tooth infection Archives - Kentucky Dental Group

Why Extract Baby Teeth

Posted on April 19, 2021 by writeradmin.

My six year old daughter has decay on two of her back molars. The dentist is being a bit rude and wants them extracted immediately, but they are baby teeth. Why is that the right choice? Won’t they just come out? Why pay to pull it?

Sara

Dear Sara,

There are a few things going on here. First, I will say I am sorry your daughter’s dentist was rude. I wasn’t there and don’t know your dentist, but is it possible it was more urgency that came across as rude? It is unusual for a children’s dentist to recommend that a back molar be extracted on a child that age. You mention decay. I wonder if that decay had turned into an infection. I know it is a baby tooth and they do come out, however back teeth are different for reasons we’ll go over in a moment.

Bear in mind, I have not examined your daughter, but here are some possibilities and what to do about them.

1. The teeth are deeply decayed and they going to break and lead to infection. If there is enough of the tooth left to save some of it, you could do a pulpotomy and place a dental crown on it. A pulpotomy is simply a child’s version of a root canal treatment.

You mentioned that their teeth come out. So you are likely now wondering why do a pulpotomy when you can just get rid of the tooth? While it is fine for most baby teeth to be removed prematurely, the back molars need to stay in place until she is twelve years old, when her next set of molars typically come in. In a six year span, her other teeth will drift toward the empty space, then when her adult molars finally do come in, there will not be space for them and it will turn into a crowding problem that needs orthodontics to fix. Getting the crown, will preserve that position so the adult teeth can come into the right place.

2. The tooth is already infected beyond what a pulpotomy can help. Tooth infections are considered dental emergencies. This is because the antibiotics cannot “treat” the infection only hold it back temporarily. If a dentist doesn’t get in there and remove the infected pulp, the infection will spread. Think about how close your daughter’s jaw is to her heart, lungs, and brain. Sadly, people still die of tooth infections, even though it is completely treatable.

If her decay and infection have progressed, then even though it is a molar the tooth will have to be extracted. If that happens, make sure to get a space maintainer. This is a device they can place which will keep the space protected so there won’t be crowding.

Because your daughter is likely already in some pain and you don’t want it to be a traumatic situation for her that makes her afraid of dentists for the remainder of her life, I recommend you go to someone who uses dental sedation. This way it will be an anxiety-free/pain-free experience for her.

This blog is brought to you by Lexington, KY Dentist Dr. Weaver.

Novocain Didn’t Work for My Daughter

Posted on January 23, 2021 by writeradmin.

I have an eleven-year-old daughter who developed a tooth infection. The dentist gave her Novocain but it didn’t work. She was in agony. I eventually had to stop the procedure because I couldn’t stand the pain she was in. I was also a little distressed that the dentist didn’t even seem to care about what she was enduring. I am going to switch pediatric dentists, for obvious reasons, however I still have to deal with my daughter’s infection. Do you know why the Novocain didn’t work? If so, is there a way to get her numb?

Miranda

Dear Miranda,

I am so sorry both you and your daughter had to experience that. I do believe I know what happened with the Novocain and know what will help. I can tell you are a kind and caring mother, so you will know that the infection will have to be dealt with before it has a chance to spread. These type of issues are considered a dental emergency. The first thing I would do is ask for an antibiotic to help hold off the infection briefly while you find the dentist you need to handle this. It is a short, temporary solution. Tooth infections are not treated by antibiotics, they are just held at bay for a period. The only way to get rid of the infection is for a dentist to physically remove the infected tissue.

Many dentists are not yet aware that there is a connection between dental anxiety and numbing medication. While we don’t understand why, we do know that higher a person’s anxiety the less effective the numbing medication is. The solution is to help bring down her anxiety before the procedure. The best way to do that is to see a pediatric dentist who offers dental sedation options.

There are different levels of sedation. Nitrous oxide is the lowest. However, given her recent experience, I think you need to find a dentist who offers oral conscious sedation. This is much stronger and is often called sleep dentistry. She will be quite loopy so you’ll want to keep an eye on her for a few hours after the procedure. It is perfectly safe and she will wake up with her procedure done.

