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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.

My Husbands Embarrassed to Admit Anxiety

November 1, 2016

Filed under: Cater to Cowards — Tags: , , , , , , — okcitydentist @ 3:22 pm

My husband has been avoiding the dentist for the last three years. The last time he went in was quite the negative experience for him. Now he’s stopped going. He tries to blame it on finances, but I know it’s really because he’s too afraid to go back. Is there a way I can help get him back to the dentist?

Julie B. – Carson City

Julie,

Negative experiences at the dentist leave a lasting impact.  It’s sweet that he wants to appear brave and self-sacrificing to you. I bet there’s a way you could help him keep his pride while getting him back in the dental chair.

My recommendation would be to get information on sedation dentistry into his hand. A simple internet search will help you locate dentists who offer that in your area. You’ll likely even find your current dentist offers sedation. They sometimes advertise as sedation dentists or cater to cowards dentists.

If you’re worried about embarrassing him, you could print out some information and leave it around for him to find. Or, you could tell him you heard about how you could have completely pain free dentistry with sedation and were thinking about checking it out.

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

Can I wait to see my old gentle dentist?

July 25, 2016

Filed under: Cater to Cowards — Tags: , , , , , — okcitydentist @ 7:48 pm

I had a great dentist. He was so kind and gentle and used to brag that he “caters to cowards”, of which I was the biggest. I had to move a few hours away. I have visited a dentist in my new area, but she was rough and impatient. I had quite a bad experience. Now I’ve had a filling come out. I’ll be going home over Thanksgiving. Can I wait to see my old dentist or do I have to get it taken care of right away?

Olivia J. – Branson, MO

Olivia,

There are few things worse than having to leave a loved and trusted care giver. Unfortunately, it is too distant a time to wait until Thanksgiving holiday for you to get this looked at. There is a reason the filling fell out. It could even mean that there is a new infection.  However, even if it was just a fluke that it fell out, leaving your tooth exposed that long could be quite dangerous.

That doesn’t mean that you have to go to the insensitive dentist. You can mark her off your list. There are too many kind, gentle dentists for you to have to waste your time and money on one that isn’t.

If you’ll do an internet search for a “cater to cowards” dentist or a “sedation dentist”, you’re more likely to have a good experience.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Don Swearingen

Haven’t been to the dentist in ten years

July 27, 2015

Filed under: Cater to Cowards — Tags: , , , — okcitydentist @ 8:23 pm

I haven’t been to the dentist in over ten years. I’m terrified of the dentist. I’ve had very bad experiences with them. I wonder if there are dentists who are used to dealing with terrified patients? I’ve been having a tooth bother me.

Emily S. – Utah

Emily,

You are not alone in your fear of the dentist. Fortunately, you are right. There are dentists who specialize in treating fearful patients.  Some of them advertise as sedation dentists. Others say they cater to cowards.

I wouldn’t put this off. I know you’re frightened, but if don’t get your tooth looked at and it is an infection, you could end up in serious trouble.  The sooner you get seen, the easier your treatment is likely to be.

You’d rather have to deal with a cavity than have to have your tooth extracted and replaced.

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