Tag Archives: Salem Emergency dentist

Emergency Dentist

Do I Have Oral Cancer

Lately, every morning when I wake up my jaw and teeth hurt like mad. I can’t see anything wrong with the teeth or gums. Is this a symptom of oral cancer? Cancer runs in my family, not this kind in particular but a variety of others. I’m trying not to panic. Would this be a dental emergency?

Macy

Dear Macy,

Woman holding her jaw in pain from TMJ

Don’t panic. If you see a dentist regularly, they should be doing checks for oral cancer. I wouldn’t consider this a dental emergency necessarily and I would be surprised if it was any type of oral cancer. In fact, I think you are dealing with bruxism. You need to bear in mind that I haven’t seen you and am going purely on the symptoms you mentioned above.

Pain in the jaw and teeth is often caused because we grind or clench our teeth in our sleep without realizing it. Your dentist would normally notice signs of this because it wears down the surfaces of your teeth. This could be a fairly new habit for you which would explain why your dentist hadn’t mentioned it yet. Maybe there is new stress in your life which can be causing it.

Bruxism Can Lead to a Dental Emergency

When you are grinding or clenching your teeth it damages them. This can lead to you cracking a tooth or causing it to come loose. Putting off treatment for this can even lead to an extreme procedure known as a full-mouth reconstruction where all your teeth have to be crowned to fix the bite.

Truthfully, it is much easier and affordable to deal with this now. This is especially true because the solution is so easy. Your dentist can fit you with a night guard. This is a simple custom-fitted mouthpiece which you will wear while you sleep. It takes the pressure off of your teeth, protecting them from the damage they would normally incur. Because your dentist fits it to your particular bite, they are very comfortable.

This blog is brought to you by Salem Dentist Dr. Randall Burba.

Emergency Dentist

Why Is My Tooth Gray After Dental Visit?

I went to see a dentist because of some tooth pain. He did an x-ray but said he didn’t see anything wrong. He decided to cap the tooth because he said the symptoms reminded him of of a cracked tooth. The tooth pain went away, but now I noticed the tooth next to it is gray. Did the dentist do something to it?

Carla

Dear Carla,

Woman holding her jaw in pain from TMJ

When you have a dental emergency, all you care about is getting out of pain. I haven’t seen your x-rays so I’m having to just draw some possibilities.

First, there could have been a misdiagnosis. The only way to tell this with certainty is to have another dentist look at your x-rays and tell you if the true problem was obvious. If it was, then you have a right to a full refund from the original dentist.

Another option is that you did have a cracked tooth which needed a dental crown, then later, the adjacent tooth was injured by something else. Let’s be honest, this is very unlikely. But, as it is a possibility I mention it.

The third option is much more likely. Both teeth could have experienced trauma at the same time but it took the second tooth a while to show it’s injury.

Is a Gray Tooth a Dental Emergency?

When a tooth is gray it means it is either dead or dying. When that happens it needs a root canal treatment. It’s not a dental emergency yet, but if you don’t get it taken care of can turn into one quickly.

You didn’t seem to feel too confident in the dentist who gave you a dental crown, so you may want to let whichever dentist you go to for your second opinion do your root canal treatment.

This blog is brought to you by Salem Dentist Dr. Randall Burba.

Emergency Dentist

When Is a Gum Problem a Dental Emergency?

My husband has an ache in his mouth. He swears he just nicked it with his fork, but to me, it looks like a pimple. That seems a strange way for a cut to manifest. I think it’s something serious and he thinks I’m over-reacting. Have you seen this before?

Amanda

Dear Amanda,

Illustration of an abscessed tooth

Your husband is going to hate to hear this, but you’re correct. This isn’t from a cut. A pimple on the gums sounds like his tooth is abscessed. This means he had a cavity that went deep enough to affect the pulp of his tooth, turning into an infection.

I’ve got an illustration of this above, When the infection no longer has anywhere to go, it tends to spill out into your gums and form a pimple.

Unlike your typical bacterial infection, with a dental infection, an antibiotic isn’t enough. A dentist has to get in there and physically remove the infected pulp. This is known as a root canal treatment. Often, a crown has to be placed as well because the tooth will become brittle and need to be protected.

An Abscessed Tooth is a Dental Emergency

An active dental infection is considered a dental emergency. These infections can spread quickly. Believe it or not, in 2018 we still have people dying from tooth infections because they put off seeing the dentist.

The reason for that is how quickly they can turn life-threatening. Think about how close his jaw is to both heart and brain. When an infection reaches those areas, things spiral downward rather quickly. Last year, a father of three young children passed away because he was planning on going to the dentist and was delayed. It spread suddenly and they couldn’t save him.

