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Don Swearingen, DDS Blog

New to the state and massive toothache

February 12, 2016

Filed under: Dental Emergency — Tags: , , , , , , — okcitydentist @ 8:36 pm

I just moved to the state. I got a maassive toothache, almost suddenly. That’s never happened to me before. I don’t have a dentist yet. I did try calling a couple of dentists in my area, but they all can’t see me for a couple of weeks.  I don’t think I can make it.  Any suggestions?

Myka L. – Boston

Myka,

Boston is a big area. So, I am positive there are dentists there who will see non-established patients. What I would do is an internet search for an emergency dentist. They will see you.

They might not completely fix the problem, but they will get you out of pain, determine the problem and schedule an appointment for a follow up treatment.

If you like them, you may have just found your new dentist. If you didn’t like them, you could schedule with a different dentist.

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

Why doesn’t my anesthetic work?

January 23, 2016

Filed under: Cater to Cowards — Tags: , , , , , , , , — okcitydentist @ 12:00 pm

I can’t figure out why my local anesthetic doesn’t work. Whenever my dentist tries to numb me, it just doesn’t work. Is there something wrong with me?

Jodi A. – Atlanta

Jodi,

It’s not that there is anything wrong with you per se, it is more likely that you have dental fear. As a result of fear, your metabolism kicks into high gear and eats up the anesthetic.

What you’ll have to do is deal with the fear in order to give the anesthetic the chance to work. I’m not saying see a therapist. There are things your dentist can do to help you. I would look for a dentist who caters to patients with dental fear.

He or she can give you nitrous oxide. It takes the edge off of the procedure for you, which helps relax you. When you’re relaxed, you local will work more efficiently.

You may also want to look for a dentist who uses “the wand”. It gives pain free shots, especially if your fear kicks into high because of the needle.

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

Does a child’s cavity really need to be treated?

January 14, 2016

Filed under: Pediatric Dentist — Tags: , , , , , , , — okcitydentist @ 4:28 pm

My daughter has a cavity on her molar. My dentist wants to do a filling. I feel like that isn’t necessary for a child’s tooth, which will fall out anyway, but wanted to get a second opinion.

Maria B. – Brooklyn

Maria,

I’m afraid in this case your pediatric dentist is right.  Molars are different than front teeth. While front teeth often fall out in their younger years, molars need to stay put until your daughter is around twelve years old.

If you don’t treat her cavity, it will spread. This is an infection. Left unchecked, it will not only cause her to lose her tooth, but will spread throughout her body.

If she looses her tooth, you’ll need a space maintainer to hold that spot open, otherwise her other teeth with crowd in, causing her to need braces.

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

Are there thin veneers besides Lumineers?

December 31, 2015

Filed under: Lumineers — Tags: , , , , , — okcitydentist @ 5:10 pm

I want to get porcelain veneers. I don’t want Lumineers because I’ve heard so many bad things about them.  My dentist said if I don’t get them, my teeth will have to be ground down. I don’t want that either. Are there other thin veneers?

Miranda R. – Benton, AR

Miranda,

Your dentist is misleading you.  Your teeth don’t have to be “ground down” for porcelain veneers. That is what needs to happen for dental crowns. With porcelain veneers, there is only mild shaving; about the thickness of a fingernail. In fact, there is no real visible difference between the shaved on unshaved teeth.

I suspect your dentist is saying that because he doesn’t have the skill to do other brands. Lumineers are marketed to dentists as being super easier to place because they “require” no shaving. Unfortunately, that’s just not true in every case. Often they end up looking bulky.

There are other brands of ultra-thin veneers, but your best bet is to find a great cosmetic dentist. He’ll be able to give you the most suitable porcelain veneers to give you a gorgeous smile.

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

Where do I go if my dentist and I had “words”?

December 15, 2015

Filed under: Dental Emergency — Tags: , , , — okcitydentist @ 11:07 am

At my last appointment, my dentist and I had an argument. It got pretty heated and both of us were rude. But I feel like, as his customer, he should have been more professional and not gotten rude back. But, now I’m in a bind. I’ve got a massive toothache, but there is no way I am going crawling back to my dentist. Is there such a thing as an emergency dental clinic?

Mandy L. – Queens, NY

Mandy,

There aren’t emergency dental clinics per se, but there are many dentist who will see non-established patients in an emergency situation. Many will see you the same day.  You’ll just have to call around and see who’ll work with you.

While I agree that dentists need to be professional, they are human and get just as frustrated when people are rude to them as you do when people are rude to you.  If you’ve had a good relationship with him in the past, it might be worth it to make ammends.

