Baton Rouge Dentist

What to do about a repeatedly rude dentist

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After the anesthetic wore off from a root canal, the pain was horrible. Swelling and terrible pain lasted three days. My dentist prescribed Flagyl. I saw my dentist a week later, and he told me to keep staying the medication because the root looks fine.

My pain didn’t stop, so I had an emergency appointment with another dentist. They recommended that I see a neurologist. The neurologist says I have trigeminal neuralgia and should let my dentist know. I called my dental office, and they said that the dentist wanted to talk to me in person. He spoke rudely and told me that he had nothing to do with my nerve pain.

When I scheduled my dental crown appointment, the nurse said I need clearance to see the dentist, and without it, I won’t get a crown from their office. I’m waiting to hear from my dentist, but I wonder why I’m being treated so rudely. I didn’t accuse my dentist of anything. Should I trust him to place the crown? Thank you. Heather

 

Heather,

What you describe is odd and rude behavior from your dentist. We suggest that you switch to another dentist and ask for a refund for incomplete work. Although emergency dental visits are appropriate in many cases, you need a doctor who will take time to identify the source of your pain.

Doctors usually prescribe Flagyl for the lower GI tract and vaginal infections. It is an alternative antibiotic when other types won’t work for oral infection. Flagyl has a limited spectrum and is usually combined with amoxicillin or another.

Man frowning and holding the side of his face; for Baton Rouge emergency dentistry from Dr. Ryan Perry.
Sometimes, an emergency dental appointment isn’t enough

Trigeminal neuralgia causes extreme facial pain when an area of the face is touched or stimulated. Strangely, a neurologist diagnosed your case based on your dental incident alone. But why would your dentist become rude and defensive? We can’t answer that, but your dentist’s office doesn’t seem like a trustworthy place to get a new crown.

You can report the “non-visit” to your dental insurance company. You can ask for a refund. If your dentist doesn’t cooperate, you can report the incident to the state dental board.

 

Ryan Perry DDS, a Baton Rouge family dentist, sponsors this post.

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.

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.

Terrible toothache with terrible fear of the dentist

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I have a horrible toothache. I know there’s a problem, but I don’t have a dentist. Even if I did, I wouldn’t likely go.  I haven’t gone in ages.  Mostly because they terrify me.  Even if I could get past the fear, I definitely wouldn’t want a lecture. Is there something I can do about it at home?

Audrey L. – Kentucky

Audrey,

You’re definitely not the first person to avoid the dentist.  Many people feel the way you do.  If you have a toothache, you likely have a tooth infection.  You’ll want to deal with this as soon as possible, because it will do nothing but spread.

Unfortunately, there is no way to treat this at home.  You will have to bite the bullet and see and actual dentist.  I do realize you don’t have one, but there are emergency dentists who will see you quickly. Many will see you the same day you call.

I have more good news for you too.  If you go to an emergency dentist who uses sedation, they’re likely to be accostomed to fearful patients.  You won’t be judged or lectured. In fact, you’ll also be treated to a pain free appointment.

Don’t put this off.

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