tooth extraction 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.

Do I Need an Oral Surgeon to Remove this Tooth?

Posted on January 31, 2025 by writeradmin.

I had a molar that was bothering me. It took me a while to get to the dentist. I waited until the pain was too much. He did a root canal treatment. I did not go back to get the crown. I guess you’ve figured out by now that I avoid dentists. It never seems to go well when I go. No offense, but I think you people like causing pain sometimes. Anyway, once again the pain became more than I could deal with so I went to see a different dentist. He said the tooth is infected and too far gone. His suggestion is that I extract the tooth. He asked me if I wanted to do with an oral surgeon instead of with the dentist. I’m torn. A surgeon would put me to sleep. But, that’s a lot of money. He also said there is a lot of bone, which makes me think that maybe it will be trickier. What do you think?

Adam

Dear Adam,

I don’t like the predicament that this dentist put you in. He hints that it is tricky without giving you any details? That is not what a dentist normally does. It makes me wonder if it is the dentist who is not used to doing these type of extractions and is trying to scare you into seeing someone else. Another possibility is there is something else going on but he just is a bad dentist at explaining things.

Normally, these type of extractions are fine being done at a dentist’s office. My suggestion is that you get a second opinion, but when you do, make certain that you see a sedation dentist. You are not alone in having dental anxiety. As a result, you avoid the dentist, which leads to a more painful appointment.

Dental sedation can give you pain-free appointments, which can get you on the right track with your oral health and help you to have dental care which doesn’t make you want to avoid the dentist. It honestly changes lives. Make sure that whoever you consult offers oral conscious sedation which is a stronger type of sedation for those with severe anxiety.

Once your tooth is extracted, you really will need to replace it. If you don’t, the adjacent teeth will shift or tip into the open space, which will throw off your bite. The best tooth replacement would be a dental implant.

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

Why Extract Baby Teeth

Posted on April 19, 2021 by writeradmin.

My six year old daughter has decay on two of her back molars. The dentist is being a bit rude and wants them extracted immediately, but they are baby teeth. Why is that the right choice? Won’t they just come out? Why pay to pull it?

Sara

Dear Sara,

There are a few things going on here. First, I will say I am sorry your daughter’s dentist was rude. I wasn’t there and don’t know your dentist, but is it possible it was more urgency that came across as rude? It is unusual for a children’s dentist to recommend that a back molar be extracted on a child that age. You mention decay. I wonder if that decay had turned into an infection. I know it is a baby tooth and they do come out, however back teeth are different for reasons we’ll go over in a moment.

Bear in mind, I have not examined your daughter, but here are some possibilities and what to do about them.

1. The teeth are deeply decayed and they going to break and lead to infection. If there is enough of the tooth left to save some of it, you could do a pulpotomy and place a dental crown on it. A pulpotomy is simply a child’s version of a root canal treatment.

You mentioned that their teeth come out. So you are likely now wondering why do a pulpotomy when you can just get rid of the tooth? While it is fine for most baby teeth to be removed prematurely, the back molars need to stay in place until she is twelve years old, when her next set of molars typically come in. In a six year span, her other teeth will drift toward the empty space, then when her adult molars finally do come in, there will not be space for them and it will turn into a crowding problem that needs orthodontics to fix. Getting the crown, will preserve that position so the adult teeth can come into the right place.

2. The tooth is already infected beyond what a pulpotomy can help. Tooth infections are considered dental emergencies. This is because the antibiotics cannot “treat” the infection only hold it back temporarily. If a dentist doesn’t get in there and remove the infected pulp, the infection will spread. Think about how close your daughter’s jaw is to her heart, lungs, and brain. Sadly, people still die of tooth infections, even though it is completely treatable.

If her decay and infection have progressed, then even though it is a molar the tooth will have to be extracted. If that happens, make sure to get a space maintainer. This is a device they can place which will keep the space protected so there won’t be crowding.

