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I hit my dentist whenever he tries to give me a needle

May 29, 2015

I have this horrible reflex action where I hit at my dentist whenever he tries to give me a needle for numbing. Normally, he’s used to it, but his last time I took him by surprise and actually hurt him. Have you heard of this before? Is there anything I can do to stop this?

Ellie W. – Montana

Ellie,

You’re not the only patient who stuggles with dental fear.  You must have a very kind dentist, to know he’s going to get a good whack when he treats you and still keep going. There is a solution.

Has your dentist ever suggested any kind of sedation, such as nitrous oxide?  This can relax you enough to make your appointment easier to deal with.

There are dentists who specifically advertise as catering to cowards. They enjoy working with fearful patients, because they want to help change their outlook about dentistry.

This blog is brought to you by Oklahoma city dentist Dr. Don Swearingen.

Is a space maintainer really necessary?

May 15, 2015

My son needs to have a tooth removed.  I can hardly afford this procedure and my dentist is wanting to have a space maintainer put in as well. That is an additional expense. Tell me honestly, is it really necessary?

Hannah D. – North Dakotta

Hannah,

Children are the joy of our lives, but they sure cost a lot of money.  Fortunately, they’re worth it. We have to remember we cost our parents a lot of money as well. That being said, I do understand how difficult it can be to afford everything they need. You don’t want to spend any additional money if it is not absolutely necessary.

In this case, however, your pediatric dentist is right. The expense is a necessary one. If you don’t have a space mainainer placed, the adjacent teeth will shift. When his adult teeth begin to come in, it will lead to crowding.  If you think a space maintainer is an additional expense, you should see how much braces cost.

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