Dr.David Brooksher, DDS
Address: 1010 South Acadian Thruway, Ste. A, Baton Rouge, LA 70806
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Why do some of my veneers fall off every week?

Posted on August 10, 2020 by AllSmiles.

I started going to my dentist in 2015, and last October, I decided that I trusted her enough to get porcelain veneers. That was a huge mistake because my veneers regularly fall off. I asked for veneers because one of my front teeth was shorter than the others, a few teeth were chipped, and I wanted a brighter smile. My dentist explained that I needed veneers to protect my teeth and limit the cracks I have in them from grinding. My dentist made a custom nightguard to protect my veneers from grinding.

Before I agreed to veneers, my dentist explained that she would need to prepare my teeth first, but she ground my front upper teeth down to stumps. When I saw my teeth, I almost cried, but she reassured me that the veneers would look and feel so beautiful that I wouldn’t remember the preparation. She placed temporary veneers, and I wore them for two weeks. I did love the look and thought that my dentist was right about how much I would love my smile.

Everything was going well with my porcelain veneers the first week, but in the middle of the second week, a veneer popped off. I called my dentist’s office, and they were quite accommodating. I went to the office in the afternoon, and my dentist bonded the veneer on my tooth. But every week at least one veneer falls. I’ve noticed that the veneers that pop off the most have a ledge on the backside of them. Also, my breath smells terribly just before a veneer pops off. Over the winter holidays, we had family visiting, and I had three veneers missing. I tried not to smile so that no one would notice my tiny ground-down teeth. I keep glue in my purse just in case a veneer comes off.

This is an ongoing issue. Last week, I received a call from my dentist’s office to come in for my dentist to try something different. I’m beginning to think that I’m my dentist’s first porcelain veneers patient. I’m stressed out about this daily. How are my veneers going to last 20 years as my dentist promised? I know this can’t be normal because porcelain veneers are too popular. People wouldn’t get them knowing they would fall off regularly.

Can my teeth be fixed? Am I going to need dentures? Our family will be moving at the end of summer, and I’m afraid that a dentist in our new location won’t want to try to fix the mess my dentist made. Is there anything I can do?

Also, I want to ask about the combination of Ativan and nitrous oxide. My dentist gave me Ativan. I take one pill the night before my appointment and another about an hour before going to the office. While she works on my veneers, I breathe in nitrous oxide. I’m out of it for the rest of the day and sleep through the next morning. I am only slightly anxious about my appointments, and I’ve only had anxiety since I received these botched veneers, but is this sedation too heavy? – Andreja from Mississippi

Andreja,

We are sorry to hear about the trauma your dentist is causing and the horror story with your porcelain veneers. Porcelain veneers are meant to improve your smile and quality of life, not make you dread smiling.

No, the things you are experiencing are not typical. You have had an awful time with what should have been an enjoyable experience. Your dentist did several things wrong. And what has happened to you might be classified as malpractice.

Your dentist prepared your teeth for crowns

Your dentist prepared your teeth for porcelain crowns—not veneers. As the photos below show, a dentist only reduces about a half-millimeter of enamel from the front of a tooth to prepare it for a veneer. But when you’re receiving a crown, a tooth is tapered all around. And you describe it as a stump. Your experience says that your dentist doesn’t know how to do porcelain veneers and isn’t familiar with bonding technology. Your options for correcting the situation are limited.

Side-by-side photos of upper front teeth with porcelain veneer preparation and porcelain crown preparation

The crowns don’t have proper retention form

If a dentist prepares a tooth correctly, conventional dental cement will keep a crown in place. Bonding technology isn’t required. But your dentist hasn’t been able to do that. Although Dr. Brooksher would need to examine your teeth, we guess that they are shorter than the teeth shown in the photograph. Your dentist so aggressively prepared your teeth that crowns won’t stay on. She grossly violated the standard of care, and she’s liable. Your crowns are getting loose in function. Saliva and bacteria are getting under the crown, which causes an awful smell and taste.

Your sedation

You described having mild anxiety about dental visits. We can’t explain why your dentist gives you Ativan because it lingers in your bloodstream. The term, serum half-life, represents how long half the dose of a medication is still in your bloodstream. After 24 hours, half the Ativan dose is still in your bloodstream, and it can take a couple of days to go away completely. Most dentists use triazolam, which lasts about three hours after a dental appointment. That’s plenty of time.

How can you resolve it?

We think that your dentist is legally liable for damaging your teeth. She should pay for another cosmetic dentist to correct your teeth and restore your oral health. But she should also compensate you for over-treatment that could affect you throughout life. Before you relocate, start searching for a competent dentist in your new location who can correct your teeth. The new dentist can confront the dentist who damaged your teeth. Her malpractice insurance should cover the cost of restoring your teeth, and your case shouldn’t need to go to court. But if you take your case to court, we think you would receive a substantial award.

