Archives for March 2022

The Cap Broke on My Root Canal Tooth, and It Hurts

Posted on March 31, 2022 by AllSmiles.

About seven years ago, I had a root canal on a molar tooth, and my dentist put a cap on the tooth. In December, the cap broke off, and a small chip went inside the tooth. I had a lot of pain in the hole and some bleeding. I went back to the dentist, and he cleaned the tooth and said that he removed most of the chip, but part of it broke off. It is so tiny that he did not think it would bother me. He put the cap back on my tooth. It felt better for a while, but now it is throbbing inside. I do not know if I am panicking, but I think I feel pressure in my cheek and eye. Do I need antibiotics? Will I need another root canal, or am I going to lose the tooth? – Thanks. Kip from Utah

Kip,

Your description sounds like the tooth is infected again, and you need to see your dentist. When your dentist did your first root canal, the filling material did not stay in place. After your crown broke, saliva might have contaminated the filling material and your tooth.

Why Antibiotics Are Not Enough for Your Tooth Infection

Diagram of a tooth in need of root canal treatment due to decay, damaged pulp, and an abscess at the root.

If repeat root canal fails, you may need tooth removal and an implant. See a specialist first.

Antibiotics may not be enough to resolve your tooth infection for these reasons:

The pain and swelling you describe can travel into your jawbone, bloodstream, and even your brain and cause dizziness.
Although antibiotics can help control the infection, they will not remove it. If you delay treatment, the infection will get worse. And it can become resistant to antibiotics.
Eventually, your dentist or a specialist might need to extract your tooth. Although a dental implant mimics a natural tooth, no form of tooth replacement is as effective as a natural tooth. Preserve your tooth and see your dentist right away.

If your dentist cannot resolve the issue, ask him to refer you to an endodontist—a root canal specialist. Root canal specialists and dentists with advanced training in root canal therapy have tools that reach deep into the canal to access infection and debris. If they can save your tooth, your dentist can restore it with a new crown.

Dr. Siny Thomas, a Sugar Land, Texas cosmetic dentist, sponsors this post. Read about Dr. Thomas’s efforts to offer the best dental care in Sugar Land.

Why Would New Composite Fillings Hurt?

Posted on March 28, 2022 by AllSmiles.

My dentist placed three small white fillings two weeks ago. When I chew hard or crunchy foods, I feel sharp pain. The pain is not getting worse, but it is consistent. I called my dentist’s office, and she said that if it got worse, she would replace the fillings. I am not so sure that she knows what she is doing. If the next fillings do not work, I am considering scheduling an emergency appointment with another dentist and asking them to remove the fillings. I will use temporary drug store fillings until I find another dentist. Do you know of any patients experiencing sharp pain two weeks after getting fillings? – Thanks. Solomon from GA

Solomon

Thank you for contacting our office. Although it is not common, sometimes small fillings lead to sharp pain. The problem may be related to bonding the filling to the dentin (the layer beneath the enamel).

Resolving Sharp Pain Beneath New Fillings

Composite filling

If you feel sharp pain beneath your fillings, you can either ask your dentist to replace them or schedule an appointment with a cosmetic dentist.

Replacing painful fillings

If you feel a sharp pain beneath a filling, your dentist must protect your tooth from sensitivity with these steps:

Remove the old fillings
Apply a glass ionomer base on your tooth to protect the dentin (the layer beneath the enamel)
Apply the composite and bond it to the glass ionomer

The above steps should eliminate the sensitivity. If your dentist does not want to complete the process or does not know how to do it, find an experienced cosmetic dentist to complete the work.

Take time to look for a dentist with post-graduate cosmetic dentistry training, and you will get stable, comfortable fillings. But by no means should you schedule an urgent appointment with another dentist to remove the fillings only. Eventually, you would need to replace the do-it-yourself temporary fillings.

Dr. Siny Thomas, a Sugar Land cosmetic dentist, sponsors this post.

Could Burning Mouth Syndrome Feel Like an Allergy to Crowns?

Posted on March 23, 2022 by AllSmiles.

In February 2021, a cosmetic dentist placed zirconia crowns on two of my molar teeth. He used a lot of water to protect some of my surrounding teeth. It was hard for me to breathe, I was throwing up water, and the dentist had to stop the procedure for 30 minutes until I was calm again. The whole ordeal strained my throat and affected my speech. And I had lingual nerve damage that lasted almost a year.