Then, for the next few procedures she can use the nitrous oxide. This helps relax her and she will very likely fall asleep, but she will not be loopy when the procedure is over. With this sedation they will switch the gas back to oxygen and she’ll be back to normal in a few moments.

Hopefully, a few good procedures will enable her fear and anxiety to become controlled by her instead of medication.

This blog is brought to you by Lexington, KY Dentist Dr. John Weaver.

A Pulp Cap to Avoid a Root Canal Treatment

Posted on November 27, 2020 by writeradmin.

While trying to deal with a cavity, some pulp was exposed. We decided to do a pulp cap to try and avoid a root canal treatment. The cavity wasn’t completely removed. The area of exposure was lined with calcium hydroxide then a glass ionomer was placed on top of the cavity. Then, they placed an amalgam filling. Here are my questions:
1. Is there a way to know that the procedure is successful and I don’t need a root canal treatment?
2. Are there symptoms I should look out for if not?

Thank you for your help.
Miranda

Dear Miranda,

Usually, if a pulp cap was going to fail, you would know it right away. However, the way yours was done, leaves me with some concerns. I’ll start by describing the right way to do it. When done correctly, they have a high probability of success. You’ll notice the differences.

The Correct Pulp Cap Procedure

The first step is to make certain that all the decay is completely removed. Decay contains massive bacteria. Tooth infections occur when that bacteria gets into the pulp of the tooth. If this decay continues to grow, it will infect the pulp. This is especially true when the filling is an amalgam filling.

Second, while most of the materials used were good, such as the calcium hydroxide and the glass ionomer, the amalgam filling was a bad idea. The ideal filling would have been to use composite filling material. This is because composite fillings, which are bonded directly to the tooth, actually seal the area. This prevents micronutrients and bacteria from getting in and around the tooth. That helps to prevent further decay and infection. Amalgam fillings leave the tooth vulnerable.

My advice would be, unless there are signs of infection (such as pain and/or fever), to give it a year and then have your dentist do an x-ray to see if the tooth is healty. If it is not, then you should go ahead and get the root canal treatment. When you do, you can either replace the filling or get a dental crown. If you do replace the dental filling, make sure you replace it with a composite filling this time.

Safely Removing Amalgam Fillings

It is important when you have amalgam fillings that you remove them safely. The main ingredient in amalgam fillings is actually mercury, a known toxin. Removing them incorrectly can actually expose you to more mercury than is safe for you. There is a sanitary amalgam removal. Not all dentists know how to do it. If you want it done correctly, you either need to visit a mercury-free dentist or a holistic dentist.

This blog is brought to you by Lexington, KY Dentist Dr. John Weaver.

Antibiotics for a Tooth Infection

Posted on August 2, 2020 by writeradmin.

I saw a dentist two weeks ago for a tooth that was infected. He has me on two antibiotics. I was getting better and then three days ago, it started to get worse again. Now I am swollen up to my eye. Am I on the wrong antibiotic?

Kelly

Dear Kelly,

I am hoping there was a miscommunication between you and your dentist. Antibiotics alone will not treat a tooth infection. Their purpose is two-fold. First, they are used to get an infection under more control until the actual treatment is done. Second, they can hold off the infection for a short time while you wait for your appointment. Is it possible your dentist said you needed to schedule a follow-up appointment and you forgot about that part? If not, your dentist has a fundamental lack of understanding about tooth infections. So fundamental, it makes me question how he graduated.

Treating a Tooth Infection

The way to treat a tooth infection is for the dentist to physically remove the infected tissue. There are two ways of accomplishing this. The first is with a root canal treatment. This is the ideal solution because it saves your tooth, especially the root which is extremely important.

The second option is to extract the tooth. I only recommend this when the tooth cannot be saved. Once a tooth is extracted, it needs to be replaced. Otherwise, the other teeth will shift and tip into its place, which can throw off your bite leading to a lifetime of jaw pain from TMJ Disorder.

