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Sedation Dentistry

Can a hospital do my extractions?

If I need full dentures, can a hospital do my extractions? I can’t deal with dentists very well.

Justine M. -Oklahoma City, OK

Justine,

While it is possible to go to the hospital to have your extractions done, it will be extremely expensive.  There are ways to have your teeth removed without pain. It is called sedation dentistry. Because I suspect you are looking for some deep sedation, I will recommend two of the strongest levels of sedation:

1. Oral sedation: With this, you’ll take a pill before your appointment.

2. IV Sedation: This requires an anesthetist.

Both methods require you to have someone to drive you to and from your appointment. Every dentist is different as to what types of sedation they offer, so you’ll need to call around.

This blog is brought to you by Gilbert Dentist Dr. Matt Roper.

Dental Emergency

Can I put off a root canal?

If I am not in pain, can I put off a root canal. If so, how long?

Deidre I. – Louisiana

Deidre,

If your infection isn’t active, then you can put it off indefinitely. However, if there is pain, even a little bit, that means you have an active infection. Sometimes the pain stops and then starts again. Whenever there is pain, I suggest you get seen right away.

If you don’t have a dentist, you can always go to an emergency dentist, at least just for this treatement. Then, you can take your time looking for a new dentist.

Another sign of infection is if you have a pimple on your gums or some drainage in your mouth.

If you put off the root canal too long, you run the risk of your tooth becoming unsaveable, due to root reabsorption.

This blog is brought to you by Gilbert dentist Dr. Matt Roper.

CEREC crowns

Crown won’t stay in

My permanent crown has fallen off three times.  My dentist can’t figure out what is going wrong. Do you have an idea?

Drew B. – MN

Drew,

I have some idea. I think your dentist doesn’t know how to bond them on properly.  If you use the proper bonding technique, then the crowns do not fall off. It is as simple as that.  You telling me that it has fallen out three times, really makes me think your dentist hasn’t a clue what he or she is doing. I’m not exaggerating. I know dentists who’ve been in business for over thirty years whom have never had a crown fall out.  In fact, I don’t know a dentist who has had a crown fall out.

I think you need a second opinion.  Go to a different dentist. Ask them if anything is wrong with your crown. If not, they can just bond it on for you, no problem. If there is something wrong with the crown as well, then I would see if they could make you a CEREC crown. This will save you an additional appointment, especially if you had to drive a distance for the second opinion. CEREC machines can mill your crown the same day as your appointment. There is no need for a temporary crown.

This blog is brought to you by Gilbert Dentist Dr. Matt Roper.

Dental Emergency

Am I too old to have my wisdom teeth removed?

I have a wisdom tooth that is really bothering me, but I am 33 years old and am a little concerned that I might be too old to have it removed. Is there much risk of complication at my age? Also, should I just have all of them removed or just wait until they bother me?

Rory Ann- Michigan

Rory Ann,

I don’t really get too concerned about complication until someone is 40. You’re young enough still where I think you can safely do this procedure.

If your wisdom tooth is bothering you, then there really isn’t much choice but to remove it anyway. Leaving a wisdom tooth infection is extremely dangerous. It can spread to your jawbone, even your brain. You want to get it removed as soon as possible.

I like the idea of you getting all of them out at the same time.  It’s no harder on your recovery and it is safer than waiting until they bother you.  That might not happen until you are over the age of 40, when complication, including your jaw breaking are more likely.

This blog is brought to you by Gilbert Emergency Dentist Dr. Matt Roper.

Sedation Dentistry

How much dental work in one sitting?

I haven’t been to the dentist in ages. I finally went in last week and found out that I needed quite a bit of work done. That is not a huge surprise, but it is disappointing. I don’t want to live at the dentist’s office. I wondered how much dental work can be done in one sitting?

Brian L.

Brian,

You haven’t mentioned what type of procedures you need. Is it just fillings? Or maybe you need some crowns and root canals?

How much can be done in one sitting depends on two things: 1. What type of procedures you need, and 2. Your tolerance in the chair.

Some people can handle a few hours, but it gets hard holding your mouth open.  I will tell you, that you could handle a lot more time in the chair if you used sedation dentistry. My suggestion would be either oral sedation dentistry or IV sedation. That will enable you  to get the most work done, with the least amount of discomfort to you.

If you go with sedation, you will need someone to drive you to and from your appointment.

This blog is brought to you by Gilbert Dentist Dr. Matt Roper.

CEREC crowns

Crown fell off

My temporary crown fell out.  Can I get it to stay back in using denture paste?

