Baton Rouge Dentist

Archives for February 2021

Nose pressure and discharge after wisdom teeth extraction

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An oral surgeon removed all my wisdom teeth. My oral surgeon explained how I can flush the sockets after wisdom tooth extraction. Although he said I do not need to flush the upper sockets, I felt sinus pressure, so I did it anyway. The last time I flushed the right upper socket, yellow discharge came out. And I feel pressure in my left sinus. I wonder if my sinus is perforated. Is this serious? I am concerned that the surgeon knew he punctured my sinus but didn’t tell me. I am on day six after surgery, the pain is improving, but I am concerned about the discharge.

The timing of all this could not be worse. I am scheduled to get my teeth whitened in three weeks. Thanks. Janie from TN

Janie,

It is normal for some bacteria to settle in the sockets, but it appears that your immune system is helping you avoid an infection.

Nose Pressure After Wisdom Teeth Extraction

After wisdom tooth extraction, you might feel nose pressure when you flush the socket because the roots of upper molars can be close to the sinus. If your sinus were perforated, the rinsing solution would come out of your nose while flushing the socket. You did not mention that issue, so the sinus membrane is intact and does not require treatment.

Continue flushing the socket as directed but be gentle to avoid rupturing the sinus membrane. Leave the blood clot in the socket to form a framework for bone growth as the extraction site heals.

Are You Ready for Teeth Whitening After Wisdom Tooth Removal?

Custom made trays hold the bleaching gel in place.
After tooth extraction sites heal, your dentist can begin teeth whitening treatment

It is best not to begin teeth whitening treatment until the sockets and surrounding tissue heal completely. According to the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, it can take several weeks for soft tissue to heal after wisdom teeth extraction. Your dentist will ensure your teeth, gums, and extraction sites are healthy before whitening your teeth.

If you rush the process, the teeth whitening process can irritate the extraction sites.

Ryan Perry, DDS, of Baton Rouge, sponsors this post.

Dental insurance dropped my dentist

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My dentist of 12 years is no longer in-network with my insurance. Over the years, I had perfect results with crowns from the dentist. But during open enrollment in November, I learned that the dentist is not in my dental plan. I was waiting for this year to use my flexible spending money toward another crown, but I am nervous about the choices I have for available dentists. If I go out of network and back to my former dentist, I am afraid that I cannot afford it. How can I find a dentist with reasonable fees and quality work within a small network of dentists? – Thank you. Reuben from GA

 

Reuben,

Over the years, we have heard and seen many stories of dental care casualties that resulted from dental plan changes that exclude your trusted dentist. Patients often feel forced to switch to a new dentist that accepts their insurance, and sometimes trouble follows.

Why Insurance Companies Exclude Dentists from Their Plans

Insurance companies often exclude dentists from their plans because the company is trying to save money. An insurance company may contact all dentists in an area with a list of their discount fee plans. But dentists who focus on quality care know that they cannot maintain their high standards at the insurance company’s rates.

Other dentists will accept the insurance company’s rates but take shortcuts or skip steps to accommodate patients with that insurance plan. The result is lower-quality care and dental treatment that will not last as long. And it is not easy to find a dentist who offers high-quality crowns and knows how to ensure your new crown is in harmony with your bite.

How to Get Quality Dental Care with Your Current Insurance

Many insurance companies allow you to see the dentist of your choice if you are willing to pay more. You can submit your dental claims to the insurance company, and they might provide minimal benefits. Speak with your former dentist to find out how they can make treatment affordable for you. Some ways include:

  • Financing – Some dentists offer no-interest financing through companies like CareCredit®.
  • Phased treatment – Many dentists are willing to complete dental work in phases to help you pay for services as your dentist provides them.
  • Payment plans – Some dentists have in-office payment plans that allow you to pay for dental services in installments.

What If You Must Switch Dentists?

Diagram of the stages of affordable dental crowns
Talk to your dentist about making crowns affordable before switching to a new dentist

If you must switch dentists due to insurance limitations, you can find a new one with these steps:

  • Ask for recommendations – Talk to friends, family members, or co-workers about their dentist. Ask how long they have been with the dentist and if the dentist completed any major dental work for them.
  • Search online reviews – You can find patient reviews on Google, Yelp, and Facebook.
  • Schedule consultations – Schedule at least two consultations with dentists. Look online for information about the dentist’s post-graduate training and experience. Ask each dentist how many patient cases like yours they have completed. And ask how often the dentist completes the procedure.
  • Examine the dentist’s smile gallery – Some dentists have online smile galleries. But during a consultation, you can ask to see before-and-after photos of the dentist’s work. Ask to see pictures of patient cases like yours.

During the next open enrollment, you can look for available insurance plans that include your dentist.

Best wishes.

Ryan Perry, DDS, of Baton Rouge, sponsors this post.