Baton Rouge Dentist

Is Treatment for a Gum Cyst Necessary?

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My dentist said the tender bump on my gum above my first molar is a chronic, benign abscess. I’m concerned the lump doesn’t hurt, so my dentist referred me to an endodontist. The endodontist wants to perform a root canal for a cyst or abscess. Is that necessary, or is this exploratory surgery? Am I increasing the risk of damaging my tooth and needing it whittled down for a crown? Thanks, Layla from Seattle

Layla,

It’s understandable to feel concerned about the lump in your gums, particularly when receiving unclear information from your dental providers. We want to acknowledge your concerns and provide clear information to help you navigate this situation.

Clarifying the Likely Issue and Treatment Path

Root canal emergency diagram of five procedure steps
Root canal therapy

Finding a lump on your gums causes worry. While a cyst is possible, it’s statistically less common in the gums than an infection stemming from a tooth’s nerve. An endodontist specializes in treating these issues, and the standard, highly effective approach is root canal therapy. This treatment focuses on cleaning the infection from within the tooth to save it. An apicoectomy (root canal treatment from the root tip) is generally considered a secondary measure, used primarily if unique circumstances prevent a successful outcome with standard root canal treatment alone.

Why Timely Treatment Matters for Your Well-Being

Addressing a dental infection, especially one that has been present for two years, is crucial for oral and overall health. Your body actively fights infection, which can be draining over time. Taking steps to resolve the infection is essential for several reasons:

  • Your body will no longer need to constantly fight the infection, which may increase your energy levels.
  • Removing the infection protects your jawbone and surrounding teeth from potential damage or spread.
  • Treating the source eliminates the risk of bacteria entering your bloodstream.

Root canal treatments performed by specialists boast a success rate of 85% or higher, often enhanced by modern technology. If, in a rare case, the root canal doesn’t fully resolve the problem, an apicoectomy could be considered down the line. Feeling unsure is perfectly normal, and you can seek a third opinion from another endodontist’s office for reassurance and clarity. By planning your care proactively, you can manage the situation effectively and avoid the need for urgent dental treatment.

Baton Rouge family dentist Dr. Ryan Perry sponsors this post. Please read about how he strives to provide his patients with the best care possible.

Why Can’t I Get a Root Canal Instead of an Extraction?

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Half my tooth broke off in a crown I got 20 years ago. My dentist said the tooth was infected, and there was a pus sac at the base of the tooth. My dentist says he needs to extract the tooth. Why won’t root canal treatment work? – Thanks. Tyree from GA

 

Tyree,

Your dentist may be correct, but some dentists are eager to extract teeth unnecessarily. Your dentist should have explained why root canal treatment wouldn’t work. So, you can ask or dentist or get a second opinion from another dentist to see if the tooth is savable.

When Might Tooth Extraction Be Necessary?

Tooth extraction may be necessary when the tooth is so decayed that insufficient structure is left to restore it. Perhaps a tooth has been missing for so long that the teeth on either side have drifted into the space, and there isn’t room to restore the tooth.

Saving and restoring teeth is hard work; sometimes, a dentist may fail. Look for a dentist with experience in root canal treatment or find an endodontist (root canal specialist) to determine whether your tooth is savable and what treatment is required to do it. Otherwise, you may get a recommendation for an extraction and dental implant.

Baton Rouge family dentist Dr. Ryan Perry sponsors this post. Read how he strives to provide some of the best dentistry in Baton Rouge.

Why Am I Having a Tooth Flare-Up Five Years After a Root Canal?

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Six years ago, my dentist performed a root canal procedure on my upper left first molar. The procedure went fine, and the tooth felt comfortable until late September. I hadn’t eaten anything unusual but noticed a dull toothache. Now, the tooth hurts daily, and the pain is getting worse. My dental appointment isn’t until two weeks after the Thanksgiving holiday when I return from vacation. Is a tooth savable if I’ve already had a root canal? – Thanks. Kaitlynn from IN

 

Kaitlynn,

Root canal failure occurs in 10% of teeth treated. Failure occurs when the tooth doesn’t fully heal and eventually flares up, as is the case for your situation.

