Afraid of the Dentist? Don't Watch This Video.

First off, the patient was crazy to volunteer for a bony tooth extraction without first being sedated. And second, ALL types of orthopedic surgeries are brutal -- that's why doctors use sedation. Even I, a dentist, would request sedation if I had to have a wisdom tooth extracted.

And finally, from what I could see in this video, the extration proceeded as it should have -- it just would have been better if the patient had been sedated.

There is simply too much information on the Internet today and TV. Now you can watch colonoscopies and lasik eye surgeries. Pardon me, but seeing someone's cornea being cut is gross. I'm a doctor and I didn't want to think about what they were going to do to me when I had the procedure done.

When you visit the dentist, instead of going in with a treatment plan already in your head due to researching the Internet, let the dentist do his or her job.

Successful Smiles: FAQs About Cosmetic Dentistry

Dr. Helaine Smith's Successful Smiles healthcast #2 download



In this episode of Successful Smiles, I answer some of the questions patients frequently ask about cosmetic dentistry, including:

• Am I vain for wanting a nicer smile?
  
• Do cosmetic dentistry procedures really work or is it all hype?
  
• Is cosmetic dentistry worth the time and the cost?

Links mentioned in this episode:

• American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry


• Apple iTunes


• Helaine Smith, DMD

Send any questions about dental health, or suggestions for future podcasts, to helainesmithdmd@aol.com.