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Dreading My Dentist

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I had a swelling on my gums. I was really hoping that it was a cyst instead of an infection so that my doctor could handle it, but it turns out that my doctor said I would have to see a dentist even if was a cyst. My dentist always lectures me when I go. That’s partly my fault. I only go when there is a problem. But, it doesn’t help to be lectured every time anyway. It certainly doesn’t help the anxiety that keeps me away to begin with. I’m gong to have to go in and am hoping there was a way to do so without it being a painful experience.

Celia

Dear Celia,

Woman covering her mouth

I am going to start by saying that you aren’t with the best dentist for someone in your situation. When you already have anxiety, the last thing which you need is a dentist berating you when you do your best to get the courage to go. There are dentists who will treat you without any lectures. In fact, you’ll find them very compassionate toward patients in your situation.

Even better, these are the same type of dentists who can give you an anxiety-free and pain-free dental appointment. Look for a dentist who offers dental sedation options. There are different strengths of sedation.

As to the swelling on your gums. Cysts are not very common. Many dentists go their entire career without seeing one. Abscesses, which can look like a swelling or pimple on your gums, are much more common. They are signs of a tooth infection and need to be treated.

There are two ways to treat an infected tooth. The first is with a root canal treatment. This is the preferred solution because it preserves the tooth. If that isn’t possible because the tooth is too far gone, then the second option is a tooth extraction.

If you end up extracting the tooth, then you will need to replace the tooth as well. If you don’t, the adjacent teeth can shift or tip into the empty space. This will throw off your bite and could lead to headaches or even TMJ disorder.

This blog is brought to you by Kalamazoo Dentist Dr. Susan Dennis.

Space Maintainers for Pediatric Teeth

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My six-year-old daughter has decayed back teeth that have led to one of the molars breaking and getting infected. Her dentist said that the tooth needs to be extracted. Is there no way to save her tooth? When I have a severely infected tooth, my dentist does a root canal treatment. Do we really have to extract the tooth?

Cam

Dear Cam,

A boy smiling and holding a toothbrush proudly.

While there is a child’s version of a root canal treatment, called a pulpotomy, in many cases it doesn’t work. Plus, it sounds like your daughter’s tooth is quite far gone. Those back teeth have lots of pits and grooves where bacteria can become trapped. It helps if your daughter gets those back teeth sealed, but that doesn’t eliminate the possibility of decay.

If the tooth is infected and is as far gone as it sounds, your daughter is much safer getting it extracted. If not, then the infection can spread. Not only can that affect her bone and the development of her permanent teeth, but it can even spread outside of her bone and become a life-threatening infection. I would consider your daughter’s situation a dental emergency and not delay treatment.

You did not mention anything about a space maintainer. I hope your pediatric dentist was planning on that. Often, baby teeth are fine coming out early. However, the back teeth are an exception. These need to stay in until your daughter is around twelve-years-old, otherwise the adjacent teeth will shift into that space during that time period and will crowd out the adult teeth.

Sometimes, however, like in a situation such as what your daughter is in now, the tooth has to be removed. Using a space maintainer will protect that space until her adult molars are ready to come in.

I hope this helps.
This blog is brought to you by Kalamazoo Dentist Dr. Susan Dennis.

I Don’t Think I Can Go Back to the Dentist

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I need some help. I have a toothache, but I don’t think I can go back to the dentist. Everything was fine until a couple of years ago. My dentist retired and this new one bought the practice. I didn’t like him as much but a dentist is a dentist. My last appointment there changed my ability to go to the dentist. He cut my lip with his tool, which he did not even apologize for. Then, he kept pressing on it which caused it to bleed the whole time. Then, my pain meds wore off and when I asked for more he complained. Not loud, but I heard it. Unfortunately, nothing worked after that. He couldn’t get me numb. I’m worried he didn’t complete the job properly because of that. Now I have a horrible toothache but I am afraid to go back to the dentist. First, is there something I can do for this toothache from home? Second, I can’t avoid the dentist forever, do you have any tips for anxious patients?

Sandra

Dear Sandra,

person cowering behind a chair in fear.

