root canal treatment Archives | Williams Family Dentistry

Tooth Infected and No Money

Posted on March 31, 2025 by writeradmin.

I have an infected tooth and am in a lot of pain. However, I don’t have much money, nor do I have dental insurance. I do have medical insurance, so I could go to a dentist to get an antibiotic. Do you have an antibiotic that you would recommend in my situation? There is now swelling all the up my cheek toward my temple and I’m absolutely miserable.

Stanley

Dear Stanley,

You’ve got a serious situation on your hands here. Your tooth infection is spreading. Right now you have a dental emergency. You do not want to let it get to your brain because your dental emergency can turn life threatening.

A tooth infection is different from other bacterial infections where you can take an antibiotic and be done with it. There are only two ways to get rid of an infection in a tooth. Both include getting rid of the infected pulp. You can do that with a root canal treatment or by extracting the tooth. The root canal treatment is the ideal because it will save the tooth.

If you end up with an extraction, you’ll want to replace the tooth as well. Otherwise, you risk the other teeth shifting or tipping into the empty space. This will throw off your bite and it could lead to TMJ disorder.

The most an antibiotic can do is hold the infection at bay until you get in to see a dentist. Once the medication runs out, the infection will flare back up and you’ll be in an even worse situation. You need to get this treated properly. People still die from untreated tooth infections.

I realize money is an issue here. I would do a search for an affordable dentist in your area. They would be more likely to work with you on payments.

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

Antibiotics and a Tooth Infection

Posted on September 30, 2023 by writeradmin.

I had a toothache that I just couldn’t get rid of. Normally, I would avoid the dentist like the plague but the pain became too much to bear. I went to see an emergency dentist. He gave me some prescription antibiotics to treat the infection. It did help at first. However, once it ran out I started feeling bad again. In fact, it got worse. Now my whole cheek is swollen. Would a second antibiotic finish off the infection or is it something worse than I thought?

Darrell

Dear Darrell,

Either there was a miscommunication and you didn’t hear that there needed to be some follow up action or the dentist who treated you has a serious lack of understanding in how tooth infections work. An antibiotic will only hold the infection at bay for a while, however, it will not cure the infection. There are two ways to really treat a tooth infection. The first is to do a root canal treatment. This is preferred because it saves the tooth. If that is not possible, the next option is to extract and replace the tooth. Hopefully, it will not come to that, but if it does the best tooth replacement is a dental implant.

I hope this was mentioned to you. My suggestion is that you call another dentist and get this tended to right away. People still die from tooth infections because they can spread to your heart, lungs, or brain, all of which are close to your jaw.

You are not the only patient to deal with dental anxiety by avoiding the dentist. Though, it is not the safest way for you to live. I believe I have a solution for you. I would like you to see an emergency dentist who also offers dental sedation. This is a way for you to have an anxiety-free/pain-free dental experinece.

Anxious patients, who have tried this, found that it completely changed their life. They were finally able to get their oral health under control and see the dentist without fear.

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

Can I Charge a Venue for My Emergency Dental Visit

Posted on July 31, 2022 by writeradmin.

I was at a small venue I have attended many times for a concert and drinks. A fight broke out, which I was not involved in. Yet, the bouncer seemed to target me anyway and I was punched in the mouth. Because I was bleeding and my tooth felt funny, I scheduled an emergency dental visit. Now I find out that I need a root canal treatment. This is all become bloody expensive. I’m not from the U.S. so I don’t know what rights I have in this situation. Can I sue the venue to pay for my treatment?

Benedict

Dear Benedict.

First, let me say I am glad you had the wisdom to see a dentist right away. You could very well have saved your tooth. Great job! As to whether or not the venue will be held accountable to pay, that is a legal issue. What I can tell you is to find out if there is a record of the incident. Then, start by going to them directly and just explaining to them what happened, exactly as you did to me. Ask them to help cover your expenses. They may step up and do the right thing, saving you the trouble of a court battle.

If they say no, you may, of course, consult an attorney. I am not a lawyer so I hesitate to give out legal advice.

