Category Archives: Uncategorized

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My tooth really hurts, but I don’t have any money

I’ve got pretty bad teeth. I am missing several of my back teeth, and now I have an infection or something in one of the only molars I have left. The swelling along my jaw looks terrible! It is really embarrassing.

I don’t have a job right now, or any insurance. I am estranged from my family, so there is no one I can ask to help with any kind of medical or dental expenses. Is there anything I can do on my own to treat the infection? I am in a lot of pain.

Maria in Grand Haven

Dear Maria,

Before we offer advice on what to do, we want to make very sure we tell you what to avoid. Don’t take oral antibiotics to try and get rid of the infection without FIRST having the tooth treated. Here is why that is so important: the infection is inside a tooth, where antibiotics can’t reach it. If you treat the tooth without addressing the source, you will simply make sure that the bacteria that survive are stronger and more resistant to treatment.

An infection in a tooth is a potentially serious situation. An untreated infection could spread to your brain, or cause dangerous swelling in your throat. You really must have this addressed before it becomes far more serious and even potentially life threatening.

The infected tooth needs a root canal treatment, after which it may need to be protected by a dental crown. If that is too expensive, or if the tooth is too damaged, it may need to be extracted. When your fortunes improve, you might consider a dental bridge or dental implant to replace the missing tooth.

Ask at your local social assistance agencies if they know of a clinic where you can get this work done. Many communities have a method of connecting people in dire need like yourself to dentists who will complete the work for free or at a greatly reduced price with a payment plan. Be persistent – it is very important that you get this work done!

Good luck to you.

This blog posted courtesy of the office of Lafayette Louisiana cosmetic dentist Dr. Malone.

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Can I get all this work done in one setting?

I’ve got a lot of dental work to get done. I have to get at least four root canal treatments, and I need to have a couple of teeth ground down as TMJ treatment. I also may need to have a dental bridge placed, though my dentist is still considering the best course of action in that case. I also need some dental bonding done on a chip on my front tooth. The problem is that I seriously freak out in the dentist’s chair.

I’d like to get this all done at once. I don’t have much time off of work, and I just want to get it over with. My question is, how much can be done in one sitting?

Frank from Escanaba

Dear Frank,

Time of treatment is determined by the patient’s ability to tolerate treatment. The placement of the teeth that need root canal treatments will affect the amount of time necessary for treatment.

The amount of treatment you need will probably require the services of a sedation dentist. This would have the added benefit of easing your anxiety. If you can’t locate a sedation dentist, or don’t want to go to one, then the length of treatment is largely decided on your ability to tolerate treatment. Your anxiety will probably lessen your ability to spend long hours in the chair, so consider this when you are deciding whether or not to go with a sedation dentist.

If you can’t locate a sedation dentist, you may want to consider going to an endodontist. A specialist will reduce the amount of time you need to spend in treatment.

This blog post created for Lafayette Louisiana cosmetic dentist Dr. Mike Malone.

T

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Did my dentist rip me off?

I switched to a new dentist because mine retired, and got the shock of my dental life when I went in for my first appointment. I’ve always been really diligent about my dental care. I floss every day, and brush morning and night. The dentist and hygienists in the old office always said I had great teeth, and they’ve never given me any trouble. So imagine my shock when I went in and was told I have six cavities! SIX!

I set up an appointment, and had him fill them all. He used the white filling material. Ever since he filled the cavities, suddenly I have a lot of pain. I’ve gone back in, but he just says I have to adjust to the new fillings.

What is going on? Does this sound for real? I feel like I’ve been ripped off. I now suspect that I never had any cavities at all. Is there any way to tell from my xrays? I mean, I just had xrays done a year ago – could it really be that my dentist missed SIX cavities?

Thanks for your help,

Harriet in Reno, NV

It is possible to have cavities that were missed by your former dentist – if the hygienist doing the x-rays was doing them at the wrong angle, some cavities could be missed. But SIX. That is unlikely. You should ask for a copy of your x-rays to take to another dentist for a second opinion.

The post filling pain is worrisome, though. It sounds as though the white fillings might not have been bonded correctly. Another slim possibility is that the white fillings have changed the alignment of your jaw, and you are now having issues with TMJ. You are not specific about the nature of your pain, so there is little further speculation possible. This is another situation that needs a second opinion. When you go in to the new dentist, try to be very specific about the nature of your pain and when it occurs (during chewing, all the time, etc.).

Good luck to you.