I am sorry this happened to you. Right off the bat, I can tell you that this is not going to be the best dentist for you. He does not seem to have a great, or even kind, chairside manner. If you’d never been afraid of the dentist and one interaction with him has made you this fearful, you will be much better served with a different dentist.

Let’s start with your first question. There is not a way to treat a tooth infection at home. There are two ways to get rid of a dental infection. The first is a root canal treatment. This is the better solution because it does save your tooth. The second is for if your tooth cannot be saved. That would be extracting the tooth, which, of course, that means that you will need to replace the tooth.

However, a toothache does not necessarily mean that you have an infection. The best thing to do is to get this checked out. It could end up being something very simple. Before you panic about having to be seen, I do have a solution for the anxiety that you are feeling. This is perfect timing as you have to find a new dentist anyway.

The reason you were not able to get numb again during the second half of your procedure was due to the trauma you had just experienced. This led to your anxiety. That anxiety has the metabolic effect of burning off your numbing medication. If we can get you relaxed during your appointment, then you will have no trouble getting numb. The best thing for you is to see a dentist who offers dental sedation options. These medications can completely relax you. To find one, you can do an internet search for either a sedation dentist or a cater to cowards dentist. They tend to be much more compassionate than what your recent experience gave you.

What I do not want you to do is to avoid getting this toothache looked at. Otherwise, this will lead to a dental emergency and then you may not even have time to find a sedation dentist.

This blog is brought to you by Kalamazoo Dentist Dr. Susan Dennis.

How Long Can You Wait to Fill a Cavity?

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I’ve always gone to the dentist twice a year. I had a fantastic dentist growing up who was super gentle and never made me nervous. I’ve graduated and started my first “career” job, but it’s quite a bit away from my hometown. My college was as well, so we always scheduled my appointments during my holiday and summer breaks. I figured it was time for me to get my own dentist in my new hometown, though. It was the first time in my life I understood why people complain about dentists. He was horrible. He was rough both in how he physically handled my mouth and teeth and in how he talked to me when I mentioned he was being a little rough. I actually left in pain, which has never happened to me.  He did mention I had a cavity that needed to be filled. There’s no way I’m going back to this dentist and I’m a little afraid to try another one after this experience. Can a cavity wait until I go home for Thanksgiving?

Stacey A.

Dear Stacey,

Each cavity is a little different. I’d ask the office of the dentist you visited most recently to send copies of your x-rays to your hometown dentist. They should do that without any problems.  Ask your family dentist to look at them and see if he thinks it can wait. If he says yes, then you can probably wait until you go home. Though truthfully, cavities can unexpectedly spread rapidly, so be aware if you start feeling pain, you may want to schedule an emergency appointment.

You may not have to schedule all dental visits around your trips to visit your family. There are dentists who are just as kind and gentle as your home dentist. Do a local internet search for terms like “sedation dentist” or “cater to cowards dentist”. These dentists are typically your more patient and gentle practitioners. Don’t forget to check out their reviews to make sure patients who’ve actually visited their offices agree with the dentist’s claims.

I’m sure you’ll be able to find a dentist who is just as good as your old one. Hopefully, it won’t take too many tries. But, as you’ve learned, there’s nothing better than a dentist you trust, who puts you at ease, and treats you with respect.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Susan Dennis.

Teeth Whitening Working on Every Tooth Except One

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What’s going on with my teeth whitening? I’ve got these custom trays from my dentist which are supposed to fit all my teeth evenly. All of my teeth are whitening except one which looks really gray. I called my dentist’s office and they said to give it time. But it really does look weird. Can I buy a whitening strip and put it on just that tooth to give it some extra?

Corey T.

Dear Corey,

Custom Teeth Whitening Trays

You’re correct that your teeth should be whitening evenly. The fact that they’re not, means one of two things.

It’s not a natural tooth

Even professional strength teeth whitening will only work on natural tooth structure. It may appear gray looking next to your natural teeth because they’re whitening and it’s not. Is it possible this tooth has a dental crown on it? If so, your dentist should have warned you that it wouldn’t whiten.

The tooth has been traumatized

A graying tooth is usually a sign the tooth has experienced trauma and is either dead or dying. In this case, it’s not whitening because it’s not stains that are the problem.