Why Might a Tooth Flare Up Years After a Root Canal?

Root canal emergency diagram of five procedure steps
Lingering infected tissue can cause irritation months or years after a root canal

A tooth might become irritated years later if some infected tissue lingers after a root canal. Due to the intricate anatomy of teeth, particularly those with curved or branching roots, removing all infected tissue during a root canal procedure can be challenging. Any residual infection can lead to future complications.

Either root canal retreatment or surgery may be necessary to address root canal failure. A dentist may refer you to an endodontist (specialist in root canal therapy) for retreatment. The goal is to identify and eliminate the source of the persistent infection. While the success rate of retreatment or surgery is often estimated at 50%, the outcomes are usually more favorable.

It’s also possible that the tooth has developed a crack, which could contribute to the ongoing issues. Unfortunately, the prognosis for saving a tooth with a crack is generally poor. If the tooth is unsavable, your dentist will explain tooth replacement options.

Baton Rouge family dentist Dr. Ryan Perry sponsors this post. Please read about how he strives to provide his patients with the best care possible.

Is a Root Canal Worth It?

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Is a root canal worth it? My bottom right first molar will either need a root canal or extraction and dental implant. My second molar is missing. If I decide to have the dentist extract my tooth, could a snap-on smile help? – Thanks. Wendy from VA

Wendy,

You mentioned that you’ve already lost your second molar and are deciding whether to extract your first molar or get a root canal treatment. Without molars on your left side, you would be unable to chew and function properly.

Is a Root Canal Worth It?

When a natural tooth is savable, the best option is a root canal treatment followed by a crown. Root canal treatment is less expensive than a dental implant, but some prefer dental implants for long-term stability and predictability.

Given the benefits of preserving your natural tooth and the potential complications of losing it, a root canal treatment followed by a crown seems to be the most practical and cost-effective solution in your case. However, schedule an exam with an experienced dentist to determine the pros and cons of your treatment options.

Is a Snap-On Smile a Reliable Tooth Replacement Option?

While a snap-on smile can temporarily solve social situations, understand its limitations. It’s a cosmetic option, not for long-term use or heavy chewing. If you wear the appliance regularly, you need to replace it frequently.

What Are Alternatives to a Snap-On Smile?

A removable partial denture is an alternative to a snap-on smile for replacing missing teeth. However, its stability and effectiveness depend on having teeth in the back to anchor it.

Imagine a table with only two legs on one side. Similarly, your bite is unbalanced when you try to replace molar teeth with a denture supported only by front teeth. The force on the front teeth can cause them to tilt and eventually loosen.

 

Baton Rouge family dentist Dr. Ryan Perry sponsors this post.  Read how Dr. Perry strives to provide some of the best dental care in Baton Rouge.

Are CEREC crowns cheap because they are quick?

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I am suffering from a toothache that is similar to one I had about a year ago. To fix it then, I ended up getting a root canal and a crown. The process took three appointments: one for the actual root canal, one to go back and get my crown, and one more to make an adjustment on the crown. I’m pretty sure that I may end up getting a root canal and crown again. I have noticed signs for “Crowns in a day.” One appointment instead of three sounds great. I’m worried, though, that it’s going to be a cheap crown that won’t last. Usually, if it sounds too good to be true, it is. Should I avoid these quick-crown dentists?

Shelby, Richardson, TX

Dear Shelby,

It’s natural to question the value of something done quickly. In many instances, “fast” does cause you to consider quality. For example, if your home is built too quickly, you may question whether the builders did their best work.

How are CEREC crowns made so quickly?

In the case of the “Crowns in a day,” or CEREC crowns, the quality isn’t questioned because it is done quickly. The reason they are able to do it in a day is that they mill the crown in their office. Using computer programs, the dentist is able to match the colors and the shape of your tooth and to make the crown while you are in his chair.

When the dentist is finished with your root canal, the crown can be fitted and you go home with it. By having a CEREC machine in the office, it cuts out the steps of sending off your crown specs to a different ceramist to create it and waiting for it to come back to the dentist to place over your tooth.

