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Don Swearingen, DDS Blog

Does A Toddler Need to See A Dentist for Teeth Grinding?

July 11, 2016

Filed under: Pediatric Dentist — Tags: , , , , , , — okcitydentist @ 8:16 pm

My three year old has started grinding his teeth. Do I need to take him to see a dentist?

Brooke L. – New Jersey

Brooke,

It is not uncommon for children your son’s age to grind their teeth, though we aren’t really sure of the reasons behind it yet. Most children outgrow it and it shouldn’t be a problem.  You should watch for signs that he’s having jawpain.  Children that age don’t always articulate they’re in pain, but you may see him rubbing his jaw.

Even if he wasn’t grinding his teeth, at three years old, it is time for him to visit with a dentist that treats children. He needs to have a check up.  It’s especially important that children see a dentist for the first time before there are any real dental issues.  You want their first experience to be a positive one.

Usually the first appointment is no big deal. They get a fun cleaning and the dentist ahs a look around to make sure everything is developing properly. Dentists who regularly work with kiddos make it lots of fun.

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

Lumineers or crowns?

June 22, 2016

Filed under: Lumineers — Tags: , , , , , — okcitydentist @ 1:38 pm

I have some front teeth that not only have a gap between them, but are also off to the right a little, which puts another gap to the left. My dentist wants to do crowns on them. I suggested Lumineers or another type of porcelain veneers. He said that veneers are problematic and he only does crowns. I keep hearing from other people that they’re a great option, but don’t want to push the issue if my dentist is right. Do you have a recommendation? Other than the gaps and positioning the teeth are healthy, so I didn’t want to grind them down if I didn’t need to.

Daisy F. – New Mexico

Daisy,

Porcelain veneers in themselves aren’t problematic, but they might be for your dentist. Based on what you said, he is strictly a general dentist and has no cosmetic skills.  You’re right that porcelain veneers would be less invasive than crowns. Most dentists would hate to take away healthy tooth structure.

In this case you have two choices.

  1. You can stick with your dentist and go with the crowns.  Make sure he can address the off-center issue. You don’t just want to fill in the gaps with the crowns and still have them off center. Dont’ push him into the veneers or it will end up a disaster. He’s just not qualified to do them.
  2. You can find and experienced cosmetic dentist and have them do either Lumineers or another brand of porcelain veneers. Let your cosmetic dentist decide which brand, because they all have different pros and cons and he or she will know which brand will work best for your smile.

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

Can a 17 Year Old Go to an Emergency Dentist Themselves?

June 8, 2016

Filed under: Dental Emergency — Tags: , , , , , — okcitydentist @ 9:59 pm

I’m 17 years old and have been doing parkour. My mom hates it when I do it, because “I’m a girl” and she doesn’t like me doing things she thinks is dangerous. Well, I fell and chipped a tooth. She’s out of town for a week.  I’d like to get this fixed without her knowing. She’s good friends with our family dentist so if I go to him she’s sure to find out. I know what needs to be done.  I just need some dental bonding to fix the chip. Can I go to an emergency dentist without a parent?

Aimee L. – Detroit

Aimee,

For most states, including Michigan, that is 18 when it comes to medical care. It’s great that you’re wanting to take responsibility for your actions. It’s also impressive you know what will treat the chipped tooth.

However, there are a couple of things you ought to be aware of. First, though most dentists are honest, a less than ethical dentist might be tempted to take advantage by overtreating (and overcharging) a teen trying to do something on the hush-hush. You’re not wanting to go to your family dentist, so you’d just have to take your chances with whatever emergency dentist you get.

Second, I’m guessing your mom has some kind of insurance for you. If you do it without her knowledge, you won’t be able to use that insurance, which means more money coming out of your pocket.

One other thing to consider. While it seems like the problem is cosmetic. The dentist will likely want to do x-rays to make sure there isn’t any underlying damage.

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

 

Will A Dentist Ask To See My Marijuana Prescription?

May 31, 2016

Filed under: Cater to Cowards — Tags: , , , , , , , — okcitydentist @ 6:41 pm

I have dental anxiety. I was thinking if I could just smoke a joint before my appointment, it would relax me enough to get through the appointment. I live in a state will legal medical marijuana. If I told him I had a prescription would he ask to see it and turn me in if I don’t actually have a prescription?

Name Withheld

Dear Anonymous,

You’re not the first patient to ask about the use of marijuana before a dental appointment. I’m going to suggest something completely different, especially since you don’t actually have a prescription. Why risk it?

There is something your dentist can do to relax you during your appointment without any risk of illegal behavior. Have you ever heard of nitrous oxide?

Nitrous oxide is sometimes called laughing gas. It will relax you all while allowing you to be alert during your appointment. It has the added benefit of helping any local anesthetic of being more effective.

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

Is it normal for a baby’s teeth to have white spots?

May 17, 2016

Filed under: Pediatric Dentist — Tags: , , , , , , , , — okcitydentist @ 9:26 am

I have a 12 month old. He has his bottom and top teeth. We do a little brushing and he’s just starting on some mild solid food. What worries me is he has white spots on his teeth. I thought that was a sign of decalcification. If we’re brushing, why would he have decalcification this soon?

Trish T. – Washington

Trish,

You’re right that the white spots are a sign of decalcification. It’s concerning on a child so young, especially when you say you’ve already started his oral hygiene. That’s a good thing that you have, because likely things would be worse if you hadn’t.

There may be an issue with the way your son’s teeth are developing. Don’t panic. It can usually be handled if dealt with sooner rather than later. It’s likely your pediatric dentist will recommend extra fluoride treatments as well as some sealings as your son’s molars develop.