You should be aware that infected teeth are considered a dental emergency. This is because the infection will spread until proper treatment is completed. I am especially concerned by the fact that you are swollen up to your eye. You do not want a tooth infection to reach your brain, heart, or lungs. If it does it will become life-threatening rather quickly. Believe it or not, people still die from tooth infections.

If Your Tooth Can’t Be Saved

Hopefully, a simple root canal treatment is all you need. If it is too late to save your tooth, you have two good options for a tooth replacement. The ideal replacement is to get a dental implant. If that is not possible or if one of your adjacent teeth happens to need a dental crown, then getting a dental bridge is another good option for you.

Please don’t put off getting this dealt with. Call the dentist who you originally saw and tell him you need a root canal treatment right away.

This blog is brought to you by Lexington, KY Dentist Dr. John Weaver.

Can an Infected Tooth Spread to a Salivary Gland?

Posted on July 3, 2020 by writeradmin.

My daughter has had two salivary gland infections right above where she had two root canal treatments on the same tooth. Could this be spreading to infect her salivary gland? The doctor can’t seem to figure out what is leading to the infections and this is the only thing I could think of that makes any sense. Do tooth infections spread out of the teeth?

Margie

Dear Margie,

A tooth infection can spread outside of the tooth. This is one of the reasons they are considered dental emergencies. Your jaw is very close to your heart, lungs, and brain so a dental infection can turn life-threatening if left untreated. That being said, yes, it is possible an infection has spread to your daughter’s salivary glands. However, that would only be possible if her root canal treatment had failed.

You mentioned this is the second root canal treatment on this tooth. That means she’s already had one failed root canal treatment. The chances of a successful treatment go down with each successive re-treatment. My advice to you is to see an endodontist, also known as root canal specialists, to have an x-ray done. The x-ray should show you if there is an infection present.

If the Tooth Can’t be Saved

If there is an infection, the root canal specialist will have a much better chance of giving you a successful treatment. It is also possible that this tooth cannot be saved. In that case, all that would be left is a tooth extraction. When a tooth is extracted, it needs to be replaced otherwise the adjacent teeth will shift or tip into the space, completely throwing off her bite.

The best tooth replacement option is a dental implant. However, if your daughter is a teenager, her jaw isn’t developed enough for that treatment yet. In that case, I would get her a dental flipper, which is an inexpensive temporary tooth replacement. You can use that until she is old enough for the dental implant.

This blog is brought to you by Lexington, KY Dentist Dr. John Weaver.

This Patient NEEDS a Second Opinion

Posted on June 19, 2020 by writeradmin.

I went to a dentist after starting to have some jaw pain on and off. I don’t have a regular dentist, I’m ashamed to admit. I seem to have a problem with dentists. They give me the heebie-jeebies. No offense. When I got there, he did an x-ray and found a tooth, that already had a filling, now had decay underneath. He said there isn’t enough tooth to save, so he wants me to come back and get an extraction then either a dental bridge or dental implant. I don’t have to tell you again how I feel about dentists. Is there another option?

Humphrey

Dear Humphrey,

Bear in mind I haven’t seen you, but what the dentist you went to is saying doesn’t ring true to me. First, you just started having pain. By what he described the pain would have shown up earlier and been much more severe. Second, if the decay were that severe, he wouldn’t need an x-ray to tell you that. It is even very likely that your filing will have fallen out completely. Thirdly I’m going to suggest you get a second opinion from another dentist.

When you do that, please be certain it is a blind second opinion. What I mean by that is you don’t tell the second opinion dentist who originally diagnosed you or what he said. Just tell him the symptoms and let him draw his own conclusions. That way there will be no bias in his diagnosis.

A Word about Your Dental Anxiety

You are not alone in your heebie-jeebies, and no, I’m not offended. Because of that, I’d like you to see a dentist who offers dental sedation options. This way, for whatever treatment you actually do need, it can be an anxiety-free and pain-free appointment for you.

