Kim Loos Dr. Kimberly A. Loos practices general dentistry in San Jose, California. She is also a clinical instructor at University of Pacific School of Dentistry and an editor for Dentistry On-Line. Teenagers have a lot of pressure on them these days. If I know a patient has been drinking alcohol prior to their dental appointment, I will not treat them that day. Many dentists have this policy because it is very difficult to predict how the patient will react to the alcohol itself or how the alcohol will interact with medications we may need to prescribe.
Liability is also a concern.
I just advised another parent to try communicating with their child to attempt to discover the reason for the fear. If a reason for his discomfort can be determined, perhaps discussion with the dentist to address any concerns can alleviate the problem. The use of nitrous oxide to help relax your son may also be beneficial. It should be safe as long as he has no medical condition which may interfere with this drug. The dentist should also be trained to safely use nitrous oxide on patients.