With that said, the quality of CEREC crowns isn’t undermined by the time spent to create them, but possibly by the dentist behind it. Any dentist can have a crown-making machine in their office. That doesn’t automatically mean they are a master at using it. It takes training and experience to be able to create a crown that is going to match with your other teeth in shape and color and look as natural as possible. So before just going to any CEREC crown dentist, do your homework. Go to the dentist’s office and look at examples their work so you can get the best results possible.

This post is sponsored by Dr. Ryan Perry in Baton Rouge, LA.

Will it ruin a new crown to grind down a high spot?

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I recently had a root canal and got a crown on a molar on the bottom and now my bite is off. It doesn’t feel like it used to. My teeth don’t fit together the same when I bite or clench my jaw. I think it needs to be ground down or something, but my dentist thinks I’ll get used to it and I just have to give it time. Will it ruin my crown if the dentist grinds it down? Is that why my dentist doesn’t want to fix it?

Kay, Denver, Colorado

Dear Kay,

That’s too bad that your dentist is asking you to be patient instead of trying to adjust your dental crown. Unfortunately, when dentists do that, it is often a sign that they aren’t comfortable or knowledgeable about the correction.

The way your upper and lower teeth meet when you chew, and how your teeth function together, is called occlusion. When you get a crown, the shape of the crown is similar to, but most likely not exactly like, the contour of the original tooth, and the occlusion may be different. Over time, you may get used to your new bite, but in some instances, when the bite is off, it can cause unusual stress on the teeth. This stress can lead to bone loss or contribute to TMJ disorders.

When a new crown feels off, most dentists will simply fix it so it isn’t so high. There is a special “registration paper” that the dentist would ask you to tap and bite your teeth together on. When there is a part of the tooth that hits before the rest of the tooth, the dentist will grind the tooth in that spot to fix it. It doesn’t hurt the crown to grind down small spots that may be causing discomfort. This is a common practice with crowns.

You have a couple of options. You can wait as suggested and see if your bite adjusts if you have had a good experience otherwise with your dentist. If you do go back and ask again to adjust the crown and he is hesitant, don’t push it. It may end up worse than leaving the crown as it is.

If you don’t have any ties that bind with this dentist, it may not hurt to get a second opinion.

This post is sponsored by Dr. Ryan Perry in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Would pulling a tooth and covering it be better than a root canal?

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I had a friend who had a snap-in set of teeth to cover a bad tooth in the front. I’m wondering if there is something similar for a tooth in the back. I keep struggling with a tooth on the bottom of my mouth. I have had cavities and fillings, and now my dentist says I either have to have a root canal on it or an implant. I’m thinking it might be easier just to pull the thing and cover it up. What do you think?

Althea, Mississippi

Dear Althea,

While it is frustrating to keep having work done on the same tooth, a snap-on smile is not the answer. Snap-on smiles are meant for temporary tooth fixes. Because they are meant to be temporary, they aren’t very durable or strong, especially not in the place of a molar that takes the brunt of the work chewing your foods. They are not particularly cheap, either.

Also, there are complications that can arise from extracting the tooth. Anytime a tooth is pulled, the body naturally thinks the bone in that area isn’t needed anymore. The minerals in the bone will eventually be reabsorbed into the body, leaving that spot prone to deformation. It may also affect the teeth around that spot as it leaves room for them to shift, changing your bite.

Your dentist may have suggested a dental implant for that tooth if you mentioned extracting it. If you put an implant in, it will slow down or stop the bone loss because the base of the implant is in the bone and lets the body know it is still needed.

Really root canal is probably your best bet as it is the simplest option. It can take care of the needs of your tooth and most likely be the most cost-effective. Typically a tooth that gets a root canal also gets a crown. This is a strong covering that will allow you to still chew like you are used to without fear of it breaking.

If you want other options, depending on the location of the tooth, a partial denture or a bridge may work. Speak to your dentist about your options when you have your next appointment.

This post is sponsored by Dr. Ryan Perry of Baton Rouge, LA.

 

 

 

Root Canal Can’t be Performed on Front Tooth. What now?