Luke H. – Georgia

Luke,

It is your dentist who should assume responsibility for the crown to be re-cemented. However, if for some reason  you can’t reach him or he does not take responsibility, you have two options:

First, you could go to a pharmacy and get some temporary dental cement.  Tell them what happened to your crown and they should be able to supply you with some.

Second, if the first option isn’t possible you can use super glue.  Don’t use too much because it can be hard to get off.

What I don’t want you to do is leave the crown off. Even if it is only off for a few days it will throw off your bite and then your permanent crwon will not fit.

This blog is brought to you by Gilbert Dentist Dr. Matt Roper.

Affordable Dentistry

Can’t afford tooth extraction

I have an infected wisdom tooth that really needs to be extracted, but I just don’t have the money. I’m worried the infection is spreading. I’ve now got pressure along my left cheek bone leading up to my eye.  Should I see if my doctor would be willing to write me an antibiotic prescription without my coming in? My dentist won’t do it.

Brandon W.- Athens, GA

Brandon,

There is a  reason your dentist won’t write you a prescription, but it sounds like he didn’t explain it to you. Antibiotics will not get rid of your infection. They will merely hold the infection temporarily, but it will continue and then will be more resistant to the medicine. The reason antibiotics don’t work is they cannot get to the source of the infection.

You need a dentist to do that. If you leave the infection, it will continue to spread.  What will you do if it gets to your brain?

You’re in need of some affordable dental treatment. My recomendation to you is that you call around and explain your situation. You will probably find a dentist who is willing to work with you.  Most dentists have payment plan options. Our office even has an in-office dental plan. This will allow you to pay the fee over time.  Some are low and even no-interest plans.

This blog is brought to you by Gilbert Dentist Dr. Matt Roper.

Dental Emergency

Can’t drink hot chocolate-my tooth hurts

We’ve finally gotten to the cold weather and my tooth hurts like crazy. I can’t even drink my coveted hot chocolate. Is there anything I can do to get rid of this pain?

Sara G. – Utah

Sara,

When your tooth is sensitive to heat, it means the pulp inside your tooth is so inflamed that it is about to die.  This is something that needs treatment fairly quickly.  You’ll need a root canal treatment and a dental crown.

You’ll want to get seen before any infection spreads elsewhere in your body.  Explain to your dentist what is happening. If you’re still haveing trouble getting in quickly, there are dentists that will see you the same day in those situations. Just tell them what is going on and they will fit you in.

Don’t put this off. I want to reiterate that it is important to deal with this before things get worse.

This blog is brought to you by Gilbert, AZ Dentist Dr. Matt Roper.

Sedation Dentistry

The BEST way to go to the dentist

Here is a letter a colleague of mine received. I can’t think of a better endorsement for sedation dentistry anywhere.

For years I have avoided the dentist (sorry about that), but not anymore. I have found the best way to go to the dentist. If you have any other chicken patients maybe you can tell them my story and they will find the help I did.

Dear Fellow Dental Chicken,

I understand how you feel. Whenever I thought about going to the dentist my whole body would tense up.  Who wants to pay for that kind of pain? The problem was I was starting to be in pain all the time.  I was getting cavities. Those cavities turned into tooth infections.

Even with the infection, I was still finding excuses to avoid the dentist. One evening, when I was in an abundance of pain, my friend Terri told me that if I didn’t take care of my tooth infection that it could spread. In a worst case scenario, it can even spread to my brain!

I don’t have to tell you that she put me in a little bit of a panic.  She told me about sedation dentistry and my life hasn’t been the same since.  I took a pill before my appointment. It relaxed me completely. To be honest, it relaxed me so much I don’t remember a whole lot about the dental appointment.  What I do know is that my infection is gone and I felt NO pain during my appointment.  Since then, I’ve been back twice to take care of all that dental work I have neglected over these years.

I hope this helps.

This blog has been brought to you by Gilbert Dentist Dr. Matt Roper.

CEREC crowns

Crowns without a temporary

I needed to get a dental crown. My temporary crown has fallen off. Of course, my know it all sister told me if I’d have gotten a cerec crown I wouldn’t have needed a temporary to begin with.  I’m sure she’d correct (she always seems to be), but can you tell me what this cerec thing is?

Nate- Boston

Nate,

I have a sister like that. As much as I hate to tell you this, she is right. CEREC crowns are milled at your appointment by a computer. They’re generally ready in about twenty minutes.

Because they’re done by computer, they generally will fit better as well.  You’ll have to find a dentist who uses CEREC technology.

Hopefully, your current dentist took care of your temporary crown.  You don’t want to leave that off because it can throw off your bite and your permanent crown won’t fit.

This blog is brought to you by Gilbert Dentist Dr. Matt Roper.