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

We can be done for a complete dental coward

November 28, 2015

Filed under: Cater to Cowards — Tags: , , , , , — okcitydentist @ 5:37 pm

I hate dentists. No offense, but you guys seem to get into dentistry because it was between that and torturing puppies for a living. This option was legal.  So….you’ve got that going for you. Unfortunately, I think I need to go to one. My gums are sore. So…what can someone who is terrified of sadists do to make the appointment easier?

Brooke S. – Brooklyn

Brooke,

I don’t even want to know what your childhood dentist was like.  It’s sounds like you’ve had nothing but bad experiences.  Let me assure you, not all dentists contemplated killing puppies for a living. I promise.  Most actually got into the field because they like helping people.

My saying that will not take away your dental anxiety though.  My suggestion would be to see a dentist who caters to fearful patients. They are aware that some of those patients have been through a traumatic experience and have ways to make your appointment completely pain free.

Please don’t put this off. It’s possible you have gum disease. If left untreated, you can lose your teeth.

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

Should I have a loose tooth pulled?

November 14, 2015

Filed under: Pediatric Dentist — Tags: , , , , — okcitydentist @ 11:03 am

My daughter has had a loose molar for a month. It’s still not coming out and all she does is complain about it. Should I have it pulled?

Meagan K. – Yonkers, NY

Meagan,

It can take teeth quite a long time to fully come out.  Those ligaments which hold them in place stretch and snap back so much you can despair that the tooth will ever come out.  I wouldn’t jump to pulling it yet.  You don’t want to pull it out before the adult tooth is ready.  The baby tooth is holding that space open. If you pull it prematurely, her teeth could shift, not leaving room for an adult tooth.

This is especially true of molars which need to say in much longer than other teeth. If you’re daughter isn’t around eleven years old, that molar needs to stay put, barring there being an infection.

If you’re concerned, I would take her in to her pediatric dentist and let him or her have a look. They can make sure the adult tooth is fine and there is no underlying problem with her molar. If there is a problem and the molar needs to come out early, the pediatric dentist can place a space maintainer to keep her teeth from shifting.

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

Teeth don’t match

October 23, 2015

Filed under: Lumineers — Tags: , , , — okcitydentist @ 6:56 pm

I had a lumineer put on a front tooth.  It is the same color as the other tooth, but it looks bulkier.  To me it looks weird, but my dentist says he can’t see a difference. Is that all in my head?

Nancy G. – Logan, UT.

Nancy,

It’s likely that it is bulkier, especially if your dentist didn’t do any tooth preparation. Lumineers are marketed as being prep-free. However, most experienced cosmetic dentists know that it really depends on the particular patients smile more than anything else.  If your dentist didn’t do any prep than, yes, your tooth is likely bulkier than the other one.

A good cosmetic dentist will never try to force their patient to like their veneers.  First, it should be put on with a temporary paste so the  patient has an opportunity to look at it and decide if they like it. If they’re not thrilled, it should be back to the drawing board.

Unfortunately, if your dentist has already permanently bonded on, then there is nothing that can be done except to have the lumineer completely re-done.

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

Does a lightsaber wound require an emergency dentist?

October 14, 2015

Filed under: Dental Emergency — Tags: , , , , — okcitydentist @ 5:44 pm

I was having a lightsaber battle with my son. Things got a little out of hand and I ended up with a bashed mouth.  It seemed to heal OK. I was sore and left my mouth alone that night. The next morning my tooth felt funny when I brushed it.  I touched it and it seems to move. Could I need an emergency dentist?

Gina C. – Scottsdale, AZ

Gina,

The first thing you need to do is stop jiggling it.  If your son stretched the ligaments, then it would be loose.  I would go see a dentist as soon as possible.  He can stabilize the tooth while the ligaments heal. If there is more damage, the sooner you have it looked at the better.

We all knew it was a tough job being a mother, but sometimes you even risk bodily injury.  If you have a dentist already, call him or her. They should get you in right away. If they don’t, then you could call an emergency dentist. They will be willing to get you in quickly. Most even the same day.

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

 

Are there alternatives to needles?

September 29, 2015

Filed under: Cater to Cowards — Tags: , , , , — okcitydentist @ 6:56 pm

I’m a complete coward when it comes to needles. Are there alternatives?

Samantha B. – Wisconsin

Samantha,

There are a couple of options. You should also know that you’re not the only one who is a coward when it comes to needles. Some dentists, especially those who cater to cowards, will have a tool called the wand. It gives completely painless shots. You can learn about it by clicking here to view Dr. Swearingen’s Cater to Cowards page.

If you’re still nervous about it, you could have some form of sedation dentistry. Many patients with mild anxiety found just getting some nitrous oxide relaxes them enough allow the local to work much better.

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

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