Tag Archives: Broken Tooth

Emergency Dentist

Is a Tooth Infection Dangerous?

I had a problem with a tooth, but I will be honest that I ignored it because I have pretty severe dental anxiety. The other day part of my molar broke off. Then, my cheek started hurting. Now the pain has wound its way around my ear and to the front of my neck. A friend of mine says that this is dangerous and I need to be seen right away. Is this an overreaction or does she have a point?

Sheryl

Dear Sheryl,

Woman holding her jaw in pain

I’m glad you wrote. Yes, your friend is correct. You are entering into a dangerous situation. When you have an infected tooth, the only way to treat it is by removing the infected pulp. That can be done by either a root canal treatment, which will save the tooth, or by a tooth extraction.

If the tooth does not get treatment, then the infection will continue to spread. This is what is happening to you now. You don’t want to leave this to continue to spread. Otherwise, what is currently a dental emergency can turn to a life threatening one. You will need to have this tooth treated. Without that, it can spread to your heart, lungs, brain, or even close up your throat to where you can not breathe. Believe it or not, people still die from tooth infections every year. I do not want you to be one of them.

I know you have dental anxiety, which has kept you from getting the care you need. The good news I have a solution for this. I would love you to see a sedation dentist. This can allow you to get your tooth treated the way you need to without any pain or anxiety. In fact, if you use something like oral conscious sedation, then you can actually sleep through your appointment if you want to. You’ll find that sedation will actually change your life.

You will finally be able to get caught up on all that dental care that you’ve needed but your anxiety has kept you from. Your oral health will improve, which you’ll find also improves your general health.

This blog is brought to you by Lafayette, LA Dentists Drs. Foreman and Thimmesch.

Uncategorized

I chipped a front tooth, can it be grow back?

I chipped one of my front teeth, but it still has the root and is a minor chip. I was wondering if adult teeth can be re-grown.

Thanks Aaron

Dear Aaron,

Unfortunately teeth that become chipped or broken do not grow back. If the chip is small your dentist will most likely place a white colored filling best known as dental bonding where the chip was and make your tooth look natural again. Sometimes when chips are so small cosmetic contouring is a good option. This is accomplished by taking a drill or laser and reshaping your chipped tooth. Usually when this procedure is done minor reshaping on your other front teeth is required as well to make your smile look more uniform. This is a very inexpensive quick procedure that requires no anesthetic.

The longer you let your chipped tooth go untreated the more prone you are to chipping the tooth even more with the possibility of having to have a porcelain veneer or porcelain crown placed. These two types of permanent restorations are more expensive than dental bonding and cosmetic contouring as well as take a longer time in the chair and more trips to the dental office. We recommend you consult your dentist to see what treatment option is best for you.

Post courtesy of Dr. Malone, Lafayette Louisiana Cosmetic Dentist