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Archives for May 2024

Can I Get Dental Implants After Losing Teeth to Gum Disease?

Posted on by AllSmiles.

I lost 12 teeth due to gum disease. My dentist and hygienist have developed a deep cleaning plan. I’m unsure how many more teeth I will lose, but my dentist recommends dentures. Can I get dental implants after my gum disease is controlled? Thanks. Petra

Petra,

We understand your concerns about dentures. While getting dentures is better than not replacing your teeth, stabilizing them with dental implants has significant advantages.

Dental implants are artificial tooth roots surgically placed in your jawbone. They function as anchors for crowns, bridges, or even implant-supported dentures. This provides several benefits over traditional dentures:

  • Improved Chewing: Implants allow you to chew and eat normally, much like natural teeth.
  • Preserved Jawbone: Implants stimulate the jawbone, preventing shrinkage that can occur with dentures.
  • Enhanced Stability: Implants fuse with your jawbone, eliminating the slipping and discomfort associated with dentures.

Can You Get Dental Implants with Gum Disease?

Gum disease doesn’t automatically disqualify you for implants. A dentist will assess your situation. If gum disease is under control, implant dentures may still be a possibility. In cases with bone loss, bone grafting procedures can build up the bone in preparation for dental implants.

Consult an Implant Dentist

We recommend a consultation with a skilled implant dentist. During the consultation, the dentist will examine your mouth, gums, and jawbone. A 3D CT scan will evaluate your bone volume and health. Based on this comprehensive evaluation, the dentist will discuss your treatment options and determine if you qualify for dental implants.

David Finley, DDS, a Monroe, Louisiana, accredited cosmetic dentist and Academy of General Dentistry Fellow, sponsors this post. Read about what Dr. Finley and his team do to provide some of the best dental care in Monroe.

How Risky Is It to Delay Seeing a Dentist for a Tooth Infection?

Posted on by AllSmiles.

My top right second molar broke in half ten days ago. The pain refers to my cheek, jaw, sinus, and nose. My temples began hurting today, traveling into my ear and neck. It was so bad that I called off work. I don’t have dental insurance yet, so I am taking antibiotics. My wife thinks I have a tooth infection, but I’m wondering if it’s a sinus infection unrelated to the broken tooth instead. How much time do I have to see a dentist? I get paid at the end of the month and will at least have a down payment for the dental work. Thank you. Kristoff from TX

Kristoff,

Your signs and symptoms are of a tooth infection.

How Risky Is It to Delay Seeing a Dentist for a Tooth Infection?

If you have a tooth infection, it is risky to delay seeing a dentist. Without dental care, the infection will continue to spread to other teeth, your jawbone, and possibly your bloodstream. Prompt root canal treatment can save the tooth and prevent long-term problems that develop after an extraction.

Diagram with five steps during root canal treatment, including, numbing the tooth, determining canal length, widening and cleaning canals, filling canals, and restoring the tooth.

Root canal treatment helps prevent future infection

What If You Don’t Have Money for a Root Canal?

If you don’t have money for root canal treatment, contact one of the organizations and ask if they offer free or discounted dental care:

  • Dental clinic – A free dental clinic can extract the tooth but may not offer root canal treatment.
  • Local dental society – A local dental society may do charitable work and treat or extract the tooth.
  • University dental school – Dental schools need patients as subjects to train students on specific procedures.

Although many people go to a hospital emergency room or urgent care facility for a toothache, the facility cannot treat your tooth. They may prescribe pain relievers or antibiotics, but you must see a dentist.

Can You Get Rid of a Tooth Infection with Antibiotics?

Root canal treatment is the only way to eliminate a tooth infection. Antibiotics help clear the infection from your system, but the root canal removes the infection from a tooth. According to the American Association of Endodontists, root canal treatment removes infection and bacteria, prevents reinfection, and saves the tooth.

See a dentist promptly, or call a clinic, dental society, or university dental school.

The Monroe, Louisiana, dentists at Bayou Dental Group sponsor this post. Please read how Dr. Finly and his team strive to offer some of the best dental care in Monroe.

