wife to be one of them, especially with this being a dream of hers for so long. It might be safer for you two to work together on this. She’d appreciate the recognition and getting to team up.

Call the office that’s giving out the Groupon. See if they do complimentary consultations to see if she’s a good candidate. Then, do some research on their cosmetic skill.  Look at their smile gallery to see what before and after pictures look like of actual cases he’s done. Don’t let them show you stock photos.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Don Swearingen.

Help! My Emergency Dentist Thinks I am Crazy

February 13, 2017

Filed under: Dental Emergency — Tags: , , , , , , — okcitydentist @ 8:13 pm

I don’t know what to do. I went to an emergency dentist because of tooth pain. He decided I needed a root canal, which I agreed to. However, it’s a month later and it still hurts. I went back to see him. He did an x-ray and said nothing is wrong. I insisted I was in pain and he suggested I see a neurologist. Can you believe that?

Abbey – Baltimore

Abbey,

It might not be that the emergency dentist thinks you’re crazy, though certainly his chairside manner needs some work.

It might be that he thinks you have some nerve damage. A neurologist could help determine that. However, before you do that I’d take two other steps.

First, get a second opinion. It may be that this dentist missed something. It’s common for a root canal treatment to need more than one go. Have your regular dentist take a look to make sure the emergency dentist didn’t miss anything.

The next thing I would do before seeing a neurologist is to see your primary care physician. Your sinuses are very close to the roots of your teeth. It’s possible you have sinusitis and the pain is referring to your teeth.

If neither of those reveal anything then a neurologist might be your next visit.

Hope this puts your mind at ease.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Don Swearingen.

Tell Me Your Needles Secret…Please?

January 25, 2017

Filed under: Cater to Cowards — Tags: , , , , , , , — okcitydentist @ 7:07 pm

I am deathly afraid of needles. Like Sleeping Beauty’s parents afraid. I have to get a crown. I’m scared. I was talking to my sister-in-law. She said she used to be afraid until she went to your clinic. She mentioned you have some kind of secret way of giving shots that makes it painless. Will you please share your secret so I can tell my dentist?

Oriana L. – Nebraska

Oriana,

I’m glad your sister-in-law had such a great experience. It’s important to us that we do the best for our patients. The secret is simple, but not easy. Find a dentist who cares about patients with dental anxiety.

They all have different methods for helping fearful patients, but beyond the methodology is the heart. The dentist understands your fear and cares. They’ll work with you. Some use nitrous and “the wand”, like Dr. Swearingen. Others use oral conscious sedation. However, the key component is a caring dentist.

Here’s how I’d recommend you find that dentist. First, do an internet search for a “sedation dentist” or a “cater to cowards dentist“. But, that’s not enough. The next thing I’d do is look up their reviews. See what people who’ve been in his or her chair have to say about their experience.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Don Swearingen.

My Toddler is Grinding Her Teeth

January 11, 2017

Filed under: Pediatric Dentist — Tags: , , , — okcitydentist @ 4:55 pm

My three-year-old daughter fell asleep in my lap. I heard this horrible noise and looked down. She was grinding her teeth. What do I do? She doesn’t have a dentist yet, because she’s only three.

Franny L. – Ohio

Franny,

It is normal for toddlers to go through this. It most often occurs between sleep cycles, which is why you likely didn’t notice it until now. We don’t really know the cause, though there are countless theories. Some of those theories include stress, sleep apnea, allergies, medications, and teething. We don’t know that any of these are the cause, so don’t put any stress on yourself trying to figure it out.

Most children grow out of it and no further action needs to be taken. Keep an eye out for it causing her any pain.  If she grabs or complains about her jaw you might have her pediatric dentist look at her.

I realize you said she doesn’t have a dentist yet, but it is time. Not because of the grinding. She needs to have a check-up. It’s extremely important that she have positive experiences with the dentist at a young age. If you wait much longer, she more likely to develop a cavity. We don’t want that to be the first real experience she has.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Don Swearingen.

Why Are My Son’s Fillings Falling Out?

December 21, 2016

Filed under: Pediatric Dentist — Tags: , , , , , — okcitydentist @ 1:15 pm

At my son’s last check-up we were told he had two cavities. We went ahead and got them filled. Both of them have since fallen out. Is this normal? We’re going back to have them replaced, but I’m wondering if I should look for a different pediatric dentist. There aren’t too many of them who do white fillings and that is important to me.

Danielle C. – Idaho

Danielle,

White fillings are a completely different than amalgam (silver) fillings in how they are placed. While I understand why you want only white fillings and I would probably push for the same with my children, you’ll need to understand that they are much harder to place on children.

If any moisture gets under the filling during placement, it breaks the seal. Dentists usually use isolation dams and rolls of gauze to help keep the area dry. You can imagine that is not a favorite of wiggly children.

Pediatric dentists usually have two options in those cases. They either have to find a way to distract the children during the procedure, something most pediatric dentists are quite adept at. Or, they can use sedation dentistry. Either is acceptable and perfectly safe.

Talk to your dentist and ask why he thinks the fillings have failed and how he wants to prevent it from happening again. If you’re satisfied with his answer and are willing to try again, great. If not, you’re within your rights to ask for a refund and find another dentist.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Don Swearingen.

 

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