Baton Rouge Dentist

Can I Get Affordable Wisdom Teeth Removal With No Dental Insurance?

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Young African American man portraying the need for wisdom teeth removalBoth my bottom wisdom teeth have been hurting on and off for the past year. Last month, the pain increased, and three weeks ago, it was not intense and throbbing that I was nauseous. I do not have a regular dentist, so I found one online that takes emergency patients 24/7. The dentist examined my teeth, took an x-ray, and said both teeth were infected and needed to come out.

The dentist referred me to an oral surgeon who quoted a price that I could not afford, and they wanted the money upfront. But the dentist prescribed antibiotics, so I am happy about that because the infection won’t worsen. How can I get affordable wisdom tooth removal without dental insurance? Thank you.  Ryland from TN

Ryland,

Thank you for your question.

It is good to realize that antibiotics are not enough to resolve the infection. The antibiotics cannot remove the source of the infection in your wisdom teeth.

Getting Wisdom Teeth Removed Without Dental Insurance

If you do not have dental insurance, you should still get your infected wisdom teeth removed. Without removal, the infection and pain will get worse.

Some tips for getting the care you need:

  • Take antibiotics as prescribed – Keep taking the antibiotic from the dentist who gave you a same-day appointment, but still get the teeth removed promptlt. Otherwise, your body can develop antibiotic resistance, and it will become more challenging to get rid of the infection.
  • Get dental care right away – You can get wisdom teeth removed affordably without dental insurance by finding a dentist with advanced training in oral surgery. You can call the office to ask if the dentist accepts patients who do not have dental insurance. Many dentists offer payment plans or financing to help you pay for care over time.
  • Consider a university dental school or dental clinic – For our readers experiencing extreme financial hardship, find a nearby university with a dental school clinic. Or look for a local dental clinic.

Ryan Perry, DD, a Baton Rouge family dentist, sponsors this post. Dr. Perry makes treatment affordable by offering financing options like CareCredit®. And he offers a free initial exam for new patients.

Did an Emergency Dentist Give Me an Unnecessary Root Canal?

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Several months ago, I was experiencing horrible tooth pain. I normally have a fairly high tolerance for pain, so I took some ibuprofen and went on. When the pain became too much to bear, I went to an emergency dentist, knowing that I would likely be in need of a root canal. I was right.

Recently, my sister experienced a tooth pain similar to mine. She too has a high tolerance for pain, and took ibuprofen until it was more than she could handle. At my suggestion, she consulted an emergency dentist, but was told he was in need of a crown.

How could it be that we were both experiencing the same type of pain, yet we received differing prognoses?

Thank you,
Jake

Dear Jake,

Just like all people look different, and are wired differently, all tooth pain is different and can be caused by various issues. An infection can cause pain, as well as a cracked tooth, or a cavity, in addition to a multitude of other reasons. A root canal is generally the result of a decay that reaches the nerve of the tooth, causing it to send out signs of distress of pain or discomfort. This could also be an indication of infection, or a dead tooth.

Therefore, even though two people can experience toothaches, the cause of the pain could be vastly different, yielding different diagnoses and treatment.

Another point to consider is that, even though you say you and your sister have high tolerances for pain, our pain levels are different, as are the signals of pain or discomfort that each person feels.

An emergency dentist can explain your diagnosis, as well as your sister’s. This may help you both to better understand what was going on in your mouth to cause the pain, as well as the reason for it. If the dentists you each saw failed to do this, give the office a call and inquire. This is the only way to truly know and understand.

This article was provided by the office of emergency dentist, Dr. Ryan Perry.

Did mouth injury cause teeth to turn gray?

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I was with my friends at a local venue when, out of the blue, a fight began. I was not involved, but happen to be standing close. Close enough, actually, that I ended up getting shoved by a group of men. When I hit back, a bouncer came out of nowhere and hit me in the face. I left unharmed for the most part, but my mouth was bleeding badly. At the time, I thought it would stop and heal on its own, not really given much thought to it. However, now my bottom teeth are turning gray. This isn’t something I’ve seen a doctor for, but am wondering if I should be seen by an emergency dentist. Or, do you think it will heal on its own? I’m also curious if I am seen by a dental professional, if the venue would be responsible for paying for my medical bills, since it was their employee who hit me.

