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Tooth Infections

Putting off an infection

I had a root canal and a crown put on a tooth several years ago. A couple of weeks ago it became infected. My dentist gave me an antibiotic. He said the tooth is cracked and there is little chance of another successful root canal. He recommends removing the tooth. It is not hurting anymore, so I think the infection is gone. I’d hate to remove the tooth unnecessarily. Can I just put this off seeing as it doesn’t hurt anymore?

Jenny I.- Oklahoma

Jenny,

No, I don’t recommend putting off the extraction. The infection is still there, it is just being held at bay by your antibiotics. As soon as you stop taking them the infection will flare back up. The only way to completely get rid of it is to treat it at the source.

It will be safer to extract the tooth now when the extraction while the infection is under control. There are ways to replace your tooth that will look perfectly natural. You might be interested in learning about dental implants.

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

White Fillings

Pain with white fillings

I had a white filling placed almost five months ago. A month ago I went back in to have it smoothed out because my floss kept getting caught on it. Since then I’ve been getting this horrible pain whenever I take a bite. I went back in to have it x-rayed. My dentist didn’t see anything and thinks it is just post-operative pain. The problem is I can’t eat anything. What do I do? The pain is getting worse.

Anthony S.- New Mexico

Anthony,

I would go see an endodontist. If this were just post-operative soreness, your pain would be getting better–not worse. When pain progresses instead of lessening, that is generally a sign there is an infection somewhere and a root canal treatment is in order. Take the x-rays your dentist already took. An endodontist might be able to see an infection that your dentist didn’t see.

You may also be interested in learning about CEREC Crowns.

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

Porcelain Veneers

Supersmile Toothpaste

Is it safe to clean my porcelain veneers with supersmile toothpaste?

Deni R. -Rhode Island

Deni,

Yes, in fact, supersmile toothpaste is designed for porcelain veneers and other kinds of dental work. This is a great way to maintain the brightness of your smile, because it dissolves the protein pellicle that your teeth stains will attach to.

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

Dental Emergency

Concerned about Dry Socket

I had a molar removed today. They told me about dry socket. I needed to take some medication, so ate a small bit of food. Some of it got trapped, so I gently cleaned it out. Now there is a gaping hole. Does this mean I have dry socket? Benjamin H.- from Salt Lake City Benjamin, The clot being gone is a symptom of dry socket and not the cause. We used to think the removal of the blood clot was an affect, but not we know the real problem comes from bone damage done during surgery. Just make sure that messing with the site didn’t cause too much bleeding, and you should be fine. If it does begin to bleed too much contact your dentist’s office. If you can’t reach him, look for an emergency dentist in your area.

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

Tooth Infections

Sharp Pieces

I had a tooth extraction. Can you tell me what the sharp bits are in the hole?

Alex B. from Great Britain

Alex,

After a tooth extraction there is a hole. In the hole there are often sharp pieces of bone left in there. As time goes on your body will re-shape the bone to be smooth. Has your dentist mentioned replacing your tooth? I would love to know what options he’s given you.

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

Fillings

Rash from filling

I had a silver filling put on one of my back teeth. I’ve since developed a rash on the outside of my face right about the same place as the filling. I just learned that silver fillings are loaded with mercury. Could that be why I’ve got the rash?

I’m worried now.

Karen A. from Rockport

Karen,

Generally people who have allergic reactions to fillings will have them inside their mouth, not on the outside of their face. It is possible that you had an allergic reaction to the latex in  your dentist’s gloves. I’ve never heard of a filling affecting the outside of your mouth though.

If the mercury in the silver/amalgam fillings worries you, you can always have your dentist replace them with composite fillings. If he doesn’t place those, you can just do an internet search for a mercury free dentist. Composite fillings do take some extra training, so not all dentists are ready to place them.

I hope this eases your mind.

