Baton Rouge Dentist

My new crown is now sensitive to heat and cold

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Man holding face in pain and needng an affordable dentist for root canal treatmentAlthough I had not seen a dentist in more than five years, I knew I needed help when my bottom left second molar cracked. I asked co-workers about a dentist they like because none of us have dental insurance from the job. And we all need affordable care, so I looked at Google reviews for recommendations and chose a dentist. I probably should have asked my co-worker if he ever had major work done with this dentist and not just a dental cleaning. Anyway, the dentist prepared my tooth for a crown. While I wore the temporary crown, it hurt when I chewed, and it was sensitive to cold. Maybe it was too tight or something because it made my gums sore. I got the permanent crown in earlier this month, and the symptoms got worse. The dentist took another x-ray and did a cold and pressure test, and tapped on my tooth. The cold sensitivity went away quickly, but I felt no pain with the pressure test. And he tested my bite, which of course hurt because it hurts when chew. The dentist said the pressure sensitivity is expected for up to three months. So he wants me to wait. Now my tooth is sensitive to hot food. Is my tooth nerve dying.? I hate to see another dentist, but I am not a fan of pain either. What is going wrong? Thank you. Myles from GA

 

Myles,

Thank you for contacting our office and clearly describing your symptoms. We recommend that you call and endodontist today.

Issues that Can Result from a Cracked Tooth

When a tooth cracks, the tooth pulp (living tissue and nerves) can be damaged. And if the pulp is irritated and infected, it will die.

When a New Crown is Sensitive to Cold and Painful

When a new crown is sensitive to cold and pain, and the symptoms linger, it is usually a sign of an infection. Although it is common to feel some sensitivity for a few days, it should not last if the dentist adjusted your bite correctly. As the crown gets sensitive to heat, you might have irreversible pulpitis, and an endodontist will look for damage to your tooth ligaments.

Your tooth sensitivity began after crown preparation. Possible causes include:

  • Incompletely sealing the temporary crown
  • Tooth irritation during preparation
  • A combination of the above

A dentist can minimize sensitivity by:

  • Coating the tooth with a desensitizing product, but may your dentist did that
  • Cementing the temporary crown with strong material to help the tooth settle down
  • Remove the crown for root canal treatment if symptoms do not improve
  • Not cementing the final crown on an already irritated tooth

Finding a New Dentist

After root canal treatment, you will need a quality dental crown. Look for a dentist with advanced cosmetic dentistry training who offers financing or payment plans—ways to make your care affordable. Most dentists have payment options for patients who do not have dental insurance.

Do not delay getting treatment because an endodontist may be able to save your tooth.

 

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

Dental insurance dropped my dentist

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My dentist of 12 years is no longer in-network with my insurance. Over the years, I had perfect results with crowns from the dentist. But during open enrollment in November, I learned that the dentist is not in my dental plan. I was waiting for this year to use my flexible spending money toward another crown, but I am nervous about the choices I have for available dentists. If I go out of network and back to my former dentist, I am afraid that I cannot afford it. How can I find a dentist with reasonable fees and quality work within a small network of dentists? – Thank you. Reuben from GA

 

Reuben,

Over the years, we have heard and seen many stories of dental care casualties that resulted from dental plan changes that exclude your trusted dentist. Patients often feel forced to switch to a new dentist that accepts their insurance, and sometimes trouble follows.

Why Insurance Companies Exclude Dentists from Their Plans

Insurance companies often exclude dentists from their plans because the company is trying to save money. An insurance company may contact all dentists in an area with a list of their discount fee plans. But dentists who focus on quality care know that they cannot maintain their high standards at the insurance company’s rates.

Other dentists will accept the insurance company’s rates but take shortcuts or skip steps to accommodate patients with that insurance plan. The result is lower-quality care and dental treatment that will not last as long. And it is not easy to find a dentist who offers high-quality crowns and knows how to ensure your new crown is in harmony with your bite.

How to Get Quality Dental Care with Your Current Insurance

Many insurance companies allow you to see the dentist of your choice if you are willing to pay more. You can submit your dental claims to the insurance company, and they might provide minimal benefits. Speak with your former dentist to find out how they can make treatment affordable for you. Some ways include:

  • Financing – Some dentists offer no-interest financing through companies like CareCredit®.
  • Phased treatment – Many dentists are willing to complete dental work in phases to help you pay for services as your dentist provides them.
  • Payment plans – Some dentists have in-office payment plans that allow you to pay for dental services in installments.

What If You Must Switch Dentists?

Diagram of the stages of affordable dental crowns
Talk to your dentist about making crowns affordable before switching to a new dentist

If you must switch dentists due to insurance limitations, you can find a new one with these steps:

  • Ask for recommendations – Talk to friends, family members, or co-workers about their dentist. Ask how long they have been with the dentist and if the dentist completed any major dental work for them.
  • Search online reviews – You can find patient reviews on Google, Yelp, and Facebook.
  • Schedule consultations – Schedule at least two consultations with dentists. Look online for information about the dentist’s post-graduate training and experience. Ask each dentist how many patient cases like yours they have completed. And ask how often the dentist completes the procedure.
  • Examine the dentist’s smile gallery – Some dentists have online smile galleries. But during a consultation, you can ask to see before-and-after photos of the dentist’s work. Ask to see pictures of patient cases like yours.

During the next open enrollment, you can look for available insurance plans that include your dentist.

Best wishes.

Ryan Perry, DDS, of Baton Rouge, sponsors this post.