Dental Emergencies Archives

Antibiotics for a Tooth Infection

Posted on May 19, 2023 by writeradmin.

I need some advice on what to do about my tooth. I went to the dentist last week because my tooth was infected. The swelling went all the way up to my eye. He gave me some pretty strong antibiotics, which I’ve taken religiously. Everything started to get better. However, since the medicine ran out things have gotten bad again, including the swelling. Do I call to get a refill or does this mean that I was on the wrong antibiotic?

Andy

Dear Andy,

I am hoping that there has been some miscommunication between you and your dentist. Otherwise, it means your dentist has a profound misunderstanding of how tooth infections work. That is not a good quality to have in your dentist. Antibiotics alone will not cure a tooth infection. The infected pulp has to be physically removed by the dentist. This is typically done by either a root canal treatment or a tooth extraction. A root canal treatment is preferable because it saves the root of your tooth. However, sometimes the tooth is not saveable. In that case, an extraction is necessary. You would also need to replace the tooth so you don’t end up with tipping or shifting that throws off your bite. Leaving it open could lead to painful TMJ Disorder.

In your case, he probably prescribed the antibiotics in order to get your infection under control. That would not have been the treatment. Instead, they would schedule an additional appointment for you to have the root canal treatment. Hopefully, it is not too late and your tooth can still be saved.

In your place, I suggest that you call your dentist and schedule an emergency visit. If he just gives you more antibiotics, make sure that the appointment to treat the tooth is on the books for BEFORE your medication runs out. If they don’t do that, it means you need a new dentist.

This blog is brought to you by East Cobb Dentist Dr. Cristi Cheek.

Can I Save My Teeth?

Posted on September 16, 2022 by writeradmin.

I have a filling on two teeth which are adjacent to each other. I started having pain with those teeth. Eventually, the pain got so bad that I went to see a dentist. I will admit to not liking to go unless it is necessary. I do get one cleaning a year, but that’s about all I can handle. The dentist did an x-ray and told me that there is an abscess and the teeth will need to be pulled. I’m sort of a wreck over this. I don’t like the idea of not having those teeth. Is there any way to save them?

Kelly

Dear Kelly,

I am sorry you are in so much pain. What I would like you to do is get a second opinion on these teeth. Just because you have an abscessed tooth does not mean that the tooth has to be extracted. Unless the tooth is too far gone to be saved, the typical solution is to do a root canal treatment. This cleans out the infected pulp of the tooth. In most cases, you will also need a dental crown but this allows you to save your tooth.

I’m having some doubts that your teeth are as far gone as to necessitate an extraction. If they were that bad I do not think an x-ray would even have been necessary. To be honest, some dentists are just more willing to put in the work to save teeth than others.

You mentioned that you do not like going to the dentist. That is usually a sign of dental anxiety and is more common than people realize. When you get your second opinion, I would like you to see a sedation dentist. They can provide you with some medication which will allow you to feel completely relaxed in the dental chair.

If it does turn out that you need your teeth extracted, you will want to replace them as soon as possible. If you don’t, the adjacent teeth will drift and tip into the empty space, which can lead to painful TMJ Disorder. If it comes to that, the best tooth replacement is a dental implant.

Don’t put off getting this double checked. You do not want it to turn into a dental emergency.
This blog is brought to you by Marietta Dentist Dr. Cristi Cheek.
Click here to read about our free virtual smile makeover consultation.

Are Cracks in Porcelain Crowns a Dental Emergency?

Posted on August 31, 2022 by writeradmin.

I’ve had four porcelain crowns on my front teeth for a bit over ten years. One of them has always had a slight defect, but you couldn’t see it, just feel it if you rubbed your tongue over it. Now, I can feel it AND see it. It looks like a little line toward the bottom of the crown. Would this be considered a dental emergency? I don’t want it to break when I am out in public.

Carol

Dear Carol,

I’m glad you wrote. I would not consider this a dental emergency, but I would start making plans to get this replaced. There are a couple of considerations here.

Do you just want to replace all of them at the same time, or just one at a time as needed?
Are you happy with the color of your teeth?
If you choose to do them one at a time as needed, is your dentist an expert cosmetic dentist?

There are some benefits to doing them all at once, but the obvious drawback is that it will cost significantly more money. So, are the benefits worth the cost? First, you won’t have to worry about when they are going to need to be replaced because you have already taken care of them. Second, you won’t have to run to the dentist every time one of them is nearing the end of its life. You can go in and get them all replaced, one appointment and you’re done. Whether that is worth it is dependent on your individual circumstances.

I wouldn’t necessarily recommend replacing them all if they were just a few years old, but you’ve had yours for a while. Just don’t get them all replaced because your dentist says that is the only way to match them. That is an indicator that he or she is not an expert cosmetic dentist and you want front teeth that are beautiful.

I mentioned tooth color earlier. The color the crowns are made with is permanent. If you are happy with the current shade of your teeth then you are good to go. If you are considering teeth whitening then the time to have it done is before you have your crowns made. This way the shade can match the new color. Teeth whitening does not change the color of crowns so if you decide to do it later, you will have to replace the crowns again in order to get them to match.

This blog is brought to you by East Cobb Dentist Dr. Cristi Cheek.

Should I Wait Until COVID-19 Passes to Get a Tooth Extracted?

Posted on March 25, 2020 by writeradmin.

I’ve had a fractured tooth but was putting off getting the crown. Now there is an abscess. I heard we’re supposed to put off dental care until after the quarantine is over. Do I wait on this? I’m absolutely miserable. Now my face is starting to swell. Can I just take antibiotics? What is your recommendation?

Pam

Dear Pam,

The directive is to avoid the dentist for routine procedures, depending on the state in which you reside. However, in this case, you are not dealing with anything routine. This would be in the category of emergency dental care. I wouldn’t put off getting this dealt with. Your face is already swelling, which means it has spread past your gums. If it reaches your heart, lungs, or brain it will become life-threatening quickly.

Antibiotics and Dental Infections

As for using antibiotics as a solution without seeing the dentist, that won’t work. They are used as a temporary means of getting the infection under control, but will not rid your body of the infection completely. Instead, you’ll feel better for a while, but when the antibiotics are completed, your infection will blow back up. This is because as the infection spreads through the pulp of your tooth, the pulp dies and is no longer receiving any blood flow. Without blood flow, there is no way for the antibiotic to reach the root causes of the infection.

The only true way to remove a dental infection is for the dentist to go in there and physically removed the infected tissue. There are two ways to do this. The first is with a root canal treatment. The dentist will remove the infected pulp and usually cover the tooth with a crown because it will become brittle and need protection. The depth and location of the fracture on your tooth may determine whether or not this is a possible solution for you.

Your second option is to have the tooth extracted. However, that complicates the issue because you’ll need to replace that tooth. The ideal replacement would be a dental implant. Given the current pandemic, you’d likely have to wait on that until things calm down. You can temporarily get a dental flipper to hold it in place.

This blog is brought to you by Marietta, GA Dentist Dr. Cristi Cheek.