Just be sure to be seen. It won’t be a full visit, such as an adult gets. It’s a quick young child’s appointment. There’s even a special billing code for it so you’re not charged too much.

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

How Do I Whiten My Lumineers?

April 29, 2016

Filed under: Lumineers — Tags: , , , , — okcitydentist @ 10:06 pm

I paid quite a large sum for Lumineers and they’re stained in just a few years. He never warned me that the composite bonding would stain so quickly. I can’t afford new ones. I thought he said they’d last for years. I know  that regular teeth whitening won’t work on veneers, but is their some special technique to whiten them?

Carly T. – Delaware

Carly,

Unfortunately nothing whitens cosmetic work, no matter what kind it is.  I’m a little concerned about what is going on in your particular case though.  You said you received Lumineers. Any type of porcelain veneer should last you for many years, some even your lifetime. They should not be picking up stains in just a few years.

I’m wondering if you didn’t get veneers, but maybe composite bonding as you mentioned that as well. Those will only last a few years and will need to be replaced.

Ask your dentist to be clear about which procedure you received. If it is Lumineers, something at your last check up damaged the glazing. Possibly they used something like a prophy jet on it, which would damage the Lumineers.

You may want to have another dentist look at them and give you a second opinion as to which procedure you actually received. If there was some incompetence or deception, the other dentist can help you in trying to get a refund.

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

Woke up Missing a Tooth

April 13, 2016

Filed under: Dental Emergency — Tags: , , , , , , — okcitydentist @ 8:52 pm

I went to an awesome party last night, but I woke up without a tooth. Do I see an emergency dentist?

Ben A. – San Jose, CA

Ben,

It sounds like quite the party. I’m not sure an emergency dentist will do you much good at this point. It will depend on two things:

  1. Do you have the tooth?
  2. How long has it been since the tooth was knocked out.

Generally, you need to get to the dentist within 30 minutes to have a decent chance of saving it. After that, the chances drop considerably.

What you’ll likely be looking at is tooth replacement. The ideal replacement is a dental implant, but they can be expensive. There are also things like dental bridges that are less money.

Speak to your dentist. He or she will give you all your options.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Swearingen.

Marijuana for Dental Anxiety

March 30, 2016

Filed under: Cater to Cowards — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , — okcitydentist @ 1:51 pm

Is it OK to go to the dentist after smoking marijuana or will it mess things up? Dentists make me nervous. I think it’s not big deal, but my wife wants me to check.

Lewis – Oregon

Lewis,

You should thank your wife. There can be serious health risks if certain medications are used together. One of those is marijuana and epinephrine, which is a common ingredient in some local anesthetics. If your dentist doesn’t know that you’ve ingested marijuana, then you could end up with heart problems. If he knows, it’s possible to give you and anesthetic that doesn’t contain epinephrine. There are also pain meds that won’t interact well with marijuana usage.

The key is communication. Make certain your dentist knows EVERYTHING you’re taking, including over-the-counter medications, because you never know how it will effect your dental care.

There is another option if you’re uncomfortable with dental work…or dentists. Have you considered sedation dentistry? This can give you pain free appointments, without the complications of trying to self medicate. Talk to your dentist about it ahead of time. He or she will likely work with you. If not, you can always find a different dentist who is willing to.

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

Why does my child have extra teeth?

March 15, 2016

Filed under: Pediatric Dentist — Tags: , , , , , — okcitydentist @ 7:48 pm

I noticed today that my son has two extra teeth coming in behind his baby teeth. Do you know why? Is this normal? We haven’t found a pediatric dentist yet, because he hasn’t had any problems until now.

Janie S. – Colorado

Janie,

You didn’t mention how old your son was, but I suspect his adult teeth are erupting and not waiting on his baby teeth to evacuate the premises. If his baby teeth are loose, then I wouldn’t worry too much.

If the teeth aren’t loose you’ll want to take steps. My suggestion would be to have the teeth extracted. You don’t want them in the wrong position any longer than necessary. That will just cost you more money later with their orthodontic work.

I know you don’t say you have a pediatric dentist yet, but I’d suggest you see one now, just to have a peek. If you have trouble getting in, you can also see a general dentist who enjoys treating children. They’re qualified.

One thing I’d like to address is a common error that parents make, and that is waiting until there is an issue to take a child to the dentist. First, you don’t want their first experience to be a painful one. That will forever negatively impact the way they view the dentist. Secondly, getting them in before there’s an issue can prevent problems before they start.

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

Would Lumineers be a good temporary makeover?

February 27, 2016

Filed under: Lumineers — Tags: , , , , , , , — okcitydentist @ 5:13 pm

I have a class reunion coming up and am not thrilled with my teeth. I don’t have a ton of money and was thinking of getting snap on smile. It seems pretty reasonably priced. My dentist suggested lumineers because they’re better. I wanted to get a second opinion before deciding. Is it really better?

Teriney T. – Georgia

Teriney,

While your dentist is right that Lumineers are better than snap-on smile, they are not temporary. Plus, the cost significantly more than snap-on smile.

Lumineers are a brand of porcelain veneers. In other words, they’re tiny wafers of porcelain that get permanently bonded onto your teeth after your dentist has them made to his specifications.

If you just want something for that one night and don’t want to spend any significant amount of money, then I’d stick with your plan of snap-on smile.  If you want to invest in a permanent, gorgeous smile, then Lumineers (or any other brand of porcelain veneers) would be the better option.

This blog is brought to you by Oklahoma City Dentist Dr. Don Swearingen.

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