I have found, in my use of dental sedation, that patients with dental anxiety have their life has been changed. They are able to get to the dentist regularly without any dread. I’d start with nitrous oxide which will relax you but not require you to have someone drive you to or from your appointment.

If you find, you need something stronger, than I would suggest oral conscious sedation. This is quite strong so in addition to driving you to and from your appointment, they will also need to stay with you afterward until you are lucid and steady on your feet again. The good news about such a strong relaxant is you will most likely sleep through your entire appointment.

This blog is brought to you by Lexington, KY Dentist Dr. John Weaver.

Danger with Tooth Infections

Posted on May 31, 2020 by writeradmin.

I’m worried my dentist is putting my life in danger. I have a tooth infection. He wrote me a prescription for antibiotics but told me not to take it until a week before my followup appointment and procedure. That’s not for THREE WEEKS. I’ve always been told that tooth infections are a dental emergency and need to be dealt with right away. I’m worried he’s putting my life in danger with this delay.

Brandon

Dear Brandon,

You’re right that tooth infections are considered a dental emergency. This is because if they’re not treated they will spread. When you think about how close your jaw is to your brain, heart, and lungs, you can see that you don’t want to allow an infection to grow out of your jaw area.

That being said, it is possible that your infection is so small your dentist knows you have time and you are not in any danger. The antibiotic is a precaution to keep the bacteria growth down as you are going into the procedure to deal with your infection, which I’m assuming at this point is a simple root canal treatment.

If the infection starts to take off and you are in pain, call your dentist back and tell him what is going on. He should get you in right away if that is the case. If he doesn’t and is just leaving you in pain, there are dentists who will treat non-established patients in situations such as yours. You can do an internet search and call some offices.

I hope this puts your mind at ease. The key here is pain and progression. If pain is happening, you shouldn’t be left without aid. If it is progressing quickly, he needs to get you in sooner than originally planned.

This blog is brought to you by Lexington, KY Dentist Dr. John Weaver.

Can a Holistic Dentist Heal Cavities?

Posted on May 15, 2020 by writeradmin.

Just before COVID-19 started, by regular dentist, who is not a holistic dentist, diagnosed a small cavity. I asked if it was possible to try to heal it since I’ve heard that’s possible when they’re small. He totally dismissed me and got an attitude, telling me that I was eventually going to lose the tooth if I didn’t get it taken care of. Well, now I can’t even go into the office and get it done because this is apparently not an emergency but I’m thinking about revisiting my idea that maybe I could be using my time to try to heal the cavity since I really can’t do anything else with it right now anyway. Is there a chance a holistic dentist could help with this? Or is there maybe something I could be trying at home in the meantime?

Thanks,

Greg

Dear Greg,

Decay in an opportunity preditor. If a tooth is healthy it won’t set in. Instead, it looks for weak spots. If a tooth is in that demineralized stage, it is still possible to mineralize the tooth. At this point in dental care, we aren’t able to regrow enamel on teeth with decay. Though, ongoing research is promising.

A Holistic Dentist Can’t Heal a Cavity, but…

As long as you don’t have a dental emergency, there is no harm in trying to remineralize the tooth. This is not a guarantee, but it is better than doing nothing.

The first thing I’d suggest is to make sure you are brushing after every meal. I know that most people only brush twice a day, but that extra cleaning and fluoride will help your body use the decay fighting minerals in your saliva more efficiently. Use a fluoridated toothpaste. It would be okay to call your dentist and ask if some additional supplements will help as well. If your dentist doesn’t want to bother and just wants to wait until the decay advances, you can call a holistic dentist in your area and see if they are willing to be more proactive.

Secondly, be careful of your diet. Make sure you are only drinking water throughout your day. Other drinks contain acids and sugars that can eat away at your enamel. The healthier you eat, the better chance you have of fighting the decay as well.

