I’m in a new city and developed a bit of a toothache on a tooth that already had a filling. It seems to come and go, but I was concerned so I went to the dentist. That’s was actually a huge deal for me because I hate going to the dentist (no offense). He said he could tell by the x-ray that the tooth was almost completely eaten away. He wanted to extract it and begin the process for bone grafting and a dental implant. He did give me an antibiotic in preparation and asked me to schedule out front. I wanted to double check before I did that. It took almost everything for me to go to the dentist this time. I don’t think I can get through an extraction. Can you think of another option?
Felicity M.
Dear Felicity,
Please bear in mind that I haven’t examined your tooth, but I will admit that something sounds fishy about this. If your tooth were really in that bad of shape, you should have been in pain for quite some time and not a come and go type of pain.
Not only that, but a cavity that large would have been visible to the naked eye. Not only would he not have needed an x-ray, but the filling would have almost positively fell out…or into the filling. I strongly feel you need a second opinion.
When you do get your second opinion, don’t let them know the first diagnosis or who you went to see. Instead, just go there and describe your symptoms. That way the dentist won’t feel pressured to back up a peer.
You may find all you need is a simple filling or porcelain crown.
Dental Sedation to Make Dental Visits Anxiety-Free
It’s normal that the idea of you going to yet ANOTHER dental appointment is probably leaving you with cold sweats, but let me put your mind at ease. Many patients who deal with dental anxiety, some so extreme they have a panic attack at the idea of going to the dentist have found going to a sedation dentist to be just the solution they needed.
For some with mild anxiety, just getting nitrous oxide (commonly known as laughing gas) is enough to relax them and allow the local anesthetic to work. Others need a stronger form of oral conscious sedation. Many patients don’t realize that dental anxiety makes it harder to stay numb with the local anesthetic, which contributes to their fear of the dentist to begin with.
This could be a life-changing experience for you.
This blog is brought to you by Dr. Theodore Hadgis.