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Top 10 Strangest Dental Requests Patients Make

Author: Chicago Dental Society
Published: 2011/02/21 - Updated: 2026/02/07
Publication Type: Informative
Category Topic: Offbeat News - Related Publications

Contents: Synopsis - Introduction - Main - Insights, Updates

Synopsis: This report presents findings from a Chicago Dental Society survey of over 300 dental professionals about the most unusual requests they've received from patients seeking specialized oral care treatments. The data offers valuable insight into the sometimes surprising expectations patients bring to dental appointments, ranging from cosmetic modifications like embedding diamonds into teeth to unconventional pain management requests and even veterinary dentistry inquiries. For individuals with disabilities or seniors who may have anxiety about dental visits or unique oral health needs, understanding the full spectrum of patient requests can normalize communication with dental professionals and encourage open dialogue about personalized treatment approaches that might seem unconventional but could address specific accessibility or comfort requirements - Disabled World (DW).

Introduction

Strange Dental Requests to Dentists - What Special Treatment Do Patients Seek for Their Teeth?

Dentists are the experts when it comes to oral care, but sometimes patients have special requests for their smiles. Prosthetic fangs, gold "grills", tooth tattoos - these might sound crazy to you, but wait until you hear some other requests.

Main Content

The Chicago Dental Society surveyed more than 300 members to find out the strangest dental requests they'd ever received from patients. Their answers might shock you!

10) "Can you extract my tooth without anesthesia"

9) "Please wire my mouth shut to aid in my diet."

8) "Can you ID this set of dentures left in the bathroom of the bar I work at"

7) "I will pay you or your hygienist to floss my teeth at my office every day."

6) "Pull all my teeth, and just give me dentures."

5) "I just broke off my engagement. Can you prepare my tooth so that I can keep the diamond in it"

4) "Will you give me local anesthesia in my lips? I'm going in for permanent "lipstick" tattoos on my lips, and would like to avoid the pain."

3) "May I have an emergency cleaning visit? It's my high school reunion and I need a bright, white smile to face my old boyfriend."

2) "Can I keep the teeth you pull out of my mouth? I'd like to make a necklace out of them."

And the number one strangest dental request ever received...

"Can you give my dog braces"

The survey was conducted for the Chicago Dental Society's 146th annual Midwinter Meeting, which will bring more than 30,000 dental professionals to Chicago this February 24-26. The Midwinter Meeting is a forum for dentists to learn about new products, technologies, and methods.

Insights, Analysis, and Developments

Editorial Note: The variety of requests dentists encounter reflects how personal and cultural attitudes toward dental care extend far beyond routine cleanings and cavity fillings. While some requests seem humorous or impractical, they highlight an important truth about patient-centered care: people come to dental professionals with diverse needs, concerns, and ideas about what their oral health should achieve. For dental practitioners, these unusual requests serve as reminders that effective communication requires listening without judgment and helping patients understand both the possibilities and limitations of modern dentistry. Whether it's a patient seeking extreme cosmetic modifications or someone looking for creative solutions to anxiety management, each request represents an opportunity to educate, guide, and occasionally redirect expectations toward safer, more effective alternatives that still honor the patient's underlying concerns - Disabled World (DW).

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APA: Chicago Dental Society. (2011, February 21 - Last revised: 2026, February 7). Top 10 Strangest Dental Requests Patients Make. Disabled World (DW). Retrieved March 25, 2026 from www.disabled-world.com/news/offbeat/weird.php
MLA: Chicago Dental Society. "Top 10 Strangest Dental Requests Patients Make." Disabled World (DW), 21 Feb. 2011, revised 7 Feb. 2026. Web. 25 Mar. 2026. <www.disabled-world.com/news/offbeat/weird.php>.
Chicago: Chicago Dental Society. "Top 10 Strangest Dental Requests Patients Make." Disabled World (DW). Last modified February 7, 2026. www.disabled-world.com/news/offbeat/weird.php.

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