Baton Rouge Dentist

TMJ Disorder—Serious Case

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I hope you can help me. I’ve been fooled too many times, and really just need some good information. I thought I would right in and ask you, since you have nothing to gain by lying to me like my dentist did.

I just turned 30, but I’ve had porcelain crowns on all my teeth for more than 10 years. I have a severe teeth grinding habit. Because the original crowns were not properly placed, I have worn those down, too, and now have a lot of pain and clicking when I chew or move my jaw. The last dentist I trusted (she retired) said that I have an upper and lower slant which makes my jaws crooked and a posterior crossbite. Beyond all of the more serious physical issues, they are ugly. That might sound silly, but I am only 3o! They look terrible, and it really impacts how I feel about myself.

I went to see a dentist who billed himself as a “neuromuscular dentist”. He had me in a device for two years. Things have shifted around, but nothing is better! Now I get headaches every single blessed day. I don’t know who to turn to next. Should I see a prosthodontist? A cosmetic dentist? I just know that I can find someone who can make my teeth function properly AND look good, but I need to know where to look. Can you help?

Thanks so much.

Ava in Topeka, KS

Dear Ava,

You actually were smart to work with a neuromuscular dentist. The problem might have been that the dentist you worked with SAID they were a neuromuscular dentist, but did not have the proper training to ethically make such a claim. As you may have discovered, neuromuscular dentistry is not a legally recognized specialty. Like cosmetic dentistry, any professional can claim to provide those services without any specialized training at all.

You need to look for a dentist in your area that specializes in TMJ treatment, and preferably one that also has cosmetic dentistry training, too. Look for a dentist that has received training at an institute like the Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies, which is one of the leading facilities for training dentists in treating TMJ disorders. A dentist that has had the kind of training you are looking for won’t be shy about displaying those credentials.

This post brought to you courtesy of Baton Rouge dentist Dr. Perry.

Problems and discomfort following a white filling

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Last year I had to have a filling put in one of my front teeth. My dentist used that new white filling material, and I’ve had nothing but trouble since. First I had to go back in and have her sand out the filling materials that was causing dental floss to get stuck between my teeth. Then a few months after that I bit into a hot sandwich and almost passed out from the pain. It was unreal! I called my dentist and she said to try and wait it out, and I did, for as I could stand it, but things have slowly but steadily worsened. Now I can’t even stand to bite into the softest foods or drink room temperature liquids. I am on a constant diet of Alieve.

What should I do? I am afraid to go back in to hear her say that I need to have a root canal treatment and then another white filling. I can’t take anymore! Isn’t there another choice besides a white filling? It is one of my front teeth, and I suggested a crown, but she did not seem comfortable with putting one on only one of my front teeth. Any direction you can provide would be great.

Brian in Memphis, TN

Dear Brian,

From what you describe, you are probably going to need a root canal. Pain from the tooth being irritated from the filling should have abated by now, so something more is going on. Pain that gradually improves would be a better sign, but you describe exactly the opposite.

Following the root canal treatment, you may need a porcelain crown (also called a dental crown or a cap) placed over the tooth. If the cavity is not too large, it would still be a good idea to use white composite fillings, but if it is too large, you may need the crown.

If you do have a root canal treatment, you may want to tell the dentist not to leave any gutta percha (root canal filling material) inside the crown of the tooth, but to make sure to trim the material below the level of the tooth attachment. Gutta percha left in the crown of the tooth will cause it to darken over time. If you get a crown, this won’t matter, but if you get another filling, it will.

Post courtesy of Baton Rouge Dentist Dr. Perry.

Worried about losing my front teeth

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My soon-to-be-ex wife hit me in the mouth with a baseball bat. As you might expect, both of my front teeth are now loose. I had to call the cops to get her out of my house, and the cops insisted I go into the hospital. I went to the emergency room, and they did a cat scan, which the doctor said did not reveal any fractures. I am kind of confused, because the teeth are still very loose. Am I going to lose these teeth? It also tore the little piece of skin that connects my upper lip to my jaw, but they said that was no big deal and did not bother to stitch it up.

I wonder if I should have gone in to a dentist right away. Is it too late? I don’t really have a regular dentist, or any insurance or money. The emergency room doctor didn’t say to go to a dentist, but he didn’t say I shouldn’t either, and I wasn’t exactly thinking clearly. Any help you can offer would be great.

Thanks,

Keith in Lake Minnetonka, MN

Dear Keith,

Even if the roots of your teeth aren’t fractured, they still need to be stabilized in the correct position. If you don’t have a regular dentist, see if there is an emergency dentist in your area who will work with you on a payment plan. The dentist will need to bond the teeth into the correct position so the bone can heal.

If the roots are fractured, or if the nerves are damaged, you may need a root canal treatment on one or both teeth. If that is the case, you may or may not need a dental crown, depending on the condition of the tooth.

That is a lot of “ifs”. The best advice we can offer is to seek the services of an expert cosmetic dentist, if you can. If you cannot afford dental care, look into a program called “Give Back a Smile”. It is a program sponsored by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentists, to help victims of domestic violence. If you contact the program, they’ll tell you what you need in terms of documentation to prove that the injury was the result of your wife’s assault with the baseball bat.

We sincerely hope this information helps, and that your situation improves. We’re very sorry for your pain.

This blog post sponsored by Baton Rogue dentist Dr. Perry.

Injured top and bottom front teeth

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Three weeks ago I took a bad fall, and now all of my front teeth – top and bottom – are turning black. Something feels like it is broken or jammed up near my nose. Could it be a broken root?

What I am wondering is whether or not I should see a dentist or a doctor? What will they do about this kind of injury, and is this going to be really expensive? I have good medical insurance, but no dental coverage. If my teeth are dead, will they have to be pulled and replaced with dental implants? Is it possible just to cover up the dead teeth with porcelain veneers?

Thanks for your help with this.

Randy in Lake Odessa

Dear Randy,

Your teeth will need root canal treatments. When a tooth turns black after an injury, it means that the nerve tissue inside the tooth has died. Possibly you have cracked the roots of your teeth. If that is the case, the teeth are not salvageable and must be removed and replaced with dental implants.

The darkened teeth will probably need porcelain crowns after treatment. There is a method of bleaching darkened teeth from the inside, but many dentists do not know how to do that procedure.

Were your teeth displaced in the accident? You don’t mention that they were, so for the purposes of this post, we’ll assume that they are all in the correct places. The “broken root” up near your nose is concerning, especially since something like that should have been addressed as soon as possible after your accident.

All of this treatment should be done by a highly skilled cosmetic dentist, which may not be the answer you were hoping for in terms of insurance coverage. As to how much the entire treatment will cost, it depends on whether or not the teeth can be saved. Root canals are a few hundred dollars each, and porcelain crowns are usually around two thousand, depending on what part of the country you are in. Dental implants are more than that.

I am afraid this will indeed be quite expensive, but our last bit of advice is to find a very talented cosmetic dentist to help you. Do not price shop for this kind of treatment. Best of luck.

This blog posted courtesy of Baton Rouge dentist Dr. Perry.