I am sorry this happened to you and I’m glad you had the wisdom to get an emergency dental appointment. Too many people put this off and end up losing a tooth they could have saved. It is much more expensive to replace a missing tooth than to repair a saveable one.

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

Dentist Doesn’t Understand Tooth Infections

Posted on May 31, 2022 by writeradmin.

I had a root canal treatment a few years ago. Everything was fine until about four weeks ago. Then it went crazy and started hurting again. I went to see my dentist. He did an x-ray and said that there was a new infection in the root canaled tooth. I agreed to a re-treatment. We did that. He gave me some antibiotics as well as some prescription pain meds. Three weeks later and I’m out of both antibiotics and pain meds. It had started to get better but the moment I ran out of meds, it flared back up. I called my dentist and he said to be patient because some people take longer than others to heal. Can you give me an idea how long this will take? I’m in a lot of pain and I get the impression my dentist is tired of hearing from me.

Jan

Dear Jan,

I’d like you to get in to see an endodontist (a root canal specialist) as soon as possible. I think you have a dental emergency on your hands and I am not convinced your dentist understands how these tooth infections work. There are a couple of things going on here. First, when a root canal treatment fails, a retreatment will only succeed about 1/2 the time. Each succeeding treatment has less of a chance of success. You need a specialist to get in there and do it.

Second, your dentist should have recognized that when you started to get better, but it flared back up after the antibiotics completed there is a new infection. This is Dental Infections 101. The fact that your dentist doesn’t understand this means he is in way over his head with your root canal.

Call an endodontist and tell them what is going on. If they can’t get you in right away, they will write you a new prescription in order to help keep the infection at bay.

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.

Antibiotics for a Tooth Infection

Posted on August 2, 2020 by writeradmin.

I saw a dentist two weeks ago for a tooth that was infected. He has me on two antibiotics. I was getting better and then three days ago, it started to get worse again. Now I am swollen up to my eye. Am I on the wrong antibiotic?

Kelly

Dear Kelly,

I am hoping there was a miscommunication between you and your dentist. Antibiotics alone will not treat a tooth infection. Their purpose is two-fold. First, they are used to get an infection under more control until the actual treatment is done. Second, they can hold off the infection for a short time while you wait for your appointment. Is it possible your dentist said you needed to schedule a follow-up appointment and you forgot about that part? If not, your dentist has a fundamental lack of understanding about tooth infections. So fundamental, it makes me question how he graduated.

Treating a Tooth Infection

The way to treat a tooth infection is for the dentist to physically remove the infected tissue. There are two ways of accomplishing this. The first is with a root canal treatment. This is the ideal solution because it saves your tooth, especially the root which is extremely important.

The second option is to extract the tooth. I only recommend this when the tooth cannot be saved. Once a tooth is extracted, it needs to be replaced. Otherwise, the other teeth will shift and tip into its place, which can throw off your bite leading to a lifetime of jaw pain from TMJ Disorder.

You should be aware that infected teeth are considered a dental emergency. This is because the infection will spread until proper treatment is completed. I am especially concerned by the fact that you are swollen up to your eye. You do not want a tooth infection to reach your brain, heart, or lungs. If it does it will become life-threatening rather quickly. Believe it or not, people still die from tooth infections.

If Your Tooth Can’t Be Saved

Hopefully, a simple root canal treatment is all you need. If it is too late to save your tooth, you have two good options for a tooth replacement. The ideal replacement is to get a dental implant. If that is not possible or if one of your adjacent teeth happens to need a dental crown, then getting a dental bridge is another good option for you.

Please don’t put off getting this dealt with. Call the dentist who you originally saw and tell him you need a root canal treatment right away.

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

Can an Infected Tooth Spread to a Salivary Gland?

Posted on July 3, 2020 by writeradmin.

My daughter has had two salivary gland infections right above where she had two root canal treatments on the same tooth. Could this be spreading to infect her salivary gland? The doctor can’t seem to figure out what is leading to the infections and this is the only thing I could think of that makes any sense. Do tooth infections spread out of the teeth?

