If you’re on supplemental oxygen, you wear it as usual, @A MyCOPDTeam Member.

I’ve told my dentist I’m on supplemental oxygen at home, and wear my SP02 continuous monitoring ring when I’m at an appointment. I do pretty well unless they have my head lower than my heart, and rather than doing that, they lower the chair even closer to the floor, and take breaks for me to sit up and catch my breath, if needed, when doing extensive work.

Hope this answer helps. Thursday, 22-FEB-24

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A MyCOPDT...

@A MyCOPDTeam Member you can develop an abscess in your lung from an infected tooth, as I did 2 years ago. Mine became life-threatening, thank you Kaiser, and my right lung had collapsed by the time they got a team and a room, 3 days later, for a pulmonologist to do the bronchoscopy.
I would explain your COPD and I think they will prescribe an antibiotic, but I would find out what a strong enough one would be first to keep you safe from the possibility.

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A MyCOPDT...

Hang in there and talk to them, @A MyCOPDTeam Member. They ask for a health profile on patients for just that reason - fear of an unknown liability - but most dentists are reasonable when you explain what’s going on, as well as your fear for being at a dentist.

If you do get dropped, search your zip code and surrounding area for a “special needs” dentist, and you may find one you like (or can tolerate) even better.

Good luck. You can do this !

Thursday, 22-FEB-24

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A MyCOPDT...

Thanks for the reassurance. Guess I am afraid of pain and rude dentists!

I've never had a problem going to the dentist, so maybe I'm not a good person to ask. I guess what I really am asking is what are you concerned about? 02 issues can usually be dealt with by talking to the dentist ahead of time so they know to expect it, and so can most everything else, I think. The best thing to do is talk with them and let them know what you're concerned about; then you can have a conversation about how they will accommodate you.