Since that time, my tongue has gotten dry and sticky, and my throat burns. Within the past two months, the dryness and burning have worsened. I thought I might have an allergy to zirconia, but my dentist said there’s no way I am sensitive to zirconia because it’s a ceramic. I have seen three ENT doctors who agree that I don’t have acid reflux, nor is the problem from a reaction to mouthwash or toothpaste. One ENT says I might have burning mouth syndrome from all the trauma.

I need more cosmetic dentistry, but it’s not happening soon. I’m still nervous after the experience I had last year. I’m starting to get depressed because I wonder whether I’ll never be able to finish my cosmetic dentistry work. I’ll have to start all over with another dentist because I’m afraid that my dentist will drown me with his sloppy tooth isolation and irrigation techniques. How can I be sure that I’m not reacting to the zirconia crowns? – Thanks. Rebekah from Seattle

Rebekah,

Thank you for your inquiry.

Are You Allergic to Zirconia Crowns?

Although it is rare to have an allergic reaction to zirconia crowns, it is not impossible. And no dentist should tell you that you cannot be allergic to zirconia. You will need an allergy test to confirm if zirconia causes an adverse reaction.

Although Dr. Thomas would need to examine your crowns and oral tissue, it seems that the ENT specialist who suspects you have burning mouth syndrome has an accurate diagnosis. We have consistently heard and read about patients who have experiences like yours. And we see a connection between burning mouth syndrome and traumatic dental experiences. You were choking and vomiting during your dental procedure with the zirconia crowns. And you had lingual nerve damage. The ongoing strain on your throat, speech issues, and depression are enough to keep your anxiety level high.

Other people have experienced a dry mouth or burning tongue after stressful dental experiences. You are already uncomfortable with your current cosmetic dentist, so look for an advanced cosmetic dentist who offers conscious sedation. In our experience, conscious sedation can treat a high level of dental anxiety. Anti-anxiety medication will help you arrive relaxed for your dental appointment, stay comfortable, and remember little about your procedure the next day.

You do not have to forfeit cosmetic dentistry because of your anxiety. A skilled cosmetic dentist, along with sedation, will help complete your smile makeover so you can feel good about smiling again. If you get allergy testing and learn that you are sensitive to specific dental materials, look for a dentist who will use alternative materials.

Sugar Land, Texas, cosmetic dentist Dr. Siny Thomas sponsors this post.

5 Treatment Options for Loose and Missing Teeth

Posted on March 10, 2022 by AllSmiles.

Last week my 78-year-old mom’s dentist filled three of her teeth. She has a partial denture for a tooth that she lost last September. A few days ago, my mom lost two more teeth in her lower jaw. She has a lot of anxiety over her tooth loss. I don’t think her gums are in good shape. I wonder if she should get a dental bridge or dentures if it is too late for her to get implant dentures. Thank you. Aashra from Georgia

Aashra,

Thank you for your question.

Your mother’s rapid tooth loss is a sign of advanced gum disease. The progression of her tooth loss suggests that her other teeth are not healthy, and they will not support a dental bridge. A dental bridge would weaken her remaining teeth and cause them to fall out also. Teeth do not otherwise become loose and fall out.

Treatment Options for Loose or Missing Teeth

The All-on-4 technique provides implant dentures for people with low bone volume

Treatment options for loose or missing teeth include the following:

Dental implants – Ideally, dental implants can replace her teeth. But with advanced gum disease, she likely needs full-mouth restoration, which can easily cost $25,000 to $40,000.
Complete removable dentures – A dentist can extract your mother’s remaining teeth, which are likely weak or loose, and replace them with full removable dentures. But with all her teeth missing, your mother’s jawbone will shrink.
Implant dentures – An implant dentist can stabilize dentures with implants, including the All-on-4 technique, which works for patients with low bone volume. But the dentist must control your mother’s gum disease first and ensure the areas around the implants are healthy.
Cu-Sil partial – Built like a complete denture, a Cul-Sil partial has holes in it for remaining teeth to poke through. A silicone ring in each hole fits around the tooth for a stable fit.
Removable partial – A removable partial denture has clasps attached to natural teeth. It will increase stress on teeth and weaken them.

We recommend that you schedule a consultation with two advanced cosmetic dentists with experience in different types of dentures, as well as dental implants. They will recommend gum disease treatment and options for replacing your mother’s missing teeth. Compare your options and choose a provider to help restore your mom’s oral health.

This post is sponsored by Sugar Land, Texas dentist Dr. Siny Thomas.