How to Whiten Your Gray Tooth

First, if it’s dead or dying, the tooth needs a root canal treatment. Otherwise, the problem will spread and you could lose the tooth to brittleness. You need to deal with this sooner rather than later. Tell your dentist you need an emergency dental appointment.

I have to tell you, though, I don’t have a great deal of confidence in your dentist. You may be better served going to a different one. The moment you told him that the teeth weren’t whitening evenly, especially with it being just one tooth, he should have clued in something is off. Telling you to give it time was the absolute worst advice you could have received.

Secondly, after your root canal treatment or if it’s a crowned tooth, the only way for it to get whiter is to replace the crown. If your other teeth have already reached the level of whitening you want then you can get it crowned immediately to match your new color. Be certain your dentist uses an all-porcelain crown and not a metal based one. The all-porcelain crowns are much more beautiful and natural looking.

If you still want to get your other teeth even whiter, finish your whitening treatment. When you get to the level of whiteness you want, then you can get your crown. There’s one exception to that. If you needed a root canal treatment, you’ll want a temporary crown placed so the graying tooth doesn’t disintegrate. Then, when you’re finished you can have a permanent crown placed.

This blog is brought to you by Kalamazoo cosmetic dentist Dr. Susan Dennis.

From Compassionate Care to Conveyor Belt Practice

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My dentist retired. The man who took over is completely different. The type of care offered has been like night and day. My old dentist was gentle and compassionate. He knew I tended to get a little tense during dental care. And by a little tense, I mean all out freaked out. He always took the time to put me at ease and if I struggled too much, would have sedation on hand. He’d even have his assistant call my husband so he could come get me as I’d be a wee bit woozy. This new dentist just doesn’t seem to care. He runs everyone through the exact same way. He was so rough I had a panic attack. He stopped my appointment and said to come back when I can handle dental care. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to handle his type of dental care. How do I find a dentist like my old one?

Starla M.

Dear Starla,

a woman in a dental chair giving a thumbs up

The first thing I want to do is assure you that you’re not alone. In fact, many Americans have the same reaction to dentistry that you’re feeling. As you’ve experienced with your old dentist, that fear doesn’t have to keep you from getting good dental care. The trick is finding the right compassionate dentist for your needs.

There are many “conveyor belt” practices which treat each patient as identical to all their other patients. Even if you didn’t have the worry of dental anxiety hovering over you, everyone’s body is different. Each patient responds a little differently to their healthcare as well.

While finding a dentist who’ll be understanding of your particular situation and need, there are a few key terms you can use during your search to help narrow down the results.

Each of these dentists, by using these specific terms, is indicating that they work with fearful patients. However, claiming something doesn’t always make it true. It’s always a wise idea to verify by checking their reviews. Make sure patients who’ve been in their office before have had good experiences with them. Yelp! and Google Reviews are both good options to check.

Some dentists even do a complimentary consultation so you have a chance to get a feel for what their personality and office are like. Being proactive, as you are, is the best way to handle this. Too many patients with dental phobias wait until they have a dental emergency. Then, what could have been a simple filling turns out to need extensive work, or worse. They lose the tooth altogether and have to replace it.

This blog is brought to you by Portage, MI Sedation Dentist Dr. Susan Dennis.

Pain Free Dental Care for a Recovering Addict

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I’m on methadone for an opioid addiction. My regular dentist refuses to give me any pain medication because of my addiction. Because of that, I’ve been avoiding the dentist. But, I’m in pain from doing that too. I’m afraid to go to the dentist. Is there any way to find a dentist who’d be willing to treat me as a person and not just see me as an addict?

Emmie

Dear Emmie,

You are in a tough spot, but I think I can help you. What you don’t want to do is ignore the pain you are in. Pain is a sign of a problem and you likely have a dental emergency on your hands.

The attitude you find yourself bumping up against is fear. It is not fear of you. It’s fear of the DEA. They have been cracking down on any type of pain administration. Dentists are afraid to do anything which can throw up a red flag and draw attention to themselves.

Many dentists are compassionate and want to help but that fear is getting in the way. It doesn’t mean there isn’t a dentist out there who will help.

