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West Seneca, NY
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Archives for July 2019

Dentist Lied About Her Dental Crowns

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I’m a bit distraught at the moment. I needed to get six porcelain crowns on my front teeth. I told my dentist I wanted all-porcelain crowns. He said he’d try but not every bite can have that. When he put them on and I was looking at them, I noticed the backs were silver. He then told me he realized he wasn’t able to do the porcelain ones so he gave me metal-based crowns instead. While they look okay, I’m sure they don’t look as well as the all-porcelain ones I wanted. Plus, I know that the gray line is going to show up at some point. After all this money, I want a smile I can be proud of. Is there anything I can do or was this dentist right?

Lisa Anne

Dear Lisa Anne,

Brunette with beautiful smile

To get a beautiful smile requires a great cosmetic dentist

Your dentist bonded these crowns in without your permission. You were expecting all-porcelain crowns and he can’t change the treatment plan without your permission. This gives you some good leverage, but you may have to be tough if he’s the type of dentist I suspect he is.

He obviously doesn’t understand cosmetic work at all. I don’t know a skilled cosmetic dentist who would think putting metal-based crowns on front teeth is a good idea. Unfortunately, it is very obvious to me your dentist isn’t in that category. He is of the traditional general dental school where the dentist knows best.

Almost all of the time, it is possible to place porcelain crowns. There certain bites which the crowns will wear down the opposing teeth. Even then, you don’t have to have metal-based crowns. Instead, your dentist could have placed Empress crowns. These will not cause any wear on your bottom teeth.

Finding the Right Cosmetic Dentist to Fix This

The first thing you’ll need to do is secure a refund. I wouldn’t trust your dentist to re-do the crowns in a way you’ll be totally happy with. You have the right to a refund because you did not get to give informed consent. If he doesn’t agree, let him know you’ll be speaking with the dental board and a lawyer. That should sober him up.

After you’ve secured your money back, the next thing is finding a great cosmetic dentist. The mynewsmile.com website screens cosmetic dentists who want to be listed. They check them for both their technical knowledge and their artistic skill. Any one of them can give you a stunning smile. I would go to one of them to have your porcelain crowns done. Many of them even have a beautiful smile guarantee.

This blog is brought to you by West Seneca Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Warren Krutchick.

Does Dental Sedation Cause you to Lose Memories?

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I have anxiety and was told dental sedation is the best option for me. However, my dental office also told me that I probably won’t remember much of my visit. I didn’t want to sound rude, but that scares me even more! I want to be relaxed, but I don’t want to forget. It’s not that I think they’d do anything or that anything bad would happen, and I’m afraid that’s how they’ll take it, as if I don’t trust them. I really do. It’s just that I’d feel so much better if I could remember it once it’s done. I know, it probably sounds weird since I get all worked up about treatment, but the idea of not knowing what happened or having gaps in my memory really freaks me out. Do all dental sedation medications remove memories and is there anything I can do in advance to minimize the effects?

Thanks,

Araya

Dear Araya,

A woman asleep from dental sedation

OCS is sometimes called Sleep Dentistry

You have total control over this situation and the options available.

Yes, Most Medications Have the Potential to Leave You with Gaps

Each office offering dental sedation will have specific medications they prescribe, so without knowing what your dentist’s preferred options are, it’s impossible to say how you’ll be impacted. That said, most do try to put you in such a calm state that you feel quite drowsy. Many patients sleep through the procedure which is why it’s been dubbed sleep dentistry. People tend to fade in and out a bit. They’re able to engage with the dental team, answer questions, and be an active participant, but it can sometimes leave you with memory gaps too.

Be Honest with Your Doctor

If your dentist is offering sedation treatment, he understands the mindset of an anxious patient. Many people who prefer sedation treatment come from backgrounds in which they’ve had bad experiences in the chair or have experienced trauma in their lives. Because he should be accustomed to helping people in these situations, he will likely understand your concerns and respond in an appropriate and compassionate way. Just tell him that you’re personally uncomfortable with the possibility of having memory gaps. He can explore medication options that don’t have that side-effect and/or prescribe a lower dose than normal.

Consider Nitrous Oxide as an Alternative

You don’t have to go all in with sedatives. Nitrous oxide, also referred to as laughing gas, can increase relaxation too. However, it doesn’t create the same drowsy state other medications do, and it wears off as soon as treatment is over. It’s often enough on its own to take the edge off and keep you comfortable throughout treatment. Especially considering that other medications may heighten your anxiety because you’re worried about memory gaps, nitrous oxide may actually make you more relaxed and comfortable going into treatment since it doesn’t have the side-effects you’re concerned about.

This blog is brought to you by West Seneca Dentist Dr. Warren Krutchick.