emergency dentist Archives | Williams Family Dentistry

Terrified to Get My Wisdom Teeth Out

Posted on September 28, 2024 by writeradmin.

I am 18 years old and my mother wants me to get my wisdom teeth out. I’ve never had a problem with my teeth and have never even had to have a filling. Two of the wisdom teeth are impacted but are not bothering me. Is it really necessary to have these removed? Technically, I’m an adult now even though I still am in my last year of high school so I’m guessing no one can make me do this. I just want to understand why my mother thinks it is so important. She keeps saying not to wait until it is too late and this way she’s paying for it. But, I’m the one living through it. Why is this a big deal? If I’m being honest, I will have to admit I’m terrified of having to have them out. All of my friends who have to have things like root canals and such say it is absolutely miserable.

Tara

Dear Tara,

Let’s start out with the adult thing. You are not technically an adult. You are an adult. The good news for you is that I’m noticing something really positive in the way you are handling this. What you are not doing is saying, “I’m 18 and you can’t make me.” Instead, you are doing something very wise and asking, “Why is this important?”

First, let me alleviate your fear. When you have your wisdom teeth out, you should be getting dental sedation, usually oral conscious sedation. This is a very strong medicine taken by pill that will make dental work much easier on you. In fact, you will be so relaxed and comfortable that you will be more likely sleep through the procedure than anything else. The only downside to this is that you will be a bit loopy. Because of that, you will need someone you trust to drive you to and from the procedure as well as stay with you until you are lucid and steady on your feet. Other than that, it should be smooth sailing.

Why Remove Impacted Wisdom Teeth?

If your wisdom teeth are impacted, at some point they are very likely to develop an infection. So, your next question should be, “Why not wait until that happens?” Great question!

You are currently at the perfect age to have your wisdom teeth extracted. The bone is very pliable and there is hardly any cementum at the roots. As you get older, that changes. With those changes, comes an increased risk for serious complications. By the time you hit 30 your chances double. But, then the risk chances double much faster. I’d say about every 5 years.

While, 30 may seem like a long way away for you now, in reality you will blink and suddenly you’re 30. Life moves much faster after you graduate high school. Plus, each year the bone and cementum change to make the procedure a tiny bit more challenging. Having your wisdom teeth extracted now prevents all of those possibilities.

A second issue is control. If you wait until there is a dental emergency, you have very little control over when you get to go in and make arrangements for everything. Doing it before there is a problem means you have the contol.

You also have the bonus of getting your parents to pay for it. Once you are graduated and out of the house, then you will no longer have that benefit. Take my advice. Use their money and get this done while it is simple.

This blog is brought to you by Lexington, KY Dentist Dr. James E. Williams.

After Three Appointments, My Dentist Still Can’t Get Me Numb

Posted on June 29, 2024 by writeradmin.

I have a serious problem. I’m dealing with a rather challenging tooth infection that needs to be treated. I’m currently living off of antibiotics and pain killers, but these will not last forever. Unfortunately, even though I have had three different appointments with my dentist, he has been completely unable to get me numb enough to get any treatment done. I’m about to the point where I’m going to see an oral surgeon in order to get the tooth removed, but I was hoping to save the tooth. Do you know why I cannot go numb? At each appointment, he has given me a minimum of five shots of Novocain and none of it them has worked.

Any help you can offer will be greatly appreciated.
Avery

Dear Avery,

I am sorry that you have had these experiences. This probably hasn’t made your desire to go to the dentist any better. Bear in mind I have not examined you, however, I believe I do know what is happening as well as a solution for the problem.

Most people are at least a little anxious when it comes to going to the dentist. That anxiety drives up your metabolism. In some patients, this results in it reducing or, in more extreme cases, completely burning up any effectiveness of the numbing medication. This is very likely what is happening to you. Then, the more bad experiences you had with it the higher your anxiety got.

I am going to suggest that you see a sedation dentist. They can provide you with a medication that will help you to relax, thereby getting the numbing medication to do its job. There are different levels of sedation available, the lowest is nitrous oxide and when your procedure is over, you can go right back to your day with no problems. However, given your recent experiences, I feel you are going to need something stronger. I would try oral conscious sedation. This is very strong. So strong that you will need someone to drive you to and from your dental appointment as well as stay with you for a few hours after your appointment to ensure that you are lucid and steady on your feet. The good news is that you will be so relaxed that, not only will you have an anxiety-free and pain-free dental appointment, but you are very likely to sleep through your entire appointment.

I would consider your situation a dental emergency. Don’t stay with this dentist. Get to one who can give you sedation so you can get the treatment you need before this becomes a life-threatening situation.

This blog is brought to you by Lexington, KY Dentist Dr. James Williams.

Wisdom Tooth Coming in Brown?

Posted on June 17, 2023 by writeradmin.