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

CEREC crowns

Rough crown

I had a cerec crown put in and on the follow up visit my dentist accidentally damaged it. he said that wouldn’t be a problem because he saved everything on the computer and could just make another one and gave me a temp crown. the problem is the new crown seems rough. i think i remember my first cerec crown being really smooth like glass. i was happy about that because it reminded me of my regualar tooth. do you think my dentist is pulling a fast one on me and not putting a new cerec crown in and just putting some other kind that isn’t as smooth?

Jeremy V. from El Dorado, AR

Jeremy,

No matter what type of crown your dentist puts in, it should be smooth and natural feeling. If it is rough, it is possible your dentist took off some of the glaze when he made his adjustments. Maybe he tried to repair the crown he damaged, in the process removing some of the glaze, instead of making a new CEREC crown.

If you have reason to doubt his ethics, I would get a second opinion about your crown, but don’t tell the second dentist who your dentist is or the dental history of it. Simply ask him what he thinks the crown is made of. This way the dentist won’t be tempted to tell you what he thinks you want to hear. Nor, will he know which dentist you went to and feel some loyalty to a peer with whom he is on friendly terms.

If you don’t doubt his ethics, then I would simply point out that the glaze was damaged somehow and have him re-polish it. That is a simple procedure.

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

Sedation Dentistry

Problems with novacain

I have had dental problems my whole life, because novacain doesn’t always work for me. This has caused some really painful dental appointments. After a while I just stopped going. I realize now that I’m older that I made a bad decision, because that has made for a ton of dental issues. I need to get at least five teeth pulled. However, I’ll want to immediately get dental implants. I’m not worried about the implants because I know they’ll knock me out for that. What terrifies me is the pulling. Do I have any other options than novacain?

Brenda P.- from Idaho

Brenda,

Yes, there is a really good solution for you. Many dentists aren’t aware of this, but dental anxiety can lead to Novocaine resistance. I think the anxiety tends to “burn off” the Novocaine. Look for a dentist who uses either nitrous oxide or oral sedatives. The nitrous oxide will relax you enough that the Novocaine will work. An oral sedative will put you in a sleep like state to relax you throughout the appointment. At our office we call this sleep dentistry. Our fearful patients have found this to be a fantastic solution for them.

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

Dental Crowns

How to tell if you need crowns

My dentist wants to replace my silver fillings in #3,4,5 with crowns. How can I tell if that is necessary?

Madeline J. from Wisconsin.

Madeline,

In dental school we are taught a few guidelines that can make a dental crown desirable.  Two of the main ones are: 1. The width of the filling: Once a filling gets to to a certain width it weakens the tooth and makes it prone to fracture. 2. There may be fracture lines showing.  Amalgam (silver) fillings tend to weaken a tooth.

Other than this it is really a judgment call on the part of your dentist. That is why it is so important to have a dentist you feel you can trust. Most dentists are trustworthy, but there are a few out there that use pressure sales tactics or try to rush you into a treatment option. If you’re feeling uncomfortable with the decision you can get a second opinion. Just make sure the second dentist doesn’t know who the first dentist is or what treatment recommendation you were giving. It is always best to get a blind second opinion.

You may also be interested in a Mercury-free dentist.

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

Dental Emergency

Gum bump with puss

Below my gum there is a pimple kind of bump with puss in it. What should I do?

Kevin J. from Philadelphia

Kevin,

It sounds like you have a fistula. You may have an abscessed tooth. It is common for people to have a tooth infection without realizing it because the infection is draining in the mouth and there is little or no pain coming from the tooth. Sometimes you’ll have pain upon chewing, a mild ache, or sensitivity to hot/cold temperatures, but not always. I advise you go see your dentist. He can evaluate whether your tooth is infected. If it is, you’ll need antibiotics, a root canal, and a dental crown. At our office we can do one appointment CEREC crowns.

Sometimes you can have an infected tooth that causes a lot of pain. If that happens to you, it is perfectly acceptable to get a same day appointment with an emergency dentist. They’ll be able to get you out of pain right then, but may need to schedule the permanent fix for a later date.

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