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Bad advice for dental fear

January 30, 2014

Filed under: Cater to Cowards — Tags: , , , , — okcitydentist @ 7:42 pm

I recently read an article that promised to help people get over dental fear in just a few easy steps.  Then it proceded to give such banal advice that I was frustrated with it and I don’t even suffer from dental fear.

Some examples were to bring a magazine or plan something fun for after  your appointment. Then, it had the gall to mention that if your fear persisted, maybe you should see a phychiatrist.

When a patient is a afraid of the dentist, it is usually one of two reasons: either they are afraid of needles or they’ve had a painful previous experience at the hands of a dentist. In either case, the advice in the article I read would be useless.

So what do you do if you’re afraid of the dentist? Well, if it is the needle that makes you go weak in the knees, I would suggest you go to a dentist who uses “the wand”. You can learn more about that on our Cater to Cowards page on our website.

If you’ve had a horrible experience at the dentist than you have to find ways to build positive experiences.  One of the easiest ways to do that is to use a dentist who performs sedation dentistry.  That would allow you to get the necessary dental care without fear of pain.

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

My dentist stained my Lumineers

January 14, 2014

Filed under: Lumineers — Tags: , , , — okcitydentist @ 8:23 pm

I’ve spent $15,000 on Lumineers and I hate them. My dentist and I went over what I wanted before he ordered them, but for some reason he put a stain on them. When I told him I didn’t like the stain, he said that was the only way they would look normal. Why would he do this?

Wendy S. – Pennsylvania

Wendy,

I can tell you why he did this, but it won’t help you fix it. Many dentists who “practice” cosmetic dentistry don’t really understand it. In dental school dentists are taught that the dentist knows best and that for a smile to look “natural”  there must be some stain on them.  However, true cosmetic dentists understand that what looks natural is the look the patient is striving for. If you wanted a bright white smile, you should get one.

Unfortunately, the only way to fix this is to have them re-done.  I know it probably makes you sick to hear that.

When you do get your Lumineers re-done, make sure you go to a dentist who listens to you.  Some dentists, like Dr. Swearingen, have what is known as a beautiful smile guarantee, where the Lumineers are not permanently bonded onto your teeth until you’ve had a chance to try them on and are sure you like them.

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