I have a wisdom tooth that is erupting brown. I don’t know what is going on. Surely it can’t be decay. It’s just coming in. Do you know what this means? I’ve been told that dental enamel cannot be restored once it is lost. The bottom of my back teeth are brown too, but only the bottom and they have always been that way. I am scheduling an appointment with my dentist but am trying to gather as much information as possible. Any ideas?

Thomas

Dear Thomas,

Impacted Wisdom Teeth

It’s hard to tell from just what you’ve described and not having examined your teeth. However, based on what you have said it sounds like you have defective enamel. While enamel can turn brown if decay has started and then is terminated but, as you said, if it was brown while erupting, it is not likely to be decay.

Because you have discoloration on the bottom of your other teeth as well, it makes me think that you had some health issues while the enamel on your teeth were forming. This would impact your wisdom tooth as well. The bottom is brown on the other teeth which tells me the problem occurred when they were at the end of their formation. That same time would be eactly when the wisdom tooth began forming so it would have more discoloration.

Defective enamel is very susceptible to decay.I recommend being extra attentive with those teeth that have the discoloration. With a wisdom tooth, an extraction is not as serious because it will not require a replacement the way your other back teeth would. Impacted wisdom teeth are extracted all the time.

I am not saying you have to remove it. In fact, you may go your entire life with it not giving you any problems. Just be aware it is more at risk than your other teeth. If decay starts, deal with it immediately so it does not turn into an infection and then you’d need an emergency dental appointment.

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

Does My Three Year Old Need a Pediatric Dentist?

Posted on December 28, 2022 by writeradmin.

I need some advice. I have a three year old that has a dark spot on a back tooth. I can’t quite tell if it is a cavity. I do brush his teeth every night. I’m worried if I take him in they’ll want to do x-rays and I don’t know if he is too young to have radiation. Can you tell me what is the best course of action?

Carrie

Dear Carrie,

toddler

I can tell you are a caring mother and I am glad you are diligent to brush his teeth every day. I recommend increasing that to twice a day as well as flossing once a day. There are flossers with handles that make it easier to get in those tiny mouths. I am especially impressed that you caught something on a back tooth. It is hard to see back there!

To ease your fears, three years old is not too young for dental x-rays. This is especially true these days because most dentists use digital x-rays which hardly has any more radiation in it than you are exposed to naturally. In fact, at his age, he is due for his first check up anyway. Most pediatric dentists prefer to see children early, even as young as one year old. This way their first experiences with the dentist are fun and not an urgent emergency appointment where they may need a filling.

With it being a back tooth, it could be decay or it could also be food or other bacteria trapped there. Those back teeth have lost of pits and grooves. It will be important after his cleaning that you get those back teeth sealed. This is a simple procedure that just paints on a sealant protecting all those crevices that tend to develop cavities.

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

A Pulp Cap to Avoid a Root Canal Treatment

Posted on November 27, 2020 by writeradmin.

While trying to deal with a cavity, some pulp was exposed. We decided to do a pulp cap to try and avoid a root canal treatment. The cavity wasn’t completely removed. The area of exposure was lined with calcium hydroxide then a glass ionomer was placed on top of the cavity. Then, they placed an amalgam filling. Here are my questions:
1. Is there a way to know that the procedure is successful and I don’t need a root canal treatment?
2. Are there symptoms I should look out for if not?

Thank you for your help.
Miranda

Dear Miranda,

Usually, if a pulp cap was going to fail, you would know it right away. However, the way yours was done, leaves me with some concerns. I’ll start by describing the right way to do it. When done correctly, they have a high probability of success. You’ll notice the differences.

The Correct Pulp Cap Procedure

The first step is to make certain that all the decay is completely removed. Decay contains massive bacteria. Tooth infections occur when that bacteria gets into the pulp of the tooth. If this decay continues to grow, it will infect the pulp. This is especially true when the filling is an amalgam filling.

Second, while most of the materials used were good, such as the calcium hydroxide and the glass ionomer, the amalgam filling was a bad idea. The ideal filling would have been to use composite filling material. This is because composite fillings, which are bonded directly to the tooth, actually seal the area. This prevents micronutrients and bacteria from getting in and around the tooth. That helps to prevent further decay and infection. Amalgam fillings leave the tooth vulnerable.

My advice would be, unless there are signs of infection (such as pain and/or fever), to give it a year and then have your dentist do an x-ray to see if the tooth is healty. If it is not, then you should go ahead and get the root canal treatment. When you do, you can either replace the filling or get a dental crown. If you do replace the dental filling, make sure you replace it with a composite filling this time.

Safely Removing Amalgam Fillings

It is important when you have amalgam fillings that you remove them safely. The main ingredient in amalgam fillings is actually mercury, a known toxin. Removing them incorrectly can actually expose you to more mercury than is safe for you. There is a sanitary amalgam removal. Not all dentists know how to do it. If you want it done correctly, you either need to visit a mercury-free dentist or a holistic dentist.

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

Do I Need to Get a Crown on a Root Canaled Tooth?

Posted on February 19, 2020 by writeradmin.