Don’t Wait if Infection Develops

Monitor the tooth. If it starts hurting or showing signs of infection, such as a pimple on your gums, treatment shouldn’t be delayed. Tooth infections are considered dental emergencies. You will be able to be seen even during the COVID-19 quarantine.

Don’t put that off. Dental infections can spread. Your jaw is close to your heart, lungs, and brain. Delaying treatment can turn a dental infection into a life-threatening one.

This blog is brought to you by Lexington, KY Dentist Dr. John Weaver.

Can a Tooth Infection Cause a Fever?

Posted on March 31, 2020 by writeradmin.

I’m worried about my daughter but my pediatric dentist won’t see her during the quarantine. She’s had a loose tooth bothering her and now she has a fever. I called in but they said a tooth infection doesn’t have a fever. Is that true? Do I really have nothing to worry about?

Mandy

Dear Mandy,

I’m hoping there is some sort of miscommunication here. Maybe what your pediatric dentist said is that a tooth infection doesn’t usually have a fever. However, any infection can cause a fever. Before you panic, that doesn’t mean your daughter does have an tooth infection.

My guess is you are very diligent with her dental care. Unless there was a cavity they were watching at her last checkup, there likely isn’t one now that has progressed far enough to become an infection. It’s likely she’s fighting something else off right now. You mentioned the tooth is loose and bothering her. Sometimes loose teeth can be painful themselves.

Because of COVID-19, they’re asking us to stay quarantined and only treat essential cases. I’m sure this is making you nervous because it feels like you don’t have access to the care you need for your daughter. You’re a caring mother and want the best for her. Here’s my recommendation.

Keep an eye on her. If the pain in her tooth gets worse, pull it. It’s loose and should come out without too much problem. If there is an infection there, pulling the tooth will take care of it.

If you do that and she’s still in pain a couple of days after you pulled the baby tooth, you can call the dentist back and tell him you want to come in for an emergency dental appointment. It shouldn’t still be hurting a couple of days after it is removed.

This blog is brought to you by Lexington, KY Dentist Dr. John Weaver.

Is a Pulpotomy Really Necessary?

Posted on January 31, 2020 by writeradmin.

My daughter has an infection on a baby molar. My dentist wants to do a pulpotomy on it. What I don’t understand is why we just don’t pull the molar. It’s not her permanent one. When I asked her dentist, he just said, “Because as her dentist I’m telling you this is the best option.” What I wanted to say was, “Well, as her parent I want to know why.” but I was too chicken. I’ve scheduled the appointment but I really want to know why before I follow through with this.

Jen

Dear Jen,

The answer to this really depends on the age of your daughter. Her baby molars need to stay in place until she is around twelve years old when her permanent molars come in. When they’re significantly younger than this, one option is to do a pulpotomy. This is essentially a child’s version of a root canal treatment. It will help her retain a necessary tooth.

Another option is to extract the infected molar, however, you will need to place a space maintainer where the tooth once was. This is a more invasive treatment, but sometimes becomes necessary when the tooth cannot be saved.

If you don’t do either of those, the infection will spread. Tooth infections are considered dental emergencies and need to be taken seriously. The jaw is close to the heart, brain, and lungs. You don’t want the infection to reach any of those areas.

If you extract the tooth without a space maintainer then her other teeth will shift into the open space. When her permanent molars start to come in, it will lead to crowding of her teeth. Then, you’re talking about needing orthodontics which could have been prevented. Keeping this space secured is much less expensive.

A Word about Your Pediatric Dentist’s Response

I’m not happy with your his response to your question. You are the parent and he is ethically obligated to give you all the options available in treatment. In doing that, it means also explaining the pros and cons to each option, along with his explanation for his recommendation.

His arrogance in being questioned makes me wonder whether he’s giving you any of your other options. This isn’t the best care for your child. While you need to get your daughter’s infection dealt with. I think you should start looking for a new dentist for her. If you live in a small town which doesn’t have many pediatric dentists, you can also see a general dentist who is good with children.

This blog is brought to you by Lexington, KY Dentist Dr. John Weaver.