Dr. Lionel McTague, DDS

My story is a bit of a long one but worth the read for anyone who suffers from dental Anxiety, general anxiety, any other mental health illness, or requires gas or sedation from the dentist.I booked a consultation and went in doing all the x-rays and photography etc. required for the consultation. During the consultation I did let the dentist know that I required gas and/or sedation for any procedure including cleanings, due to a high level of anxiety regarding dentistry as well as high levels of neuropathic pain.I showed up to a second visit to go over all of the information compiled during the first consultation. During that appointment I reiterated my requirements for gas due to my pain levels and anxiety. During the time between the two consults, I had broken a tooth and we decided that the first step we would take in any of the dental care of my mouth was to have that broken tooth treated temporarily.A third appointment is set to address this broken tooth. Requiring a 3 second drill into the tooth and dome-style small filling put in to stop an possible infection. Seems simple.I get in the chair and I wait for the doctor to come in to administer the gas when he instead picks up a drill. I asked him what about the gas? He then and for the first time in 3 visits, replied he doesn't do gas or sedation and proceeds to tell my partner all the financial reasons why he does not do gas or sedation. During this time I am in full anxiety mode, doing the best that I can to tell my 45-year-old self that having this much fear is ridiculous and that I should just grin and bare the 3 second drilling this would require. There would be no pain as it was a dead tooth.While I am trying to talk myself into this procedure, he continues to tell me partner how his patients think they need gas but really they don't. He is so good at talking them down"