This was my second year visit after they changed the name to Platinum Dental from Advanced Dental and the clinic is under new management. Last year when I visited, 4 of my teeth had fillings by a different dentist (he doesn't work there anymore) and I had to return again for remaining 4 fillings. But I had lost taste in my tongue for almost 7 months and all I could taste was a kind of metal in my mouth all the time (I believe I have still have altered taste in my mouth - I don't like ice-cream anymore). Later discovered in online forums from many others with similar experience that local anesthesia caused the trouble, for many it lasted for years. According to NCBI and other research observations, the taste loss is due to "inferior alveolar nerve block" caused by local anesthesia and less than 1% of the dental patients are affected (not a fault of Dentist). I did not return last year after the incidence and also I didn't want to make it worse by taking any prescriptions (as the situation is very rare, no definite medicine).
This year again I went for cleaning and preventive measures and from the scanning it was suggested that I need to get those cavities filled and had an appointment with Dr. Gabe. When I went for filling, I went to explain my past experience with Dr. Gabe (I was going through similar process like last year and intended to avoid last year experience, if possible). Dr. Gabe is very professional and busy man at the same time, he told me that he never heard that a local anesthesia can cause taste loss and I told him that I found these research articles in online science forums and he was really offended (which I did not intend to). Dr. Gabe didn't want to discuss further and he told me that he can't help me with fillings and the front desk arranged appointment with Dr. Calvin who is available on weekdays (I got appointment for Tuesday 6.30PM). To clarify, I have great respect for Dr. Gabe and respect his decision not to work with me when he is not comfortable. My wife was his patient at the same time; she appreciates Dr. Gabe's work all the time as she had dental cavity fillings and a root canal with crown.
Dr. Calvin is the best dentist I had even been to. I explained him the same experience of taste loss and he came with a solution that might help not to repeat the same experience. He also told me that, again I might have to go with taste loss and it is not in his control (which is understandable). The fillings went well without any pain and I didn't have the weird tasteless experience after reaching back home. Next day, the fillings are so perfect (for the first time in my experience with dentists) and I don't feel anything odd in my mouth (generally takes 1-2 days to get used to new fillings). To my surprise, there is no sensitivity in my teeth which are filled; while I had to suffer sensitivity for months after filling last year which might have to do with how deep the cavities were.
Finally, I am happy with my visit and I recommend the clinic specially Dr. Calvin if you can get the appointment. read more