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I have a front tooth that has been such a problem I had two dentists attempt a root canal on the tooth. Unfortunately, the dentists weren’t able to get through the root at the end because of calcium build-up.
Now, I’m researching the idea of having an implant on this tooth. Is this the best choice for this problem or is there another dentist that could get to the end of the root?
– Ted in Louisiana

Ted,
It doesn’t happen a lot but sometimes teeth get blockages in the roots and then it isn’t possible to perform a root canal treatment.

I’d recommend you don’t give up yet on the idea of having this procedure done. Be sure to seek the advice of a root canal specialist (endodontist) and have them try to penetrate the roots. They use fine, ultrasonic tips that can sometimes break through strong calcium build-ups. General dentists do root canal treatments on front teeth when the roots are straight with easy access. When the roots are complicated or hard to reach, a specialist is usually the answer.

Another solution that may work is to surgically seal the root end of the tooth without going through the tooth. This is fairly simple to do with a front tooth and is called an apicoectomy. This may be a good solution to your problem but you do need to consider that when you can’t clean all the dead tissue out of the inside of a tooth, there may be extra complications. I’d recommend you get advice on this from a specialist.

If possible, it’s best to save a tooth as there’s no substitute like your own natural teeth. Be sure to get proper advice from specialists before you do any procedure.

This blog brought to you by Dr. Ryan Perry, Baton Rouge Family Dentist.

I had a root canal yesterday, is it normal to still be in pain?

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Yesterday I got a root canal and felt zero pain the whole time. Even after the anesthetic wore off I was good. Then about 3 hours after I got it done, it started to hurt and I expected that. I took some Motrin PM and it helped me sleep. But today it’s still sore. I can’t tell if the tooth is sore or the gum around it where I got the needle. I don’t have a dental crown yet, just some cement stuff and my next appointment is on June 4th. Is it normal to be in pain? Aleve isn’t helping at all and I want to eat but every time I chew on the other side it still hurts so I’m not even eating. Last night my whole tooth area was throbbing and today it’s just a dull pain.

Thanks, Michelle

Dear Michelle,

If is quite normal to feel some discomfort after root canal treatment. Even though the nerve of the tooth is removed you may feel some achiness. If your tooth had an infection it may take several days for the tooth to settle down. We recommend you take 800mg of Ibuprofen every 6 hours to help ease your pain if you have no allergies to this medication. Ibuprofen is a good pain reliever as well as minimizing inflammation within and around the tooth. Tell your dentist of your discomfort when you go in for your next appointment. He may want to take an x-ray to reexamine your tooth.

Post courtesy of Dr. Perry, Baton Rouge Dentist.

I need to find an affordable dentist

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I am writing to see if you can tell me about some kind of agency or something that helps people find affordable dentists. I don’t have dental insurance right now. I found a dentist that does complimentary consultations, but the treatment prices they quoted me were frankly breathtaking. I know I have to have this work done, but I have to locate someone who has more reasonable rates.

I have a broken tooth, and it is really starting to bother me. It has been broken for quite a while, but just recently I’ve noticed swelling, and my face hurts when I wake up in the morning. In the last two days I’ve noticed the pain moving down my jaw, and my ear is bothering me, and my neck.

Can you give me a website or something? I appreciate any pointers.

Jay in Ferrisburg

Dear Jay,

What you describe sounds like an infection in your tooth, and it does indeed need to be treated. If you take antibiotics without first addressing the source of the infection within the tooth, you will make the problem worse. Oral antibiotics cannot reach the source of the infection unless you have a root canal treatment or have the tooth extracted. So even though you have to take care of this within your means, don’t try to cut corners by just taking an antibiotic.

Keep in mind, if you have a root canal treatment on the broken tooth, you may also have to have a porcelain crown placed over the tooth to protect the remaining structure. That will also add significantly to the bottom line.

Search for “affordable dentist” in your area, or just start calling to see who will work with you with payment plans or phased treatments. Some dentists are reluctant to advertise that they are “affordable” because they don’t want to leave the impression that their work is “cheap”. But with some diligence, you will be able to locate a dentist that will work with you.

Post courtesy of Dr. Perry, Baton Rouge dentist.