This blog and this post were sponsored by Lafayette Louisiana cosmetic dentist Dr. Mike Malone.

For more information about dental bridges, see our website.

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Months of sensitivity in tooth after white filling

More than six months ago I had a large cavity filled with a white filling. Almost immediately following, that tooth became really sensitive to cold temperatures. Heat is OK, but cold just sends me through the roof. I went back to see my dentist because of this, and she said that the cavity was very large and deep, and might be simply irritated. She wanted to wait it out, but I insisted she do something to further protect the tooth. She agreed (reluctantly) to cover the tooth with a temporary dental crown.

Now all these months later the tooth is still bugging me. The dentist says that we further irritated the tooth by placing the crown, and now I may need to have a root canal treatment. Does this sound right to you? She is pretty young, and I am not sure I really trust her judgment.

Mary in Lowell, MI

Dear Mary,

You probably should have listened to your dentist and waited out the initial sensitivity. She is likely right, also, that placing the crown did not help the situation.

One of the most important rules of thumb in dental care is to never, ever push a dentist into doing something they are not comfortable in doing. You state that your dentist is young, so she may not yet have developed a good skill set for firmly and respectfully refusing to do treatments that are against her better judgment but that the patient is insisting on.

A real concern here is your lack of confidence in your dentist. If you cannot trust her, you should seek the services of a different dentist. It sounds as if she knows what she is doing, but everything hinges on your comfort level with her and her care.

Posted as a courtesy for Lafayette Louisiana cosmetic dentist Dr. Mike Malone.

 

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Why do I have pain after getting a filling?

Ten days ago I had a white composite filling placed in one of my molars. Almost immediately, I started feeling really extreme pain in my jaw, radiating up to the top of my head and down to my neck, on the same side as the new filling. I’m getting by taking Motrin constantly, but this can’t go on. Other than labor, this is the most severe pain I have ever felt.

My dentist said it might be from grinding my teeth, so I bought an appliance that is supposed to help, but it didn’t. He then tried to adjust my bite by grinding off some teeth, but that  didn’t help at all, either.

This CAN’T be normal! I really think I need a second opinion, but what type of specialist should I see?

Thanks,

Leatha in Connecticut

Dear Leatha,

Teeth grinding does not sound like the culprit behind your pain.

Many different things can produce pain in a tooth, and dentists typically try to find what types of things create or worsen pain. Constant, very serious pain usually mean the tooth has an infection. If the pain is provoked by cold but then recedes when the tooth warms up, most likely it is just an irritation and not an infection. Pain while biting can mean a bite that is out of adjustment, or an abscess, or an infected ligament holding the tooth to the bone.

So, the source of your pain may a variety of things. Pain immediately following a filling could mean an undetected infection was present and it has now worsened, or that an improper technique was used to place the white composite filling.

A second opinion is definitely in order. You don’t necessarily need any kind of specialist, just a good general dentist.

This blog post courtesy of Lafayette Louisiana cosmetic dentist Dr. Mike Malone.

To learn more about Lafayette Louisiana CEREC crowns, visit our website.

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Can you get stained teeth from silver fillings?

I have two fillings that I want taken out and replaced with white fillings, both because of how they look and because of the mercury. I’ve been trying to lead a more healthy lifestyle, and a lot of the holistic magazines I read now mention removal of silver (mercury) fillings as part of reducing your “toxic load”.

Anyway, my dentist said that maybe those teeth won’t look very good when we are done, because the silver fillings might have stained my teeth? They are molars, but are visible when I laugh or talk.

Is this right? What makes the stain? That kind of freaks me out, because what if the toxins are now soaked into my teeth. I am also kind of worried about how strong these teeth will be after the procedure. About seventy percent of the teeth are filling, and my dentist said that the material in the composite is not as strong as the silver filling material (he will never call it mercury). Are these teeth going to be at risk for breaking or cracking?

Maggie in Colorado Springs

Dear Maggie,

Over the years our practice has removed many amalgam fillings and replaced them with white fillings, and we have never seen a case where they did not look significantly better. It is true that the amalgam fillings can cause some discoloration in your teeth, but it is usually very minimal, and in back teeth or molars should be barely noticeable.

The real issue at hand is that it sounds like your dentist is not comfortable with this procedure, and is kind of trying to talk you out of it. Putting white composite fillings in the back teeth is very different and more challenging than placing amalgam fillings, and if your dentist has not had training in this procedure, he may not be comfortable doing it. Most dental schools do not teach placement of composite fillings, so unless your dentist has pursued training beyond dental school, he may not be comfortable doing them, especially in the back of the mouth.

