Baton Rouge Dentist

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.

Should I see an emergency dentist for a hurting dental implant?

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I just finished getting a dental implant about two weeks ago. It’s been quite a process, first having the procedure to get the post in and waiting for it to heal. Now, having the tooth on there is nice, although I have had some pain there the past two days. It’s not the same pain as the actual implant healing, but it hurts just the same. I can’t eat on it. I don’t remember eating anything particularly hard on it within the last few days to aggravate it. Should I just ride this out as a normal part of implant healing or should I see an emergency dentist before it gets worse?

Mary, Portland, Maine

Dear Mary,

Woman with mouth painIf it was just a regular tooth that was starting to hurt out of the blue, you could wait and schedule an appointment with your dentist to get it checked, but where you just had an implant there, it warrants a trip to the emergency dentist. You may have an infection. Especially where you can’t eat on it, it’s better safe than sorry to get it checked.

How bad can an infection be?

The reason infection is worrisome, especially in your scenario, is that it can affect all the work you just had done with your implant. If the infection is severe enough, you may have to have the post taken out. In some cases, if the infection has spread and affected the jaw bone that anchors the post, a bone graft is necessary before the process can start all over, with all the healing time again in between steps.

Aside from being painful and uncomfortable, if infection is left unchecked, any infection, it can spread. Once it spreads to the heart or if it reaches the brain, it becomes a matter of life or death. That’s why early detection and taking care of infection with medication is so important.

Speaking to the dentist you have been working with on your implant about your pain would be the best. Many offices have after-hours or even a dental emergency number. If you can’t talk to anyone there within a few hours, schedule an appointment with an emergency dentist.

This post is sponsored by Dr. Ryan Perry at Baton Rouge Family Dentist in Louisianna.

 

Should I see an emergency dentist for my wisdom teeth?

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I have never had my wisdom teeth out and am in my early twenties, but my dentist never said I needed to. They have hurt before, but I think that’s because they are still coming in. Unfortunately they have been hurting me all weekend, to the point where it is hard to eat. If I look back there, I can see that it’s kind of swollen. I don’t know if I should just keeping taking ibuprofen and wait it out, or if I should go see an emergency dentist?

Mason, WV

Dear Mason,

Everyone is different when it comes to wisdom teeth. Some people can keep their wisdom teeth their whole life without any problems, and some people’s wisdom teeth cause trouble even before they break the surface. This is mostly due to space. If there isn’t sufficient room for the wisdom teeth, they can push other teeth, causing shifting, crowding and other problems. This can lead to pain.

Wisdom teeth troubles

If wisdom teeth do break the surface, other problems can arise. When they are still covered with gums, it can be difficult to keep them clean. Food and bacteria can collect in that area, leading to infection or tooth decay. This also can lead to pain.

Should you see an emergency dentist?

Trying to determine if the pain is worthy of a trip to the emergency dentist can be difficult. You mentioned that you have felt pain from your wisdom teeth before. Hopefully you have discussed this pain with your regular dentist. Either way, if the pain is bad enough that you can’t eat now, something is wrong. You may have an infection. You either need to see your regular dentist very soon or get into an emergency dentist. If you continue to have struggles with your wisdom teeth, it may be time to get them taken out.

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

 

Can my dentist replace a new crown that’s the wrong color?

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Last weekend, the day before my daughter’s quincinera of course, I had a crown on one of my back teeth break. My dentist wasn’t available so I found an “emergency dentist” in town and had him fix it for me. He was able to do a same-day crown. I was so glad to get the tooth fixed quickly before the party Saturday. I didn’t notice until earlier this week, though, that the color is off on my new crown. My husband doesn’t think it’s bad, but I think the crown is obvious because it doesn’t match my other teeth. Can I just go to my regular dentist now and have him put a new one on?

Thanks,
Lupe, Sacramento

Dear Lupe,

Both emergency dentists and same-day crowns (most likely a CEREC crown) can be such a blessing, especially when you are in a time crunch. Many people think that emergency dentists only do emergency work, like ER physicians at the hospital. The truth is most emergency dentists are just general dentists. They either work extra hours or are flexible to help people with dental emergencies.

Just because a dentist is willing to help with emergencies doesn’t mean he is an expert at all aspects of dentistry. Most dentists can get a job done. It takes many hours of training and practice for dentists to become skilled at aesthetics–making it look good. Cosmetic dentistry isn’t a recognized specialty that dentists can be certified in.

While it was helpful to get your crown fixed quickly, it sounds like the emergency dentist may not have been skilled at color-matching the crown to your other teeth. Unfortunately, dentists typically set crowns to last. A well-placed crown can last 10-20 years. The only thing to do if you aren’t happy is to have it removed and replaced.

If you know the color is going to continue to bother you, try speaking to the emergency dentist and see if they will make it right. If not, either consult your regular dentist or find a cosmetic dentist in your area who can replace your crown with one you are satisfied with.

This post is sponsored by Baton Rouge Family Dentist.

What is lock jaw?

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Since I was 13 years old (I’m 16 now), I have been suffering from TMJ. I first experienced a lock jaw about three years ago. It never locked much but just some reciprocal clicking. The other day, my jaw was hurting so much and the clicking was unbearable so I got the idea to use my football mouth guard to keep me from clenching. I wore that for a while but when I took out the mouth guard, my jaw had locked up. I went to my dentist and they did an impression of my teeth and I’ll have my splint by the weekend.
My articular disc is displaced and now my jaw has been locked open for the past two days. To get through this, I’ve been wearing a mouth guard and taking Ibuprofen.
I’m tired of this and wondering if there’s anything I can do for my locked jaw? Can I get it unstuck or will the mouth guard realign my jaw and eventually un-stick it? What can I expect? What should I do?
– Krista in Louisiana

 

Dear Krista,

 

When dental patients have an open lock jaw, this is due to the condyle being unable to slip back over the disc into its normal position. The condyle is the head of the mandible (lower jaw) and the articular disk that separates the condyle and the skull.  Your temporomandibular joint dysfunction is being caused by the displacement of the disk. Lock jaw may last from several days to several weeks.
The most common type of treatment for this condition is nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications and muscle relaxants as well as a soft diet to rest the jaw joints. Heat or ice packs placed a few times a day for 10 to 15 minutes on the side of the jaw joints also helps to reduce inflammation. If these treatments don’t work, a splint is recommended to reposition the condyle into a proper position in relation to the disc. Popping, clicking, and pain may still be present but may be greatly reduced. If the splint is unsuccessful in reducing your symptoms, an arthoscopic or open surgical repair is recommended to remove adhesions and reposition the disc for proper functioning.

 

How to reduce temporomandibular joint dysfunction:

 

 
■Use relaxation techniques like yoga or meditation to reduce stress
■Avoid chewing gum
■Eat soft foods and avoid chewy and sticky foods
■Minimize wide yawns
■Avoid grinding or clenching your teeth in the daytime
■You may need to wear a splint at night as most grinding and clenching is done during deep sleep, however after symptoms disappear discontinue use of the splint as long time wear may cause complications with your bite
■Orthodontics may be needed to correct the alignment of the teeth which can be the main cause of the joint dysfunction
We recommend you see a dentist that specializes in TMJ as not all dentists are fully trained in this area