Accredited cosmetic dentist, Steven Brooksher, DDS of Baton Rouge sponsors this post.

Filed Under: Porcelain Veneers Tagged With: Ativan, bonding technology, cosmetic dentistry horror stories, Cosmetic dentistry mistakes, crown fell off, grind your teeth, ground down to nubs, Halcion, Lorazepam, malpractice, nightguard, nitrous oxide, porcelain veneer pop off, porcelain veneers fall off, porcelain veneers falling off, sedation dentistry, standard of care, teeth ground down, Triazolam

Why Do My Shots Hurt So Much?

Posted on December 15, 2019 by ecrabtree.

Hello there,

I had a cavity filled and my dentist tried to numb me with anesthetic. However, the shot hurt horribly. I’m sensitive to shots. The next time I needed numbing, I asked him to be gentle when giving it, but he ignored my request, and the shot hurt just as bad as before.

I have to get another filling but I am hesitant to go back to this dentist. It hurts too much. Can I do something before my appointment to make it hurt less? Or is there a way to get him to be more gentle this time around?

Connor, from Detroit, Michigan

 

Hi Connor,

When you asked your dentist the first time to be more gentle, he should have listened to you instead of ignoring you. Sometimes dentists get stuck in their ways. However, dentists need to maintain a good level of bedside manner in order to gain the patient’s trust, so he was in the wrong here.

One way to decrease the pain associated with the shot is to ask the dentist to use numbing gel. Leaving numbing gel on the gums first can help. Also, the dentist should administer the shot slowly instead of quickly. Doing it slowly allows the body to absorb the medicine better; doing it fast can cause bubbling at the injection site, or stretching of the skin.

If you are sensitive to shots, it may be because of the nerves in your jaw. Everyone’s bodies are different, and your dentist is administering the shoot where it is most likely to be effective. However, while this may cause no pain for most people, if your facial nerves are near the injection site, it will hurt you a lot more than it would otherwise. The dentist cannot control where your facial nerves are, so if this is the case, you may want to look for a gentle dentist or sedation dentist.

A cosmetic dentist who practices gentle or sedation dentistry will listen to your concerns. They will have a much more improved bedside manner than your current dentist. To have your sensitivities addressed, you may want to seek a different dentist.

This blog post is brought to you by Baton Rouge sedation dentist, Dr. Steven Brooksher, of Dentistry by Brooksher.

Filed Under: Sedation Dentistry Tagged With: bedside manner, composite filling, dental anxiety, dental coward, general dentist, local anesthetic, metal-free dentistry, nitrous oxide, Novocaine won't numb, second opinion

Novocain Doesn’t Make Me Numb?

Posted on November 8, 2019 by ecrabtree.

Hello there,

My teeth are in need of a root canal due to nerve damage and nerve damage. My dentist injected me with Novocain, and it did not work. He injected me again and again, and I still could not get numb. Because of that, he sent me home with some painkillers. I cannot get a root canal done unless my teeth can be numbed. Would a numbing paste work? Is there something I can do? Or is there something wrong with me?

Luther, from Huntington, West Virginia

 

Hi Luther,

It is not a problem with you, with some modifications you can get your teeth to get numb. Your problem is likely related to dental anxiety. The higher your anxiety, the less likely you are to get numb, and the more numbing agent that is needed. If you can lower your anxiety, you will be able to get numb with Novocaine or a numbing paste.

One way to help your dental anxiety will be to go to a sedation dentist. A sedation dentist can write you a script for an anti-anxiety medication to take thirty minutes to an hour prior to your appointment. However, you will need a ride to and from the appointment if you take this medication.

If you do not want to take an anti-anxiety pill, you can find a dentist who uses nitrous oxide. Nitrous oxide wears off quickly after the appointment, and has no ill side effects. It also is more effective at numbing and sedation than novocaine, and is a good alternative for those with dental anxiety who cannot be numbed any other way.

If your current dentist does not offer sedation dentistry, you can seek it elsewhere. If you continue to see your dentist, using techniques to control your anxiety will allow you to finally become numb enough to get your root canal.

This blog post is brought to you by Baton Rouge sedation dentist, Dr. Steven Brooksher, of Dentistry by Brooksher.

Filed Under: Sedation Dentistry Tagged With: anti-anxiety medication, dental anxiety, nitrous oxide, novocaine, Novocaine won't numb, numbing paste, root canal, sedation dentistry

Can a Recovering Addict Still Get Oral Surgery?

Posted on June 21, 2019 by ecrabtree.