Thank you for any help you can provide,

Brian

Dear Brian,

When teeth are injured or experience trauma, and it sounds like yours definitely did, it can kill the pulp of the tooth and cause the teeth to die. A dying tooth can look gray, as you are describing, similar to a bruise on skin. Regrettably, when the teeth start to change color, there is nothing that can be done to reverse the damage. They are turning gray because there is no blood flowing into them, causing the inside to become lifeless, turning into an attractive location for bacteria to develop. If this happens, the tooth needs to be treated with a root canal as soon as possible, or it will eventually fall to infection.

You asked if you should consult an emergency dentist. There are several reasons for a person to see an emergency dentist. The list below may help you answer this question.

Reasons to see an emergency dentist

  • Toothache
  • Signs of Infection
  • Severely Broken Tooth
  • Oral or Facial Pain

It doesn’t sound like you’re currently in pain. However, if you were, you would want to see your dentist as soon as possible. But, since it seems that you’re dealing with discoloration and not pain, it doesn’t necessarily render seeing an emergency dentist at this time. That said, it is still very important for you to schedule an appointment with your regular dentist as soon as you can. If you don’t have this treated, it will escalate into a major infection.

Who Pays for Treatment

It is hard to determine if the venue will take on the financial responsibilities of your dental treatment. If the incident was reported, they may be willing to handle the damages. However, if there is no documentation of the problem, you may need to get legal advice and try to handle this in court. Regardless, please do not stall your treatment because you are waiting to find out if someone else will cover the costs. You may end up incurring additional costs and trouble because you delayed the treatment. In addition, most courts expect you to seek care right away if you have a legitimate injury. But, you’ll want to speak to a lawyer for advice regarding the legal matters.

This blog post is sponsored by Baton Rouge emergency dentist, Dr. Ryan Perry.

Does my son’s broken tooth need an emergency dentist?

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My son slid into third base and was hit by the ball last night. The force of the ball broke one of his upper front teeth and cracked the other. We took him to the dentist today, but he indicated he could not make an appointment to fix the problems for several months. I want it fixed now and am wondering if we should see an emergency dentist. Is this necessary, or would it be best to wait for the tooth to lose its sensitivity?

Thank you,
Rachel

Rachel,

Your son should be seen by an emergency dentist as soon as possible. Waiting will do you/him no good. If you have have piece that broke off, that will be even better. If you can find an emergency dentist who is also an expert cosmetic dentist, that would be the best case scenario. You don’t want too much time to pass, but you also need to be sure you find someone who has the experience to remedy this issue. You see, you want the broken tooth to look good and natural, and match the other front tooth. However, if you no longer have the broken piece of the tooth, direct dental bonding would be the next best method, depending on where the damage is on the other tooth.

This post is brought to you by Baton Rouge emergency dentist, Dr. Ryan Perry.

Should I see an emergency dentist for a canker sore?

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I have had a horrible canker sore for days. I normally have a pretty high pain tolerance, but last night, I was unable to eat dinner. The spot looks terrible and is the size of a corn kernel. It’s raised and red and white on top. I should mention that this is not the first canker sore I’ve experienced, but it’s definitely the worst canker sore I’ve ever had. Should I consult an emergency dentist? Or, would it be better to see my regular doctor?

Thanks,
Christine

Dear Christine,

If you have not yet tried any at-home canker sore remedies, it may be too soon for an emergency dentist. Typically, spots such as these heal themselves in a matter or 10-14 days. However, it’s a matter of managing the pain and discomfort until that time.

Many products can provide canker sore relief. A good starting point would be an oral anesthetic from the dental aisle of your local pharmacy or grocery store. Normally these come in a tube or gel-like pads that go on a tissue. If the canker sore appears to have become infected, a topical antiseptic should be applied to the area. Another option is a product made for killing germs, or do a rinse with part water, part hydrogen peroxide. Listerine works well, too, as some people have reported quick pain relief from it.

True canker sores can have many causes. Biting your cheek, injury, stress, allergies, or friction from dental tools, are some possible causes. In addition, there are other problems that may appear and feel like a canker sore, such as cancer or viruses. If you have several canker sores, it would be a good idea to see a doctor or dentist for an evaluation. If it doesn’t improve after a couple of weeks of developing the canker sore, or it the pain worsens, you should schedule a checkup. These appointments do not have to be with an emergency dentist unless the pain is unbearable.

