Tag Archives: infected wisdom tooth

Emergency Dentist

Am I Too Old To Extract a Wisdom Tooth?

I had a wisdom tooth start to bother me. All of my wisdom teeth are impacted, but this is the first time I’ve had a problem with one of them. The dentist said it is infected and that I need to have it extracted. Here’s my problem. I’m 32 years old and have always heard that you should remove your wisdom teeth in your late teens or early twenties, otherwise there is a risk of complications. What do I do? Am I too old to remove this tooth?

Gina

Dear Gina,

Image of impacted wisdom teeth

There is always a chance for complications with any dental procedure no matter what your age. That being said, you are correct that the ideal time to have your wisdom teeth extracted is in your late teens or early twenties. After that your chances of complications do go up. However, until your are in your forties I would not be too concerned.

Even then, no matter what your age, if the tooth is infected, then you need to extract it. In fact, it can turn into a dental emergency. When they are left untreated, dental infections turn life threatening. In fact, people die every year from untreated tooth infections.

In your place, given your (still very young) age, I would like to suggest that you have your remaining impacted teeth extracted. While they are not a problem now, there is a very good chance that they will be in the future. Better to do it now before the chances of complications increases, which it will every few years.

The good news is that you are removing wisdom teeth. That means they do not have to be replaced. If it were any other tooth, it would be important to replace the tooth. Otherwise, the adjacent teeth will shift or tip into the open space, leading to your bite being thrown off and, likely, TMJ Disorder. If you lose a tooth in the future, the best tooth replacement is a dental implant.

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

Emergency Dentist

Surgeon Won’t Take OUt Both My Teeth

I am very frustrated. I had a root canal treatment that I think has failed and the tooth needs to be removed. Near that, I have an impacted wisdom tooth that my dentist says is infected and he thinks needs to be removed. I am fine with that, but he refuses to remove the tooth on which I had the root canal treatment. Shouldn’t I be the one to decide that? I’m refusing the procedure because I do not want to do them separately and I am certain the other needs to be removed. What do you recommend I say to convince him to do both teeth?

Linda

Dear Linda,

I want you to be very careful here. An infected tooth is nothing to mess around with. It appears your dentist feels very strongly that this wisdom tooth IS, in fact, infected. If you think about how close your jaw is to your throat (which could swell up and close), heart, and brain, you definitely do not want this infection to spread. This is one of the reasons we consider tooth infection a dental emergency.

So, if your dentist is trying to get you to remove one tooth, why not two? He’d certainly make more money if he did. The only reason I can think of is that your dentist does not believe the tooth with the root canal treatment is infected and he has too much integrity to take your money on a tooth that is saveable.

I am sure if you searched you would find a dentist willing to remove both. While you do not have to replace an extracted wisdom tooth. The other tooth will need to be replaced. This will give the dentist even more money, especially if you choose to get the best tooth replacement option, a dental implant.

If you choose not to replace it, the other adjacent teeth will either shift or tip into the tooth’s empty space. This will throw your bite off and can lead to painful TMJ Disorder.

The fact that your dentist is not wanting to remove this tooth and gain all this extra money tells me your tooth is healthy and you have a dentist of great integrity. I’d stick with him.

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

Emergency Dentist

Can’t Afford My Wisdom Tooth Extraction

I have an infected wisdom tooth. It has been bad for a while and the teeth around it are starting to get holes in them. Tonight I noticed I have pressure and a yellow streak leading up to my eye on the same side as the tooth. Now there is pressure behind my eye. I really can’t afford a dentist right now. Can I just visit the ER to get an antibiotic to treat this and then get to the dentist later when I can afford it? I’m starting to get concerned.

Brad L.

Man in pain holding his jaw

Dear Brad,

I want you to understand how serious this is. Your infection has already reached your eye. Your brain is not that far away and this can turn life threatening quickly. Believe it or not, people still die from tooth infections.

An antiobiotic will not solve your problem. What it can do is slow down the infection, but once you are out of the medication (and this is assuming they prescribe the right antibiotic for this particular infection to begin with) it will flare right back up and continue to spread.

The only way to deal with this is to have the tooth extracted…and soon. I would consider this a dental emergency.

Most dentists went into their field because they wanted to help people and make a difference. I would call around and see if there is a dentist who is willing to work with you on payments.

Whatever you do, take it seriously. The good news is a wisdom tooth does not have to be replaced. However, if you delay and the other teeth get so far decayed that they can’t be saved, you’ll also need a tooth replacement for them or your teeth will shift, throwing off your bite. This can lead to painful TMJ disorder.

Call around. There is bound to be a dentist in your area willing to help.

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