Because your daughter is likely already in some pain and you don’t want it to be a traumatic situation for her that makes her afraid of dentists for the remainder of her life, I recommend you go to someone who uses dental sedation. This way it will be an anxiety-free/pain-free experience for her.

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

Why Is My Holistic Dentist Suggesting a Root Canal Treatment?

Posted on August 30, 2019 by writeradmin.

I specifically choose a holistic dentist because I wanted to do things naturally. Yet, when I got a toothache, he is suggesting a root canal treatment. Can’t I just treat the infection with oils?

Brianna

Dear Brianna,

woman holding a loose aloe vera plant with dirt

A holistic dentist factors in the health of your whole body.

It’s great that you try to do things in a natural and healthy way for your body. Believe it or not, that’s what your holistic dentist is trying to do as well. Dental infections are a little different from other types of infections. Oils won’t work. Antibiotics won’t even work. The infection has to be physically removed by a dentist, hence the root canal treatment.

This is because the infection causes the pulp of the tooth to die. When that happens, there is no blood flow left which doesn’t allow any medication to reach the infection. That is why the dentist has to remove the infection with a root canal treatment. This completely removes the infection while enabling you to save your tooth.

Alternative to a Root Canal Treatment

The only real alternative to a root canal treatment, once a tooth is infected, is to extract the tooth. This will require you to also get the tooth replaced. Even if the tooth isn’t visible when you smile, you’ll need to replace it. If you don’t, the other teeth will drift and tip into the empty space. This causes bite problems which can lead to more serious issues, such as TMJ Disorder.

If you decide to go this route, you’ll want a good tooth replacement option. The top two options are a dental implant or a dental bridge. Both of these are invasive. The implant requires surgery. The bridge requires you to grind down the two adjacent teeth in order for them to have dental crowns.

Never Put Off Treatment for a Tooth Infection

I don’t want you to put off treatment. I know it’s tempting when you are facing a treatment you aren’t keen on. But, tooth infections are dental emergencies. The infection will continue to spread. Some spread rapidly and become life-threatening.

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

Infected Tooth & No Money

Posted on July 16, 2019 by writeradmin.

I don’t know what to do. I have a seriously infected tooth. That part of my cheek has swollen to the size of a golfball. I have no dental insurance and no job. I was laid off 5 months ago and just haven’t found anything. I don’t know what to do in order to take care of this. Do you have any suggestions?

Parker

Dear Parker,

I’m sorry about your lay-off. I know that is a terrible feeling, especially when you have something serious going on which needs to be addressed. When you’re talking about an infected tooth, it is important a dentist gets in there and physically removes the infected pulp. This is done with a root canal treatment. Antibiotics alone cannot solve the problem. The infection will flare back up and be harder to treat.

Even in the 21st century we still have people dying from tooth infections. Most people don’t realize how quickly these can turn life-threatening. However, if you think about how close your jaw is to both your heart and brain you can see that as the infection spreads things can turn serious.

Affording Dental Care During an Emergency

Most larger communities have some type of clinic available for people to get affordable dental care in cases of emergencies such as yours. Call your local dental society and see what they advise.

If you happen to live in a community which doesn’t offer these services, don’t lose heart. Most dentists are compassionate and went into their field because they wanted to help people.

Try calling around and explaining your situation. They may be willing to let you get the services you need and pay as you are able. Each practice will have their own policy. Communication is the key.

If the Tooth Can’t Be Saved

Depending on how far gone the tooth is, it may not be possible to save it even with a root canal treatment. If you end up needing an extraction, your dentist can provide you with a dental flipper. This is an inexpensive tooth replacement. It’s meant to be temporary but it gives you time while you are still looking for employment. When things are more stable for you, there are better replacement options your dentist can discuss with you.

The key now is to get the treatment you need.
This blog is brought to you by Lexington, KY Emergency Dentist Dr. John Weaver.