This post is brought to you by Baton Rouge emergency dentist, Dr. Ryan Perry.

What should I do if my crown broke?

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I have had a crown for a little over a year. Unfortunately, the crown has since given me several problems and, a few months ago, a significant piece of the porcelain broke off. I hated this, obviously, but especially because it was so soon after having it done. I have returned to the dentist multiple times to have things adjusted, but now that it is completely broken, I am not sure what to do. I would rather not return to the same doctor since there have been so many issues since the original crown was placed. Because I am in pain and discomfort, not to mention it looks funny, I called an emergency dentist to see if the crown issues could be addressed and I was seen right away. Unfortunately, the dentist felt the original crown needed to be replaced. This is not something I have the money for, nor do I feel like I should have to pay for another crown that has had issues since the original appointment. I understand that it’s not the responsibility of the emergency dentist to incur the expense of fixing a broken crown, but am incredibly frustrated with the entire situation.

Any suggestions?
Steve

Dear Steve,

My apologies for all of the issues you have experienced with your crown. I know all of this is very frustrating. However, I do want to be sure you know that doctors have varying opinions on how to best proceed or address issues such as this. If the crown is broken, it is possible that it cannot be repaired and will have to be replaced. If this is, in fact, the case, I would suggest returning to the dentist who originally did the crown first. Hopefully, this would decrease the out of pocket expense on your end. Although there are some general rules to follow for the time dental procedure results should last, most dentists have their own ideas on this. For example, crowns, like the one you had placed, should last for at least five years. If an issue arises which requires a repair or replacement prior to that, it would be advisable for the dentist to consider not charging the patient, or at least reducing their portion. Going to a new practice would result in a similar cost unless it would be easier on your peace of mind to go to a new dentist. As a patient, you should expect a dentist to stand behind their treatment and the work they do, just as a dentist would want you to do your part to care for and maintain your teeth and come in for regular visits.

This post is sponsored by Baton Rouge emergency dentist, Dr. Ryan Perry.

Did the Emergency Dentist Destroy One of My Teeth?

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I went to an emergency dentist because of some pain while I was out of town. I told him what was going on. He couldn’t see what was going on, but said based on my symptoms he feels certain I cracked a tooth. He did a crown. The pain went away for a little bit, but is now hurting again. I looked and the tooth next to the crowned tooth has turned gray. Did the emergency dentist damage it when he gave me the crown?

Lisa L.

Dear Lisa,

It would be unlikely the emergency dentist caused the tooth to die. I can think of a few scenarios which are possible.

The first is a misdiagnosis. Possibly, the graying tooth could be the one bothering you all along and it referred pain to the crowned tooth. If that’s what happened, having another dentist look at the x-rays should be able to tell you for sure. If it turns out it was an obvious misdiagnosis, you can get a refund for your dental crown.

Another possibility is that something damaged the adjacent tooth after your appointment. Admittedly, this is the least likely option. The chance of something causing trauma to a tooth right next to the one you had treated without you realizing it is pretty small. But, it’s worth mentioning as an option.

The most likely option is that both teeth were traumatized at the same time. Sometimes it takes a while for the results of the trauma to show up. So, one tooth was cracked and another possibly had its blood supply cut off. This would cause it to gray slower than the symptoms on the other tooth showed up.

You may never know for sure unless it is a misdiagnosis. However, the dying tooth needs to be addressed. You’ll need a root canal treatment. If you don’t the bacteria it’s harboring will blow up into a tooth infection and you’ll end up with another dental emergency.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Ryan Perry.

Can I Get George Lucas to Pay My Dental Bill?

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My son and I were having a light saber fight. He’s become somewhat of a Star Wars addict lately. Normally, I survive these intergalactic battles, but this time a ring around the base of the lightsaber flew off and hit me in the mouth. I thought I was fine at first, and told my son so. He feels terribly guilty for hitting me. But, the next day my tooth felt loose. I keep messing with it and feel pretty sure it’s loose. As it’s an adult tooth I’m guessing I have to replace it. I’m sure that’s going to be expensive. Too bad I can’t get George Lucas to foot the bill.

