Baton Rouge Dentist

Is This Tooth Extraction a Waste of Time and Money?

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I had a toothache and infection, so last week my dentist prescribed antibiotics to control the infection. The extraction date is in six weeks because my dentist can’t save the tooth, but my tooth doesn’t hurt anymore. Is it a waste of time and money to remove the tooth if it doesn’t hurt? – Thanks. Ronya from GA

Ronya,

When root canal treatment can’t save a tooth, you need an extraction to stop the cycle of pain and swelling. While antibiotics provide temporary relief by attacking bacteria in the surrounding bone, they cannot penetrate the tooth to provide a permanent cure.

Preparing for a Comfortable Procedure

Your dentist uses antibiotics to control the infection so the numbing medication can work properly. This preparation is essential for upper teeth, where active infections can block the effectiveness of the local anesthetic.

  • Schedule the surgery for an optimal time: Schedule your surgery for day four through day seven of your ten-day antibiotic course.
  • Take all the medication: Continue taking your medication through the day of the appointment to ensure the site remains stable for the dentist.
  • Call your dentist if you experience a flare-up: Reach out for a refill if you feel the infection flaring up before your appointment date.

The Risks of Waiting Too Long

Waiting almost two months to remove an infected tooth is not ideal and puts you at risk for antibiotic resistance. Since the medication only suppresses symptoms, the bacteria will likely rebound before your appointment. If your dentist’s schedule were too full to treat you within a week of starting antibiotics, a referral to another office would have been a more appropriate way to handle your care. We encourage you to get a second opinion.

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.

What Are the Best Brands of Dental Implant Abutments and Crowns?

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I’m scheduling consultations with three dentists in the area because I want to replace four missing teeth with dental implants. Which dental implant abutment brands and crowns should I ask for? I want my implants and crowns to last and look good. They cost too much for anything less. Thank you! Kingsley from NJ

Kingsley,

We understand your concerns about getting quality dental implants. However, finding a dentist with expertise and artistic vision is essential to getting healthy, beautiful results. Dictating which materials and techniques the dentist uses can hinder the desired outcome.

Imagine asking an artist to create a series of paintings for your home or office. Would you tell the artist which materials to use? Doing so would stifle the artist’s creativity and hinder the overall aesthetic appeal of the artwork. Instead, choosing a skilled artist who will use the necessary tools and materials for your requirements is best.

Similarly, when pursuing cosmetic dental procedures, it’s essential to trust the expertise of your chosen dentist. After conducting thorough research and selecting a qualified professional, allow them to assess your oral health and understand your aesthetic goals. Trust your dentist to choose the most suitable brands and materials for your needs, ensuring a healthy and personalized smile.

Periodontists, specialists in dental implants, possess the in-depth knowledge and experience necessary to select high-quality implants best suited to your oral anatomy and treatment plan.

Why Requesting Specific Brands of Dental Materials Isn’t Enough

Even if you could meticulously research and select specific materials, you would need to consider the dentist’s skills and experience with those materials to achieve the desired clinical and aesthetic outcomes effectively.

Understanding Gumline Darkness with Dental Crowns

Dental implant parts, including the screw, connector, and crown, and one complete implantIt’s a common misconception that specific dental crowns, such as those made from porcelain fused to gold or white metals, will eliminate the appearance of a dark line at the gumline. All metals used in dental crowns, regardless of color, can exhibit a visible line at the gumline where the crown meets the natural tooth structure. While the color of this line may vary (black instead of gray), it will still be discernible.

Advanced bonding techniques with pure ceramic crowns can eliminate this dark line. However, other methods, such as cutting the metal back at the margin, can minimize its visibility but not eliminate it.

Zirconium oxide is a highly versatile material for dental crowns due to its exceptional strength and opaque white color. While not transparent, it allows a skilled dental technician to skillfully layer translucent ceramic with it to create highly lifelike and aesthetically pleasing restorations.

Prioritize a dentist’s expertise and artistic vision to increase the likelihood of achieving a beautiful, functional, and long-lasting smile. Look for dentist with extensive post-graduate training in implantology and cosmetic dentistry.

Baton Rouge family dentist Dr. Ryan Perry has MDI and Zimmer dental implant training.  Read how Dr. Perry strives to provide some of the best dental care in Baton Rouge.

 

Why are my teeth shifting after I had a tooth pulled?

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I broke a tooth in the back on the bottom of my mouth about a month ago and the dentist said there was no way to save it. So he pulled it. I don’t have the money yet to do anything in that space so it’s just empty back there. Since then, the weirdest thing has happened. I now have a space between a couple of my front teeth that was never there before. What is going on?

Thanks,

Audra, Virginia

Dear Audra,

The teeth in your mouth are like a team. They all work together to get the job done. Your occlusion, or your bite, is designed by how your teeth all work together to chew, swallow, and even how they fit when your jaw is clenched.

Your team of teeth

As with any team, when one player is taken out, things change. Others have to pick up more work. Players have to move around to cover for the missing one. This is the same thing that happens in your mouth. When a tooth is extracted, the body thinks the bone in that area is no longer needed and starts to distribute the minerals from that area to other areas. The bone then degenerates. Unfortunately, it only takes about six months for this to start happening after a tooth is extracted.

When this degeneration starts, the other teeth start to shift. They move to fit your new bite. For some patients, that shift is very minimal or unnoticeable, but for others, it is concerning. If any shifting is going to occur, it typically happens within the first couple of years after the extraction. The bone degeneration and the shifting is why dentists suggest replacing teeth that are extracted.image of dental implant Dental implants are good options if your mouth is healthy enough for it. The new anchors for the tooth implant trick the body into recognizing there is still a need for the minerals in the bone there.

Because your teeth are shifting quickly, you may want to speak to your dentist about your options and affordable dental plans to fix that area of your mouth.

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

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.