Margie

Dear Margie,

A tooth infection can spread outside of the tooth. This is one of the reasons they are considered dental emergencies. Your jaw is very close to your heart, lungs, and brain so a dental infection can turn life-threatening if left untreated. That being said, yes, it is possible an infection has spread to your daughter’s salivary glands. However, that would only be possible if her root canal treatment had failed.

You mentioned this is the second root canal treatment on this tooth. That means she’s already had one failed root canal treatment. The chances of a successful treatment go down with each successive re-treatment. My advice to you is to see an endodontist, also known as root canal specialists, to have an x-ray done. The x-ray should show you if there is an infection present.

If the Tooth Can’t be Saved

If there is an infection, the root canal specialist will have a much better chance of giving you a successful treatment. It is also possible that this tooth cannot be saved. In that case, all that would be left is a tooth extraction. When a tooth is extracted, it needs to be replaced otherwise the adjacent teeth will shift or tip into the space, completely throwing off her bite.

The best tooth replacement option is a dental implant. However, if your daughter is a teenager, her jaw isn’t developed enough for that treatment yet. In that case, I would get her a dental flipper, which is an inexpensive temporary tooth replacement. You can use that until she is old enough for the dental implant.

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

Danger with Tooth Infections

Posted on May 31, 2020 by writeradmin.

I’m worried my dentist is putting my life in danger. I have a tooth infection. He wrote me a prescription for antibiotics but told me not to take it until a week before my followup appointment and procedure. That’s not for THREE WEEKS. I’ve always been told that tooth infections are a dental emergency and need to be dealt with right away. I’m worried he’s putting my life in danger with this delay.

Brandon

Dear Brandon,

You’re right that tooth infections are considered a dental emergency. This is because if they’re not treated they will spread. When you think about how close your jaw is to your brain, heart, and lungs, you can see that you don’t want to allow an infection to grow out of your jaw area.

That being said, it is possible that your infection is so small your dentist knows you have time and you are not in any danger. The antibiotic is a precaution to keep the bacteria growth down as you are going into the procedure to deal with your infection, which I’m assuming at this point is a simple root canal treatment.

If the infection starts to take off and you are in pain, call your dentist back and tell him what is going on. He should get you in right away if that is the case. If he doesn’t and is just leaving you in pain, there are dentists who will treat non-established patients in situations such as yours. You can do an internet search and call some offices.

I hope this puts your mind at ease. The key here is pain and progression. If pain is happening, you shouldn’t be left without aid. If it is progressing quickly, he needs to get you in sooner than originally planned.

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

Dentist Wants to Extract Tooth Prematurely

Posted on March 23, 2020 by writeradmin.

I have pain in a molar and went to see a holistic dentist. He did some x-rays and said there doesn’t seem to be much of the canal left only calcification. He’s giving me antibiotics and if that doesn’t work he wants to extract the tooth. I’m not too crazy about that. Have you heard of this before? Is there another alternative?

Casey

Dear Casey,

When a tooth is infected, it needs a root canal treatment.

I want to hit the pause button here because I’m concerned regarding what I’m hearing. I’m worried your dentist doesn’t understand some things. There are good and bad medical practitioners in every field, including dentistry. It sounds like your holistic dentist is at best confused.

Let’s start with the antibiotics. If you have a tooth infection, these will not cure it. When antibiotics are used for dental infections it is to hold the infection at bay until a root canal treatment can be done. What will happen is the pain will go away as you’re taking the antibiotics. However, once they’re done, the infection will blow up again. Until the infected pulp is physically removed it will spread.

Let’s say, however, the antibiotics don’t help at all, not even when you’re taking them. That means an infection isn’t the cause of your pain. This means your dentist will be extracting a tooth without a true diagnosis.

Just because your dentist can’t see the canal well on the x-ray doesn’t mean it is not there. I’m going to recommend you get a second opinion, if possible from an endodontist.

As for the calcification, as we age, our canals tend to shrink. Plus, if a tooth is irritated, it will build up dentin on the insides of the pulp chamber. In the more extreme cases, it will block the canals. However, an endodontist will have special tools to get through the calcified parts.

This blog is brought to you by Lexington, KY Holistic 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.