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Do I need a root canal?

February 28, 2013

Filed under: Root Canal Treatment — Tags: , , , , — okcitydentist @ 8:28 am

I went in for my first filling. I kept filling some pain. She numbed me a second time, but it didn’t really help. Then she stopped, put in a temporary filling, and told me I needed a root canal. Is it possible I should have just been tougher and I don’t really need a root canal?

Deanne, from Albany, NY

Deanne,

I don’t think the problem was you not being tough enough. Sometimes, a dentist won’t know you actually need a root canal until they get in to do the filling. It’s likely that the cavity was deeper than was visible on the x-ray. If she got in there and saw that it had reached to pulp of your tooth, it was time to do a root canal.

That may have been one of the reasons that you weren’t able to get as numb as she was expecting. An infection can make it more difficult to get numb. Another thing that affects anesthetic is anxiety. If you are highly fearful of dental procedures, you can burn off all the numbing agent. One solution to this is to use sedation dentistry. This takes the edge off your anxiety and allows the anesthetic to work.

This blog is brought to you by Oklahoma City Dentist Dr. Don Swearingen.

12 Year old lost front tooth

February 15, 2013

Filed under: Missing Teeth — Tags: , , , , , , — okcitydentist @ 2:15 pm

I’m hoping you can help me. We were in a car accident. The only one hurt was my poor 12 year old daughter, who lost a front tooth. She is distraught. I’ve already taken her to an emergency dentist. However, I need to figure out what to do for her appearance. All the emergency dentist did was remove the root tip. What are our options?

Deanne T.- Phoenix, AZ

Deanne,

First lets look long-term. Once she is old enough for a permanent solution, the ideal treatment is to have a dental implant placed. A dental bridge is a good “second place” solution too.  Her mouth is still changing, so it would be unwise to do it now. However, you need to make sure she receives a treatment that will not only make her feel comfortable with her appearance, but will also keep that space open so there will be enough room for an implant or bridge in the future.

Here are some options:

Hawley Retainer– This is your least expensive solution. It is a wire and acrylic retainer that has  a fake tooth attached to it. It stays in by using the suction of your mouth.

Essix Style Retainer– This has an invisible tray (sort of like Invisalign Braces) with a fake tooth attached.

A Delineator– I’m excited about this new option just recently put on the market. It is made of acrylic and plastic and uses the adjacent teeth to help it stay put, which makes it very stable. The thing I like most about it though is it ensures optimal implant placement. If you’re even considering a dental implant in her future, this is the best temporary solution.

This blog is brought to you by Oklahoma City Dentist Dr. Don Swearingen.