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Archives for November 2019

Can I Put Off a Tooth Extraction?

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I had a root canal treatment done and then a crown. This was a while ago. The tooth started hurting again. I went to see my dentist and he said I have an abscess. He prescribed me some antibiotics and referred me to an endodontist. When he x-rayed it, he said the tooth was cracked and will need to be extracted. Here’s my question. The tooth has been treated with antibiotics and no longer hurts. Can I just put off this extraction until (and if) something else happens?

Eric

Dear Eric,

Photo of young man wearing a blue shirt and holding the right-hand side of his face, for information on Lexington, KY emergency dentistry at Kentucky Dental Group.

I’m relieved you wrote to ask before following through with this plan. This would end up being a disaster. Often, just having an abscessed tooth is considered a dental emergency. But, let’s ignore this for a moment and just go under the assumption this won’t blow up quickly.

Right now your tooth is still infected. The antibiotics didn’t “cure” it. Instead, it is just holding it at bay until you have the infection physically removed. What will happen is you’ll feel fine for a while. Then, a few days after your antibiotics are used, the infection will return. If you try to extract the tooth then, you’ll find the infection will keep the Novocain from working to its full potency. That will be a miserable experience for you.

Your best solution and the one which will be the least risky for you is to have it extracted now. If anxiety is an issue for you, there are dental sedation options which will give you an anxiety-free experience.

Replacing an Extracted Tooth

You’ll need to replace your tooth as soon as is reasonably possible. The best tooth replacement option is to get a dental implant. It mimics the natural tooth by providing a prosthetic tooth root and then a crown. It is the closest thing to having your healthy natural tooth back.

I will be upfront that it is the most expensive of your options, but it is worth saving up for. Don’t leave the space open until you can afford to replace it. If you do that, the adjacent teeth will begin to shift or tip into the open spot. Then your teeth will need orthodontics and there won’t be enough space left to adequately replace the tooth.

There are inexpensive replacements you can put there on a temporary basis. Timeliness in both these situations will save you money and hassle in the long run.

This blog is brought to you by Lexington, KY Dentist Dr. John Weaver.

Finding a Dentist Who Understand Allergies

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I was having a lot of problems with my health and after years of tests with no answers, I finally gave up on doctors and went to have special allergy testing done. It turns out I’m allergic to many metals and even some dental materials. The list includes I know I have allergies to dental cement, formaldehyde, cobalt, nickel, chromium, titanium, and many chemicals. How will I find a dentist who specializes in patients with these type of allergies?

Karyn

Dear Karyn,

Woman giving thumbs up in a dental chair

You have been through a great deal. I know how frustrating it can be when you can’t get to the bottom of why you don’t feel well. You’ve really hung in there with great perseverance. While you won’t find a dentist who understands those specific types of allergies, I do have a solution for you.

What you need is a dentist who is willing to be creative and work around your dental allergies and metal sensitivities. You can often find this if you look for what is known as a biological dentist or holistic dentist. They work with your body and will be more willing to adapt the procedures you need to your body’s limitations.

Sanitary Amalgam Removal

Given your multiple allergies, one thing you may want to consider is removing any amalgam (silver) fillings. However, you’ll want the holistic dentist to do this. There is a special procedure, known as a sanitary amalgam removal, which will protect you from inhaling any of the mercury during the removal process. Then, your dentist can replace those with mercury-free composite fillings.

Titanium Allergies

Titanium is a rare allergy. The one area that could affect you in dental care is if you ever have to replace a tooth. Dental implants are the best tooth-replacement option. Most dentists use the traditional titanium dental implants. However, given you are allergic to them, you will instead need to find a dentist who will use the zirconia implants. These are strong enough, but they have been in use for less time so not all dentists are using them yet. Look for a metal-free dentist in that case. Hopefully, you’ll never have to replace a tooth, but if it happens I wanted you aware of your options.

This blog is brought to you by Lexington, KY Dentist Dr. John Weaver.