You’ll have more success if you look for a dentist uses sedation. They understand patients with dental anxiety. Some of their patients have severe anxiety. You can look them up with the terms sedation dentist or cater to cowards dentist. These are the dentists who will be more likely to work with you.

Benefits to Dental Sedation

What most people think of with dental sedation is the fact that they can have a pain-free dental appointment. That’s true. But there is another benefit too. If you use oral conscious sedation, your dentist will be able to get significantly more work done in each appointment.

This allows you to catch up on all that work you haven’t been able to get done because of your dentist’s concerns over your previous addiction.

This blog is brought to you by Kalamazoo Sedation Dentist Dr. Susan Dennis.

Daughter Broke her Front Tooth

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I’m not sure what to do. My daughter was playing outside and fell and took off a chunk of her front tooth. I took her to the dentist and he said everything is fine. When I asked him to fix it he said he would need to wait six to eight weeks for the nerves to desensitize. Is that really necessary? By then she should be back in school. Though she’ll probably be in a mask most of the time, at lunchtime the kids will see her tooth. I don’t want her embarrassed.

Lisa

Dear Lisa,

child smiling in a dental chair

There is no dental reason to wait. He may be stalling to figure out the best fix. What she really needs is a cosmetic dentist familiar with this type of repair.

One thing you didn’t mention is whether it was an adult or baby tooth. If it is a baby tooth, you may just want to extract it. It’s not uncommon for young children to be missing teeth so it won’t be an issue at school. Front teeth don’t have to remain in place as long as their back molars.

If it is her permanent tooth, then the repair should go forward. Ideally, if you have the piece that broke off it could be repaired that way. Otherwise, you will need to find a dentist who does dental bonding. That will use a composite resin to build up the missing structure.

I don’t think most pediatric dentists will be familiar with these types of repairs. You will have more success with a general dentist who treats children.

It was smart of you to have the tooth checked out right away. Whenever there is trauma to a tooth, even if there is no visible challenge, there can be underlying damage to the root or developing adult tooth. Being proactive like you were can save her tooth.

This blog is brought to you by cosmetic dentist Dr. Susan Dennis of Portage, MI.

Xanax for Dentist Appointments

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My doctor prescribes me Xanax for situational anxiety. I’ve used it at least once a week and it’s been extremely helpful. I’m thinking it may be just the thing to help me get back to the dentist. I’ve avoided the dentist for years and now have started developing some pain in one (maybe more) of my teeth. Can I take Xanax before a dental appointment?

Lori

Dear Lori,

A woman in a dental chair giving a thumbs up

It’s brave of you to try to find a way back to your dentist given your anxiety. So you know, you’re not alone in your nervous feelings when it comes to dental work. Many patients feel the same way. Often it stems from a traumatic experience with a dentist in their younger years.

While it would be possible for you to take Xanax before your appointment, I have a better solution for you. The main reason I’m suggesting an alternative is there’s a possibility the Xanax could interfere with something the dentist needs to give you.

Because you’re already in pain from a tooth, I want to make sure you won’t have to put off your treatment because of a medication issue.

Solutions for Dental Anxiety

There are dentists who cater to fearful patients. Dr. Dennis is one of those dentists. She loves helping people have positive experiences at the dentist in order to change the way they view the dentist. She does that through gentle care, explaining every aspect of the procedure, and (for her more anxious patients) dental sedation.

In some cases, anxiety can be so high that it causes patients to burn off any numbing medication, essentially rendering it completely ineffective.

When that’s an issue, sedation is a miracle worker. You’re completely relaxed from a simple pill. The upside is the dentist, knowing what sedation medication he or she uses ahead of time will not have to worry about anything being contraindicative.

You will find it makes having a dental appointment much easier. In fact, most patients simply sleep through their procedure.

Don’t Put off Getting Dental Pain Treated

One thing you don’t want to do is wait any longer to deal with this. When you have tooth pain, it often indicates a tooth infection. When this isn’t dealt with, it can quickly turn into a dental emergency. Then, instead of a simple procedure, you’ll be facing something much more invasive and expensive. In some cases, it’s even too late to save the tooth. Then you’re looking at tooth replacement options.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Susan Dennis. Some of her patients consider her the best dentist in the Kalamazoo area.