One point that should be made very clear: it is ALWAYS a bad idea to push a dentist out of his or her comfort zone. If you get the feeling that your dentist is not comfortable with a procedure you want, then it is best to seek the services of a different dentist.

One other thing–you state that more than half of the teeth in question are fillings, and in that case, we would strongly suggest porcelain crowns rather than fillings. For smaller fillings, replacing amalgam fillings with white composite fillings actually yields a stronger end result, because the composite bonds to the tooth. But removing and replacing fillings that large may well result in the cracking you are worrying about. Porcelain crowns are the safer option.

This blog post is provided as a courtesy of the dental office of Dr. Malone, Lafayette Louisiana cosmetic dentist.

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Can I get bone grafting done?

My general dentist has told me that I should consider getting some dental implants. I lost three teeth in a boating accident when I was a teenager. I am 40 now, and have had a dental bridge for all these years. The x-rays that my dentist takes show that there is a lot of bone loss where the teeth were, and my dentist does not want to let that situation continue.

He wants to do dental implants, and says he could do the work unless it requires bone grafting, in which case he would refer me to an oral surgeon for that. I think I would rather just go to a specialist for the whole procedure. How can you tell if you need bone grafting? My dentist did not say. Seems like you would be able to tell from the x-rays, but maybe there is more to it?

Also, how do I know if I even CAN get bone grafting done? I am not in good health. My regular doctor does not sound very excited about me undergoing surgery, though he did not say “don’t do it”. I guess all of this uncertainty is making me very nervous, and wondering if the procedure is worth the risk.

Thanks for any information you can give me,

Shelia in New Orleans, LA

Dear Shelia,

We would suggest a consultation with your dentist, the specialist you and your dentist choose to do the procedure, and your regular physician. You should be in good general health for the best chances of a successful bone grafting procedure, and you say that your health is not good. Is your general dentist fully aware of your health problems? He may change his recommendation if he has the full picture of your overall health.

The dentist who does the implants will consider your x-rays and CT scans, and then consider your case in light of all other health information. Like the field of cosmetic dentistry, dental implant dentistry is not recognized as an official speciality are by the American Dental Association, so you’ll have to be cautious about choosing the specialist. You’ll want someone who has demonstrated success with dental implants, and who has extensive training beyond dental school.

There is no one way to determine who is the best dental implant dentist in your area, but some techniques are to consult the websites of dentists in your area, and find one that advertises that he or she does dental implants. If they have pursued the extra training, chances are very good that they will mention this either on their home page or on the “About the Dentist” page. Look for training at facilities such as the International Congress of Oral Implantology, the Academy of Osseointegration, or the American Academy of Implant Dentistry.

This blog post is supported by the dental office of Lafayette Louisiana cosmetic dentist Dr. Malone.

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No dental insurance and an infected tooth

I’ve had a lot of problems with my teeth. I am missing most of the teeth in the rear of my mouth, and now I have an infection that is really painful. It looks like I have a golf ball stuck in my cheek! I am out of work right now, and don’t have any kind of insurance at all. Where can I find someone to help me with this tooth? I asked the doctor at the Free Clinic, but he was not aware of any dental clinics that offer free treatments.

Is there anything I can do to treat this myself?

Thanks for your help.

Darren in Cleveland, OH

Dear Darren,

You’ll need help to get this infection under control. Especially do NOT take oral antibiotics without first treating the source of the infection within the tooth. If you do, you’ll never address the source of the infection and will make the bacteria that remain resistant to antibiotics. You could find yourself with an infection that NO drugs will effectively deal with, and that can be a very serious situation.

A tooth infection can spread to your brain. That is a sobering statement, but we want you to take this situation seriously. Infections in your teeth can also spread to your throat and cause swelling that could interfere with your airway. You have a couple of options here to address this. You can have the tooth extracted. It sounds as if you are missing a lot of teeth, so you may want to start looking into options to regain some functionality. Dental implants are great for replacing missing teeth, but they are expensive and never covered by dental insurance. Dental bridges might work for you, depending on the position of the missing teeth.

Your community may have a clinic where you can go to get the tooth extracted. If they don’t, check at the Free Clinic to see if any of the doctors know any dentists in your area that will help.

The office of Lafayette Louisiana cosmetic dentist Dr. Malone provides this blog as a courtesy.

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Are infections in your teeth dangerous?