I’m saying this so your husband knows to take it seriously. If he happens to be one of many patients who have some dental anxiety and tend to avoid regular dental care, let him know there are dentists who cater to fearful patients giving them a pain-free appointment.

This blog is brought to you by Salem, MA Dentist Dr. Randall Burba.

Emergency Dentist

Dental Double Cross

I’ve kind of had it. I had a dental crown placed on a back tooth. It didn’t feel right from the beginning. The dentist adjusted it, then it fell out. He put it back. It felt worse. He adjusted it again, but nothing got better. He told me I’m just not used to crowns and I’d become accustomed to it. I was frustrated, but what could I do? Now, a piece of it broke off at dinner. I’d had it with the dentist that placed it. Instead, I went to see an emergency dentist. All I needed him to do is reattach the broken piece, but he’s insisting the entire crown needs to be re-done. Now, I have to pay for an entirely new crown. Can’t he just fix it? I’m willing to live with the pain at this point. I just need a dentist who’s not going to do a double cross.

Karen

Dear Karen,

A Dental Crown being Placed

I don’t blame you for your frustration. It doesn’t sound like your dentist has done his job. Nor does it sound like he’s shown any interest in the fact you’re in pain. I have to say, in most cases the “You’ll get used to it line…” is code for I don’t know what I’m doing or how to make it right.

As for the emergency dentist, I don’t think he was trying to cheat you. It’s very likely that the crown broke in a way where a true repair is impossible.

What Caused Your Emergency Dental Visit

There are a couple of things which can cause pain on biting with a crown. The first is a lingering infection. I don’t know if your crown was due to large decay or a root canal treatment. If it was a root canal for an infection, it’s possible there is still an infection there causing pain. There are canals in the tooth which can be quite adept at hiding. It’s possible your dentist missed one.

The second thing which can cause pain is when a crown is seated too high. I tend to lean toward this because of the fact that it broke when you bit down. Generally, our biting force, which is quite substantial, is spread out as our teeth meet together. However, if a crown is seated too high it absorbs all the force. This could lead to it breaking.

Crowns on molars are a little trickier because you have to factor in the occlusion with the other teeth. It’s very likely your dentist could do a fine crown on other teeth, but a molar is a bit beyond his skill set. The fact that his bonding didn’t hold makes me question his skill set already. But, occlusion requires the kind of extra training you would see with dentists who take an interest in treating TMJ Disorder.

Your Options

Option One: You could ask your original dentist to make you a new crown (free of charge). His didn’t meet even the minimum standard of longevity. I don’t know that you’ll get any better results the second time with him, but you’re certainly able to try.

Option Two: You could ask for a refund and allow the emergency dentist to make a new crown for you. The refund would keep you from having to pay for two crowns and you may have better luck with this dentist.

Option Three: As it didn’t sound like you were thrilled with either dentist, you could take the refund and find a completely different dentist altogether.

I hate that you’re having to go through all of this trouble for a crown.

This blog is brought to you by Salem, MA Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Randall Burba.

Emergency Dentist

Is a Cracked Porcelain Crown a Dental Emergency?

I had several porcelain crowns placed on my front teeth. They’ve served me well for over fifteen years. One has always had a minor defect you couldn’t see just by looking. My dentist told me about it and offered to do a different crown, but she did say that even our natural teeth have minor defects and it shouldn’t be a problem. I appreciated her honesty and her willingness to make an entire new one. I didn’t feel that was necessary and their longevity has born that out. Today, however, I noticed I can both see and feel the defect. I’m sure it needs to be replaced at this point, I’m just wondering if it is a dental emergency or I can wait. The original dentist has since retired and her replacement and I are just getting to know one another so I don’t yet have the same confidence in her.

Lindsey

Dear Lindsey,

A Dental Crown being Placed

It sounds like you and your old dentist had a wonderful doctor-patient relationship. It’s certainly hard to lose a trusted caregiver. Hopefully, her replacement will end up being equally honest and skilled. While this change in your dental crown isn’t necessarily a dental emergency, I don’t want you to get too comfortable and let this slide. You do need to be seen.

The fact that you can now see and feel the defect tells me it’s cracked. It will at some point completely break. Those type of things inevitably happen at the worst possible moments, like when you’re on vacation or out to dinner. It’s much better for you to get this dealt with well before it can become an emergency issue. Plus, it will give you peace of mind knowing it’s no longer at risk of breaking.

Who Should Replace Your Dental Crown?

You’re not familiar with your new dentist yet, so before you allow her to replace your porcelain crown, you will need to research her cosmetic skill. At the very least check out her smile gallery. It’s a collection of before and after pictures of cosmetic work she’s done. You can click here to look at Dr. Burba’s work to get an idea of the type of quality you want. These are front teeth so you want them to be beautiful when you smile.

