I haven’t been a fan of the dentist for most of my life. But, I recently decided I needed to go regardless of how I feel about it. I went to see a dentist who was very nice and said she did see some gum disease. We’d been working on that with some improvement but with some extra care we can get my oral health back in order. She suggested I also see a periodontist, who can help me with my gums faster. That, however, was a completely different experience. This dentist essentially berated me for being negligent and said that there was no point in trying to save these teeth. Instead, I should extract them all and get dentures. I’m 34. I don’t want to look like a grandmother while my children are still in elementary school. Do I have any options?
Ally
Dear Ally,
I am very glad you wrote. These are two very different diagnoses of your condition. I find it hard to believe that none of your teeth are saveable given what the first dentist said. I also don’t like the way you were treated. Even if the state of your teeth was your fault (and I’m not saying that it is), I’ve found the worst thing you can do to a patient who suffers from dental anxiety is to make them feel guilty. What they need is compassion and a solution that allows them to get the dental care they so desperately need.
Additionally, if your gum disease were so advanced that your teeth couldn’t be saved, then you’d be losing them already. In fact, they might even just start falling out of your jaw. Your original dentist would have warned you about that.
First, let’s talk about a solution for the dental anxiety that you have been suffering from for most of your life. I recommend that you see a sedation dentist. They can give you a medication that will allow you to have all your dental work done in an anxiety free as well as pain free way.
Given that you need a lot of work and that you’ve had so many bad experiences, I’m going to recommend that you have oral conscious sedation. This is administered by a pill, but it is quite strong. So strong that you will need to have someone drive you to and from your appointment as well as stay with you for a bit after your appointment until you are lucid and steady on your feet.
If your dentist who was so kind to you is a sedation dentist, I would go back to her. Explain your experience and ask for them to do all your oral health care, including the gum disease. Using dental sedation will allow you to get more work done at each appointment was well, which will catch you up sooner.
If that dentist does not offer oral conscious sedation, ask for a recommendation of a periodontist who does AND who is compassionate. It will not hurt for you to check out their reviews as well, in order to make sure patients have the same opinion your dentist does. Save as many teeth as possible. If any of your teeth need to be extracted, you’ll want to replace them. My recommendation would be a dental implant once your gum disease is under control.
This blog is brought to you by Portage, MI Dentist Dr. Susan Dennis.