I don’t have any dental insurance, or medical insurance either. I am writing to ask about a problem I am having, so I don’t waste my very limited resources in going to see the wrong professional.

Here is what has happened: Last week I broke one of my molars. It is the very back molar on the left side, right ahead of where my wisdom tooth used to be, in my lower jaw. Ever since I did that, I have a lot of pain in my cheek and jaw. In the last couple of days, the pain seems to be in my sinuses and nose, too. Basically right now my hold head and face just hurt!

I had some antibiotics left over from a recent infection (they are not expired), so I’ve been taking those but that doesn’t seem to be helping at all. Does all of this sound like it could be caused from that broken tooth, or is this more likely to be sinus issues? I know I need to see someone, but like I said I don’t want to waste my money on a visit to someone who is just going to tell me to go see someone different.

One of my co-workers said today that infections in your teeth can get in your brain?! Is that even true? She said that it can be really dangerous and that has me kind of freaked out. Any advice you can offer would be really helpful.

Thanks,

Eleanor in Ludington, MI

Dear Eleanor,

Your friend is correct–an infection in your tooth is dangerous, and can indeed spread to your brain. You must get this taken care of right away. The infection is spreading, and this will not get better on its own.

Call your dentist and see if he or she will work out some kind of payment plan. Very few dentists will turn away a patient in an emergency situation like this. If by some chance your dentist will not help you, keep calling around until you find one that will, or contact the local dental society (look in the yellow pages for a listing) and see if they maintain a list of emergency dentists in your area that can help patients without insurance or funds. You can also go into the emergency room and they will help you.

You should also discontinue the antibiotics immediately. If you take antibiotics for a tooth infection without treating the source of the infection within the tooth (and oral antibiotics do not touch it), then you simply strengthen the bacteria that remain and make them antibiotic-resistant. Only a root canal treatment or an extraction will reach the source of the infection. If you have to have an extraction, talk to your dentist about a dental bridge to replace the tooth. The location of the infected tooth means that a dental implant would be the best choice to replace the tooth, but dental implants are quite expensive and never covered by dental insurance.

Please do not delay. Get this taken care of right away, before the infection spreads further. Wishing you the best of health.

This blog post brought to you as a courtesy by the office of Lafayette Louisiana cosmetic dentist Dr. Malone.

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Is it necessary for my son to get all of his teeth pulled?

My son is 23 years old. He is a drug addict who is in recovery, and his teeth are completely ruined. The dentist at the clinic says he should just have all of them pulled and replace them with dentures.

Right now, I recognize that this is the only avenue open to us. The teeth have to come out. He is only able to chew with a couple of teeth towards the front of his mouth.

My question is whether or not all of this can be done in one visit. It seems like a lot–he has 26 teeth that need to come out. Would they be able to fit dentures when they’ve just removed all those teeth? It doesn’t seem like they could do that until after his gums heal

Any advice you can offer would be appreciated. This has been a long, hard road.

Serena in Overton

Dear Serena,

This treatment plan is too extreme. It may seem like the easiest solution to the dentist, but it means a lifetime of dental trouble for your son. He is much too young to have all of his teeth removed.

As soon as all his teeth are removed, your son’s jawbones will start to shrink. When a tooth is lost, the body reabsorbs the bone of the jaw at the location of the missing tooth. When ALL the teeth are removed, eventually that person will experience “facial collapse”. You have probably seen pictures of people whose faces look as if they have collapsed inward. This happens when the jawbones deteriorate to the point that the patient cannot wear any kind of denture at all.

If he is in his early 20s now, this could happen by the time he is 40. He will be unable to eat normal foods, and at that point the repairs are much more complicated and expensive.

If at all possible, the goal should be to retain as many of his natural teeth as possible. They may not be in perfect condition, but every tooth that can be saved represents a more stable jawbone. Those remaining teeth could be used to anchor partial dentures or dental bridges.

If in fact none of his teeth can be saved, dental implants will work just like natural teeth to preserve the structure of his jawbone. The least expensive option would be mini-dental implants, where two implants per arch are placed and used to anchor dentures. Having ALL the extractions done in one sitting is too much. The amount of Novocain required to numb the upper jaw for a full set of extractions is significant, and poses a correspondingly significant risk.

It is time to get a second opinion. We recommend looking for a dentist that really makes you feel like he cares about your son, and your situation. Your son is on the road to recovery, and needs compassion to get the care he needs.

This blog is posted courtesy of Lafayette Louisiana cosmetic dentist Dr. Mike Malone.