Baton Rouge Dentist

Archives for May 2020

Sensitivity After Tooth Extraction – When You Should Be Concerned

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I’ve been running every morning for 12 years, and for the first time, last month, I fell. I fractured my left elbow, chipped two teeth, and broke the third tooth. The fractured tooth was bleeding intensely. I saw a dentist before I realized my elbow was fractured. I chose a dentist close to home because my regular dentist is 45 minutes away, and I didn’t know how much time I had. Anyway, the dentist extracted the tooth. The site is still achy sometimes, and it’s sensitive to warm or hot drinks and food. I notice it more after I walk.  The extraction space looks okay. It’s just sensitive.  I’m beginning to worry and regret going to a nearby dentist. Will the sensitivity decrease, or do I need to see my dentist before my appointment to restore my chipped teeth? Thanks. Jackson from Nashville, TN

Jackson,

After root canal treatment, your dentist will protect the tooth with the crown. You didn’t make a mistake by getting an emergency appointment with a nearby dentist. Whenever there is trauma to a tooth, it should be treated right away.

After physical exertion, if you’ve had a recent tooth extraction, it’s normal for the extraction site to hurt. Sensitivity to heat is not normal. Your symptoms are most likely coming from an adjacent tooth.

Sensitivity in a Tooth After Extraction

Sensitivity to cold – After an extraction, sensitivity to cold or air usually comes from the adjacent tooth. During extraction, sometimes the roots of an adjacent tooth are exposed, and that creates sensitivity. Mild sensitivity to cold isn’t a serious concern.

Sensitivity to heat – Persistent irritation in a tooth adjacent to one that was extracted can make it sensitive to heat. The tooth might be sensitive to cold at first, but irritation and inflammation will suffocate the pulp tissue inside the tooth until it dies. Inflammation can cause sensitivity to heat. Dying pulp tissue releases gases and heat that are confined within the tooth and become sensitive or painful.

Man frowning and holding the side of his face; for Baton Rouge emergency dentistry from Dr. Ryan Perry.
Trauma to a tooth requires urgent dental care

As the tissue and nerves in the tooth die, sensitivity and achiness go away. But the infection doesn’t. The tooth will need root canal treatment, and your dentist will do the following:

  • Remove the dead tissue
  • Disinfect and clean the tooth
  • Replace the tissue with a filler material
  • Seal the tooth
  • Protect it with a dental crown

Yes, schedule an appointment with your dentist for an exam and an x-ray. You’ll probably need root canal treatment, but it will save the tooth and prevent another extraction.

 

Baton Rouge family dentist, Ryan Perry, DDS, sponsors this post.

Four Facts About Home Teeth Whitening and How to Choose

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Will you please give me an opinion on the Premium Home Teeth Whitening Kit? A few months ago, I passed up a Groupon offer for it, but I see that it’s available on their website. It’s also on Amazon.com, but the cost is significantly lower, and that makes me wonder if the product there is legitimate. Is this whitening kit a worthwhile purchase? – Thanks, Kay from Laurel, MS

 

Thanks for your inquiry, Kay.

After reviewing the website for Premium Home Teeth Whitening, we can’t endorse the product. We have several observations about the product. They are not all negative, and they can apply to other at-home teeth whitening brands.

Facts About Home Teeth Whitening

  1. Whitening agent – The gel contains 36% carbamide peroxide, a valid whitening agent with enough power to whiten your teeth. The kit contains an LED accelerator light, which is unlikely to accelerate the bleaching process.
  2. Cost – A premium kit costs about $150. If our dentist charges more, look for a dentist who offers affordable teeth whitening. Some provide it at a discount if you keep your regular cleaning and exam appointments. Or you can call several dental offices and ask about the cost for teeth whitening if you’ve had a recent hygiene appointment. You can also tell your dentist about the kit and its costs and ask if he or she will match or reduce the cost for you.
  3. Customization – Premium Home Teeth Whitening isn’t customized to fit your teeth. Your dentist will take an impression of your teeth to mold custom bleaching trays. Custom trays keep the gel in contact with your teeth for maximum absorption. They also seal in the bleach and keep it away from your gums to prevent irritation
  4. Safety – Is home teeth whitening safe? Some reports show that over-the-counter whitening systems irritate teeth. Irritation can lead to infection and root canal treatment. If you have existing dental work on your teeth, your dentist needs to check it before you start the bleaching process. And your dentist can predict how bleaching gel will affect the stains in your teeth—for better or worse.
teeth whitening tray
Custom trays maximize the teeth whitening process

It’s best to compare prices at dental offices and receive teeth whitening from a dentist. In most cases, you don’t need an advanced cosmetic dentist to whiten your teeth. A general or family dentist can give you good results. Exercise caution with the dentist you choose of you have fluorosis or tetracycline stains in your teeth, or if the stains are caused by medication or a medical condition. In those cases, see a cosmetic dentist who will determine the best treatment method.

Baton Rouge family dentist, Ryan Perry, DDS, sponsors this post.