Tag Archives: Dental Bridge

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.

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.

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.

Front teeth loose after an assault—will they fall out?

I was recently the victim of an assault, and was punched quite hard right in the mouth. I had to go to the emergency room to get stitches because it tore the corner of my mouth. While I was there they did a CAT scan, and said there are no fractures, but my front teeth are loose. One is more loose than the other.

I don’t have any kind of dental coverage and am worried sick that I might lose my front teeth. From what I have described, does it sound like my dentist will be able to save them? I’ve been online, researching what treatments there are for lost teeth. If they fall out, I don’t think I can afford dental implants or a dental bridge, and it doesn’t seem like a partial denture would look good or be comfortable. I am trying to find out if I can sue the guy that hit me if the cops catch him, but that is kind of a long shot.

Eric in Sault St. Marie

Dear Eric,

We’re sorry that this happened to you. Hopefully the police will find the person who did this, and justice will be served.

In terms of your teeth, if the CAT scan was accurate and there are no fractures in the roots of your teeth, they should be stabilized in the correct position in the day or two following the injury. Your dentist should bond the teeth into place, fixing them in the correct position. The bone will then heal, and your teeth should be fine.

Two or three weeks from now, you should go back to the dentist and have him check for nerve damage on either tooth. If either of the nerves are damaged, you will need root canal treatment. If that is the case, tell your dentist that you do not want a dental crown. Some dentists will place a crown on any tooth that has had a root canal, as a matter of course. In this situation, a crown will actually cause the tooth to be structurally weaker. Also tell them not to leave any root canal cement or adhesive in the crown of the tooth, or the tooth will get quite dark in time.

This blog provided as a courtesy of Dr. Malone, Lafayette Louisiana Cosmetic Dentist.