Some dentists would try to persuade you to replace all the crowns so as to make them easier to match. That’s usually a sign they’re not top-notch cosmetic dentists. The crowns are aging, so if you want to go ahead and replace all of them, that’s fine. But, you mentioned they’re still in good shape. In that case, you really only have to replace the broken one.

Replacing a single crown to your remaining teeth takes an expert cosmetic dentist. I’d suggest you look for a dentist who’s reached accreditation level with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. AACD accredited dentists are experts in their field both in technical skill and artistry. They’ll match your crown perfectly.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Randall Burba.

Emergency Dentist

Will an Emergency Dentist Charge the Cause of the Accident?

I was at a stag party. We were at a pub when one of the group got a little too drunk. He started trouble which ended up causing a fight. The result of which was my front tooth lost a piece and is now loose. I’m assuming I need an emergency dentist, but I’m broke. Will the dentist charge the fee to the moron who started all this?

Casey C.

Dear Casey,

A chipped tooth in need of an emergency dentist
Tooth trauma requires an emergency dental visit

I’m very sorry this happened to you. It’s hard when you’re trying to be responsible and the people around you cause problems. You’re right that this needs an emergency dentist. Your loose tooth needs to be splinted to stabilize it. There are several ways a dentist can do this. What method he or she uses will depend on what other issues your tooth is facing.

He’ll also want to examine it for trauma to the nerves or pulp. Internal damage could mean a root canal treatment and possible crown.

Once the tooth is secure, if there’s no other damage you can fix the broken piece with dental bonding. You don’t have to have the piece that broke. A skilled cosmetic dentist can sculpt a composite resin onto your tooth which will look just like your natural tooth structure and blend in perfectly.

Who Pays for Emergency Dental Care?

Unless the person responsible comes and agrees to pay for treatment, the dentist can’t bill him. He can only bill the person receiving the services or their legal guardian without prior approval. However, you can ask for a detailed bill of the damage and send the bill to the offender. If he has integrity he may just pay. If he doesn’t, you may have to take him to small claims court.

Just be aware, many dentists are willing to work with patients financially, especially those in emergency situations. Just talk to the dentist ahead of time. If he’s not willing to work with you, try Care Credit, though most dentists offer that in-office. It’s a medical credit card that has low and even no-interest payments.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Randall Burba.

Emergency Dentist

Which One of Us Did the Emergency Dentist Give the Wrong Treatment?

Something doesn’t seem quite kosher in a recent experience my husband and I had with an emergency dentist. We both had similar symptoms on different days, but received vastly different treatment. I had a toothache that would flare up every now and again. It was tolerable and I was busy so I just went on with things, while keeping a gauge on it. Eventually, I had some time and went to an emergency dentist. I was surprised to hear I needed a root canal treatment and crown. I went ahead and got them because he was the dentist and I was in pain. A few weeks later, my husband mentions his tooth hurts. I warned him to go in right away so he wouldn’t end up needing a root canal treatment, but like me, he’s stubborn. He waited for several weeks until it blew up and the pain was more than he was willing to put up with. But, when he saw the same emergency dentist, he just got a filling. The way I see it, either I was cheated and given a treatment I didn’t really need or he wasn’t properly cared for. Which do you think I should be worried about?

Aleiya M.

Dear Aleiya,

A man in pain needs to see a Salem Emergency Dentist

What to Expect From Your Emergency Dentist

There are a couple of issues going on here. The first is that this emergency dentist didn’t explain why you needed those procedures to either you or your husband. It’s unfair for a dentist to allow you to get a procedure without first explaining why it’s necessary and takes the time to answer any questions you may have.

I haven’t examined either of you but can give you a general idea of why some patients need a root canal treatment and some don’t, even with the same symptoms. A root canal treatment can be done for a number of reasons. Some of those include having an infected tooth, a cracked tooth, or even a cavity where the decay has reached the pulp of your tooth or gotten too close to the nerves in your tooth. The crown can be necessary if the tooth has died or if a cavity is so large it would weaken the tooth too much to do a simple filling.

It’s possible you had a cavity which was so large it reached the pulp requiring a root canal treatment and a crown. Your husband’s decay may have spread much slower causing him to only need a simple filling. Again, I’m sorry your dentist didn’t explain to either of you why you needed the procedures.

How to Prevent Dental Emergencies

Another item that occurs to me is both of you needed to go to an emergency dentist. That often indicates you’re either new to the area and haven’t found a permanent dentist yet, or you have enough dental anxiety that you avoid getting regular dental care and only go in on an as-needed basis.