Miranda P. – California

Miranda,

Yes, it would be great if George Lucas offered some financial assistance here! But, that’s as likely as a Jedi repairing your tooth. That doesn’t mean your tooth has to go the way of the Jedi in Episode III. It’s possible it can be saved. However, for that to have any chance at all you’ll want to stop messing with it. Your tooth has ligaments that attach it. When they’re stretched too much or too often, they can snap.

I’d get in to see your dentist as soon as possible so he or she can stabilize your tooth and do an exam to see how much damage was done. IF you don’t have a dentist you can see right away, you’ll need to call an emergency dentist. They can bond it to the adjacent teeth, splint it, or use a similar method to stabilize it. If it’s protected and kept in its place, those ligaments may heal on their own and the tooth will recover. However, the pulp of the tooth may also be damaged. If this is the case, it may need a root canal treatment after the ligaments heal. Teeth with root canals often need crowns to protect them.

If that’s the case, you’ll want to make sure your dentist is fairly skilled at cosmetic work as well, because from what you’ve described it’s a front tooth which was damaged.

There is a chance the tooth can’t be saved. If that happens you’re definitely right that you’ll want to replace the tooth. Two of your best options are a dental implant or a dental bridge. Dr. Ryan has a good page explaining both and when to choose which one. You can click here to read the dental implant versus dental bridge options.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Ryan Perry.

Should the Emergency Dentist Have Given Me a Root Canal?

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My husband had a toothache. He nursed it along for a bit then it blew up. He went to the emergency dentist who gave him a root canal. A few months later, I get a toothache. I nurse it along figuring I’d need a root canal anyway so why waste time now. It blew up on me. I went to the emergency dentist. He did a crown, but no root canal. Which one of us got the wrong treatment?

Abby N. – Indiana

Abby,

It is not a necessity that the emergency dentist gave either of you the wrong treatment. Each tooth infection is a little different. A root canal isn’t necessary unless the decay reaches the center of the tooth or is so close to the nerve that it causes the nerve to send distress signals, which comes in the form of pain or discomfort. They may also be done if the tooth is infected or dead.

It’s possible that in your husband’s case it was necessary, but in yours it wasn’t. Bear in mind, it’s not a good idea to let a toothache limp along. They blow up quickly. Even in 2017, people die from tooth infections that were left too long.

Another reason to not avoid treatment is cost and comfort. The sooner something is dealt with, the easier the treatment, which in turn also means a lower cost. I noticed that both you and your husband only go to an emergency dentist. If you’re fond of this dentist, you could make him your official dentist. With regular check-ups and cleanings, you’re likely to avoid emergency situations.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Ryan Perry.

Emergency Dentist Said the Wrong Tooth Needed to be Fixed

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I have some pretty severe tooth pain in one of my teeth. I know exactly which tooth hurts. I went to an emergency dentist because I don’t have a dentist of my own. He told me that it’s a tooth next to the one I showed him which has the problem. I can tell exactly which tooth hurts. Could he be just trying to get me to fix an extra tooth to get more money?  I didn’t let him move forward because I wanted to make sure he wasn’t cheating me first, but I’m still hurting. Now I feel like the appointment was wasted.

Bobby R. – Denver

Bobby,

I don’t even know which dentist you went to, but I can tell you with almost complete certainty that the emergency dentist isn’t trying to trick you. I don’t know if you’ve ever heard the phrase “referred pain”, but that’s likely what you’re experiencing. That’s when you feel pain in one part of your body, but it’s actually coming from a different part of your body.

It sounds like the dentist wanted to work on the source of the pain and not just the tooth you thought was hurting. I know this is a new dentist for you, so you hadn’t built up trust, but in the long run he was trying to not only do the right thing for you, but his actions would save you money.

He could have appeased you and just worked on the tooth that hurt you and said you also had another tooth that needs help, charging you double. He didn’t.

However, if you’re still not sure and want a second opinion, I’m going to make a suggestion that you don’t tell the second dentist who you went to and what their diagnosis was. Just tell him you have a toothache, tell him where, and leave him to make his diagnosis. If he comes to the same conclusion as the other dentist, you’ll know you’re on the right track.

What I don’t want you to do is put off getting treatment. This is likely a tooth infection and it will spread. I’m not saying this is you, but sometimes when a patient is putting off care even while in pain, it is actually because they have dental anxiety. If that happens to be you, be aware that sedation dentistry is an option. It will give you a pain-free dental experience.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Ryan Perry.