Dear Dr. H,

How can I find a good dentist?

Fearful

Dear Dr. H,

I am a competitive fitness model. I eat very healthy and I work out. I actually thought I was the epitome of healthy. However, I just found out that I have 10 cavities! ( TEN!) How can this be? I brush my teeth every day.

Not a tooth model

Dear Dr. H, 

I am so annoyed! This new dental hygienist spent 10 minutes of my appointment teaching me how to brush and floss! I know how to brush and floss- I am a grown woman! I need her to clean my teeth! Is this really what I am paying for? 

Furious

Dear Dr. H,

I need a deep cleaning. I understand why and I want to get it done. However, I have very limited time off and I need to do the whole procedure at one time. The dentist will not schedule it in one sitting. I have to come back twice. Why? And how can I convince her I need this done all at once?

Busy Working Mommy

Dear Dr. H,

I hate the dentist! Every time I go in he finds yet another cavity! It is so frustrating, as I feel I have put a small fortune into my mouth. Is it really possible that I get a new cavity every six months?

Help! I dread going now.

Soft Teeth

Dear Dr. H,

I went to see my dentist today and he told me I have a tooth with a small cavity. However, instead of filling it, he told me to use fluoride to heal it. I don’t understand. If I have a cavity, don’t I need a filling?

Confused and Fillingless

Dear Dr. H,

My new dentist insists on taking xrays before I can get my teeth cleaned. All I really want is to have clean and white teeth for my wedding next month. Why can’t she just clean my teeth?

Unhappy Bride

Dear Dr. H,

My dentist told me I need dentures. Needless to say, I am devastated. I knew this was coming, but I am only 51 years old! I asked him if I could do implants and he said I could not because I am diabetic and I ” don’t have good bone”. Is this true? What are my options? Do I have to do this?

Soon to be Toothless

Dear Dr. H,

My dentist thinks my 7 year old daughter needs braces! I don’t want to put her in braces at 7, only to have to put her in braces again when she is a teenager. Why would we do this to our daughter? What is the dentist thinking?

Phoenix Mommy

Dear Dr. H,

My great aunt just had some dental work done in Mexico. It all turned out fine. What is the big fuss about crossing the border for health care? I think you dentists just don’t like how cheap they can do dentistry.

Found you out

Dear Dr. H,

My 9 year old daughter got her two front teeth knocked out in a soccer game yesterday! She was knocked unconscious, so we went to the hospital. I found her teeth.

What can be done?

Terrified Mom

Dear Dr. H,

I just got back from the dentist and I have a ton of cavities! The frustrating thing is that I did not have any cavities a year ago when I last went to see him.

I had a heart attack last August. Could this cause me to have cavities?

Heart Broken

Dear Dr. H,

I am having a new crown done after the first one failed. I only had the crown 6 years! How long is dental work supposed to last?

Annoyed

Dear Dr. H,

Why do I need to get my teeth cleaned every six months? Why not every 2 months or once a year? Who decided on 6 months?

Curious

Dear Dr. H,

My dentist says I need a root canal on a tooth, but I don’t have any pain.

I have heard that root canals are dangerous, so I can’t figure out why I should do this to my perfectly healthy tooth.

Also, my mom said that metal in the mouth is bad and that I should have any bad teeth pulled and replaced with implants.

No root canals for me

Dear Dr. H,

I have a lot of dental problems, but I am just too afraid of the shot to come in and have anything done. I had a bad experience as a kid and I am just terrified.

Can you offer any advice?

Scaredy Cat

Dear Dr. H,

My dentist says my gum disease can be due to stress. This seems ridiculous, and yet it is also true.
How do you catch gum disease?

Diseased

Dear Dr. H,

My husband went to see the dentist and it is going to cost $10,000 for his dental work!
Why is dental work so expensive and who actually spends this kind of money on their teeth?

Sticker Shock

Dear Dr. H,

I haven’t been to the dentist in 10 years. I am just too ashamed to go in and have the dentist yell about me about my current situation. I am also terrified of what they might tell me. I am sure I am the worst mouth he will ever see.

Scared

Dear Dr. H,

Last week we took my 90 year old mother to the dentist. He said she needed 4 crowns! This seems like an expensive and unnecessary expense. Is he trying to take advantage of her?

Concerned Daughter

Dear Dr. H,

Last week my dentist wanted to do xrays on my 4 year old daughter. I am not sure this is necessary and I worry about too much radiation. Is taking xrays on little children normal?

Worried mom