If you’re among the latter, let me assure you that there are dentists who cater to anxious patients. Working to put you at ease and give you a stress-free, pain-free dental appointment. I know getting regular care can be nerve-racking, but often just one or two appointments a year can not only prevent your cavities from spreading so far that the more intrusive procedures such as root canal treatment are not needed, but they can even prevent cavities altogether.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Randall Burba.

Emergency Dentist

Canker Sore or Cancer?

My husband complained that his mouth was hurting too much to eat. I thought he was just avoiding vegetables, but he didn’t eat dessert either. I took a peek and he has a horrible spot in his mouth that looks like his skin is getting eaten away. He’s sure it’s just a canker sore and thinks it will go away. I’m worried it’s oral cancer. Is there a way to know? Would we see an emergency dentist to find out?

Tea L.

Dear Tea,

Your husband’s dentist likely does an oral cancer screening at his check-ups. If he hasn’t seen any warning signs, then it is likely just a canker sore. These will generally clear up in about two weeks. There’s no reason for an emergency dentist yet.

There are over-the-counter remedies you can try which could help with some of the pain. While they make pads to cover them, quite a few patients have found that saliva makes it difficult to keep them in place. I’ve found relief (though only temporarily) with some numbing cream.

If you’ve found it hasn’t healed after a couple of weeks, then you can schedule an appointment with your dentist to have a peek at it. Not healing quickly doesn’t necessarily mean it’s cancer. It could just as easily be a virus or simply a canker sore taking a wee bit longer to heal, so I don’t want you stressing over it.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Randall Burba.

Emergency Dentist

Can I Wait Before Getting a Filling?

My dentist told me today that I need two fililings. I spent most of what I had available for the dentist today.  Can I wait before getting them filled or will that cause problems? I just don’t know where I’ll find the money.

Percy M.

Dear Percy,

Mosts dentists understand that medical and dental care can be expensive. Generally, they’re willing to work with you to pay out the services. So, if the only thing holding you back is money, I bet just a simple phone call explaining your situation will help. Most offices have payment plans and will help you.

As far as how long you can wait, it really depends. Some cavities are in their early stages and you can wait a month or possibly even longer before it breaks through the enamel. Others are deeper and close to breaking through the dentin already.

You don’t want it getting to the dentin. That can blow up quickly and become a dental emergency situation. That can end up costing you a lot more money than getting the cavities covered.

For some people, there’s more to them avoiding dental care than finances (though I’m definitely not minimizing the impact of finances).  Many patients also struggle with dental anxiety.  If that is an additional concern of yours, you may want to look into a dentist who works with fearful patients. Depending on the level of your anxiety, you may be interested in sedation. But, it’s not always necessary with the right dentist.

What you don’t want to do is put it off so long where the only solution is to extract the tooth. Then you’re stuck researching tooth replacement options.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Randall Burba.

Emergency Dentist

Left Without Help By An Emergency Dentist

It took a lot for me to go to the dentist even though it was an emergency. I knew I had a cavity on one tooth, but had been putting off getting it dealt with because dentists terrify me. The pain became so great I had to do something. I was especially worried because the pain seemed to have migrated onto the next tooth as well and I was worried it was spreading. I told them this and said I wanted to get all of it dealt with at one appointment because I don’t think I’d have the courage to go back again. They agreed. The dentist banged at the tooth that was bothering me. He took x-rays. He said there was a cavity that need to be filled. I reminded him about the other tooth. He acted surprised and looked at it again. Then said, “Oh yeah, there’s a problem there too.” Then he told me to schedule an appointment for follow up treatment and walked out the door. I was stunned. They had agreed to help me that day. I told the receptionist that as I checked out, but she said it’s the end of the day and there’s nothing more they can do. I practically had a panic attack getting there and not I’m left with nothing accomplished except what I knew before I got there. I’m still in a tremendous amount of pain and now out several hundred dollars. Is there any way to safely deal with this myself?  Please help me.

Natalie N. – Maryland

Natalie,

I’m am so sorry that this was your experience, especially after it took so much courage for you to go in. At the very least, the emergency dentist should have gotten you out of pain.  I want you to understand that not all dentists are this callous. I suspect he was rushing. You mentioned it was the end of the day. I’m a little disconcerted that he missed the original cavity. That hints that he was rushing.

Unfortunately, there is no home remedy that we’re aware of for dealing with cavities. They still have to be dug out and filled.

I’d like you to see another dentist in your area. Before you panic, I want to suggest something else. I want you to go to a sedation dentist or a cater to cowards dentist. They’re used to working with patients that have dental anxiety. They’ll also give you a pain-free experience.

To make sure you don’t repeat the experience you had, it will be helpful to also check their reviews. That way you’re more likely to  get a dentist with a positive chairside manner.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Randall Burba.