I have a canine tooth that needs a root canal treatment. My dentist also wants me to get a crown. To tell you I’m not fond of dentists is an understatement. I get that I’ll need the root canal treatment. The tooth is infected. That has to be fixed. I get that. Do I have to also get a dental crown? The less time I spend in the dental chair the better.

Kevin

Dear Kevin,

You didn’t mention what tooth needed the root canal treatment. A root canal treatment can make a tooth brittle. Some dentists will just try to crown every tooth after a root canal. However, the location of the tooth makes a big difference as to whether or not you’ll need a crown. If it is a back tooth, then I would say the crown is absolutely necessary.

Molars have between two to four cusps, depending on whether they are a premolar or not. When stress is placed on those cusps, like you’d get with biting forces, the cusps pull apart. This causes split fractures. The back teeth are used for grinding so having a crown protects it.

The front teeth, however, are used for biting and tearing. The shearing stress on front teeth means that putting a crown on that tooth will actually put it at more risk of damage. Instead, I would handle it this way. Don’t let him place root canal filling material. This will cause a darkening of the tooth. The better plan is to place a white fiberglass post. Then fill the rest with a white composite filling material. This will protect your tooth and keep it a color you’ll be pleased with.

Dealing with Dental Anxiety

You are not alone in your dislike of the dental chair. I want to suggest you look for a dentist who offers dental sedation. This will allow you to have stress free as well as pain free appointments.

Most patients find this completely changes their lives. It makes it easier for them to get to the dentist. This in turns keeps them from having fewer, if any, dental infections and gives them better overall oral health.

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

Affordable Dentists Who Do a Good Job?

Posted on March 27, 2019 by writeradmin.

I’m looking for an affordable dentist, but one who actually does a good job. The ones I’ve looked up with affordable prices have not had good reviews. I need a lot of work and can’t just afford to put out a ton of money. I am hoping to find a decent one, but who doesn’t cost a fortune.

Lily

Dear Lily,

Woman giving thumbs up in a dental chair

There is a big difference between affordable dentists and cheap dentists. Cheap dentists, those who’s prices are lower than most market rates, are usually that way for one of two reasons:

They aren’t good dentists. They can’t retain patients so use low prices to constantly bring in new ones.
They cut corners by using lower quality materials to keep prices down without hurting profits too much.

Neither of these are scenarios you’d want for your own oral health care.

Finding Quality Affordable Dental Care

Price isn’t nearly as important as the quality of the work being done. If you had a dental crown which cost $300 and another which cost $700, you’d think the $300 crown would be more affordable. But, what if that crown only lasts three years and the more “expensive” crown is so well made it lasts twenty years. Which would you consider more affordable now?

What you want is a dentist who does quality work but is willing to do two things to help with cost:

First, they’ll do something called phased treatment. This allows you to get your treatment done i stages, instead of all the work needed at once. He or she can list for you which work is most urgent and work out a plan that allows you to get the work done within a budget.

Second, they offer payment plans. They can do this in-house or through a group called care credit. This is a medical credit card which offers low and 0% interest rates, with no penalty for early pay off.

Make sure whoever you use, you check their reviews. This should help you get an idea of the experience actual patients have had with his work. Though, you have already learned this trick.

What you don’t want to do is put off the most urgent treatment. Then, you’ll end up needing an emergency dentist.

This blog is brought to you by Kentucky Dentist Dr. John Weaver.

Affordable Dentist for Practice?

Posted on October 8, 2018 by writeradmin.

I saw an ad for a dentist who is offering dental crowns at a discount because he has some new technology which allows him to create the crowns in one visit to his office. Is it safe to do this? I have a tooth in need of a crown, but I haven’t had the money to get it done.

Belinda

Dear Belinda,

An image of a crown being placed on a tooth

When is an affordable crown not worth it?

Your dentist is likely referring to a CEREC machine. This mills crowns in office. It’s probably safe if the dentist is willing to stand behind his work. I’d ask that ahead of time. If the crown doesn’t go well, will he replace it free of charge? Everyone has to learn a new procedure at some point and there will always be those first few cases.

Some things to consider is it will take him longer. He’s just learning how to place these so he’s not going to be efficient. That’s okay too. Just make sure you allow for more time than the procedure would normally take.

If you’ve put off this dental crown for a while, it’s important you get another x-ray done. You want to be sure the decay hasn’t spread and you’re not in need of a root canal. The last thing you need is for this to blow up into a dental infection, leaving you looking for an emergency dentist.

Ways to Get Affordable Dental Care

I’m not discouraging you from seeing this particular dentist on the condition that he’ll stand behind his work. However, there are always options when it comes finding an affordable dentist. Most, if not all affordable dentists, are willing to allow you to receive the treatment you need and then pay it out in reasonable installments. Others will offer alternative treatments which may be more within your budget or phased treatments.

Never feel trapped into doing something. The key is communication with a dentist. Most have entered this field because they want to help people. They’re compassionate and will work with you.

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