Hello there,

I have struggled with addiction for most of my adult life. I finally am being treated at a methadone clinic for my opiate addiction. Years of drug use have wrecked my teeth, so I need a total makeover. However, the last dentist I saw refused to give me any pain medication for my tooth pain. I hate going to the dentist and worry about pain during and after treatment. Is there any dentist that will help me? I called around but of the dentists were willing to work with me, let alone give me any pain meds. My counselor is more than happy to answer questions any dentist may have.

Kenneth, from Billings, Montana

 

Hi Kenneth,

In the midst of the opioid epidemic, medical professionals are being extra cautious. Today, dentists would rather be careful than compassionate, especially if their compassion for patients could get them in trouble with the Drug Enforcement Agency. Some patients have abused this kindness, and unfortunately for you, their actions have made it harder for you to receive treatment.

You will need to find a kind-hearted dentist, but one that does sedation would work best for you. Gentle dentists can use nitrous oxide to put you under. Let them know about your history and treatment, and they can prescribe the best form of post-treatment medication. Keep calling and asking, and hopefully you’ll find a sedation dentist who’s a good match for you.

This blog post is brought to you by Baton Rouge sedation dentist, Dr. Steven Brooksher, of Dentistry by Brooksher.

 

Filed Under: Sedation Dentistry Tagged With: beautiful smile guarantee, compassionate dentist, DEA, dental anxiety, dental coward, dentist refused pain medication, gentle dentistry, local anesthetic, methadone treatment, nitrous oxide, opiate addiction, smile makeover, tooth pain

Can I Trust This Dentist?

Posted on May 7, 2019 by ecrabtree.

Hello,

I went to see a new dentist about some tooth pain I’ve had for a few weeks. This is the first time I’ve felt pain in this tooth, so I didn’t think it was too serious. However, the dentist told me one of my teeth has a cavity and needs an extraction. He would have to put me under to do either a bone graft or dental implant. Should I get a second opinion? I don’t want to get all this work done over some tooth pain. He didn’t even find an infection, but gave me antibiotics for the pain. I’m mostly worried about having a reaction to the anesthetic. I’m terrified of getting dental work done and am dreading this. What should I do?

Claire from Philadelphia, PA

 

Hi Claire,

If your tooth has recently started feeling pain, it has only become infected recently. It likely isn’t so far gone that it needs extractions, let alone a bone graft or implant. A tooth that’s beyond saving would have been hurting for awhile, and would have a visible cavity in it.

A second opinion would be a good idea. You can bring any X-rays to your new dentist. A fresh set of eyes can give you a new perspective on your issue.

Another point to consider is that anesthetic is a safe medicine, and you are not going to have an allergic reaction to it. Dental anxiety is nothing unusual. Find a second opinion from a sedation dentist. They are experienced in administering nitrous oxide or local anesthetic for anxious patients. The more anxiety you feel, the harder it will be to get you numb. Too much anxiety, and you’ll need conscious oral sedation. A gentle dentist will be able to advise you on your sedation needs.

This blog is brought to you by Baton Rouge sedation dentist, Dr. Steven Brooksher.

 

Filed Under: Sedation Dentistry Tagged With: allergic reaction to anesthetic, antibiotics, bone graft, cavity, dental anxiety, dental implant, gentle dentistry, local anesthetic, need extraction, nitrous oxide, second opinion, tooth infection, tooth pain, X-ray

Dr. David Brooksher, DDS.
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Reviews

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“I have horrible anxiety at dental offices. I have never been as comfortable as I am at Dr. Brooksher’s office. Everyone is really nice, accommodating, and understanding!”

Jay Alex

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“Dr. Brooksher is humble, kind, funny, and easy to get along with. His staff is friendly, too! I have the utmost respect for his work. I've never been this comfortable going to the dentist.”

Christopher Jeffers

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“Dr. Brooksher came highly recommended by so many of my present and former coworkers. I've had fear of the dentist all my life and finally got the courage to go. I can now say for myself that he is the best—hands down.”

Patricia Madison Anthony

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“Sometimes I feel that Dr. Brooksher and his staff care more about my teeth than I do. They are professional and prompt, so definitely be on time for your appointment!”

Brock George

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“I’ve been a patient at Dentistry by Brooksher for more than 15 years. They are always thorough and professional. Dr. Brooksher explains your options and the best treatment plans. He and his staff are a pleasure to deal with.”

Wilson Alvarez

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Map Too Brooksher Dental Office
Steven H. Brooksher, DDS, AAACD, FICOI
1010 South Acadian Thruway
Ste A
Baton Rouge, LA 70806

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Wed - 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
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PHONE (225) 346-8625

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Dr. David Brooksher, DDS.
Address: Steven H. Brooksher, DDS
1010 South Acadian Thruway, Ste A
Baton Rouge, LA 70806
Phone: (225) 346-8625
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