Can I Get a Chipped Tooth Repaired Without a Porcelain Veneer?

Posted on by AllSmiles.

The outer corner of my front left tooth is chipped. It’s large enough to be noticeable, leaving a dark space. When I smile, anyone who knows me asks what happened to my tooth. I am anxious because I cannot afford a $2,000 veneer, which is the option two dentists gave me during consultations. How can I get a less expensive fix without looking like I had tooth repair and being even more embarrassed? Thank you. Heather from Evanston, IL

 

Heather,

A cosmetic dentist can restore a mildly to moderately chipped tooth without a porcelain veneer. Of course, you will need an exam to determine the tooth’s condition and the extent of the chip.

Can You Restore a Chipped Tooth Without a Porcelain Veneer?

Chipped front tooth before and after photos

Dental bonding can beautifully restore chipped teeth

A cosmetic dentist can restore a chipped tooth without a porcelain veneer by using chairside dental bonding. Bonding contains silica or quartz and dental resin. Skilled cosmetic dentists have advanced training and stock varying composite shades to perfectly match the damaged tooth and surrounding teeth.

Avoid a general family dentist who may recommend a porcelain veneer or dental crown to restore a mildly to moderately chipped tooth. Those dentists often lack the training and artistic ability to layer and sculpt composite bonding to replicate your tooth’s original condition.

What Is the Dental Bonding Process for a Chipped Tooth?

Dental bonding for a chipped tooth requires applying composite by hand while sitting in the dental chair. It includes the following steps:

  • Select dental composites to replicate varying shades and translucence in your tooth.
  • Rough the tooth’s surface.
  • Layer, shape, and sculpt the bonding material.
  • Cure or harden the dental bonding.
  • Polish the bonding and further shape it as needed.

Although you’ve already had two consultations with dentists, schedule two more. This time, select dentists with post-graduate training in aesthetic or cosmetic dentistry. You can compare their recommendations and costs before choosing a provider to restore your chipped tooth with dental bonding.

David Finley, DDS, a Monroe, Louisiana, accredited cosmetic dentist and Academy of General Dentistry Fellow, sponsors this post.

My Dentist Had a Crown Made, But the Root Canal Failed

Posted on by AllSmiles.

My dentist prematurely ordered a crown without confirming that my root canal was successful. I had a tooth infection for two months.  The root canal failed, so I asked my dentist for an extraction and dental implant. My dentist referred me to an endodontist who recommends repeating the root canal. The endodontist said that my dentist should wait until ordering the final crown. My dentist had already ordered the crown. Can I get my money back for the crown if my dentist recommends a repeat root canal? I want an extraction. Thanks. Quince from MI

Quince,

You are correct. Although your dentist ordered the crown, you can refuse it because your tooth still seems infected.

When Should You Get a Crown on a Root Canal Tooth?

You should get a crown for a root canal tooth after your dentist ensures treatment is successful. Otherwise, the tooth can become further irritated, delaying healing. You would waste time and money if your dentist cemented a crown to your irritated tooth.

Nevertheless, root canal therapy can fail despite a dentist’s diligence. A dentist should not order a final crown, knowing that you still have a problem with your tooth.

Should You Refuse a Dental Crown?

You have the right to refuse a dental crown after root canal treatment if the infection remains. A dentist who makes a crown for an unhealed tooth is responsible for the risk. Your dentist should not ask you to accept or pay for the crown.

Should You Get a Repeat Root Canal or an Extraction?

The tooth’s condition depends on whether you should get a repeat root canal or an extraction. The endodontist evaluated your tooth and thinks it is savable. An endodontist is a root canal specialist who increases the chance of successful treatment. Keeping a savable tooth is better for oral health than an extraction and dental implant.

 

David Finley, DDS, a Monroe, Louisiana, accredited cosmetic dentist and Academy of General Dentistry Fellow, sponsors this post. Read about what Dr. Finley and his team do to provide some of the best dental care in Monroe.

 

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