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Emergency Dentist

Do I Need To See An Emergency Dentist For A Defective Crown

When I was just starting out my career, I had porcelain crowns done across all my front teeth. They look great overall, and I’m actually still very happy with the aesthetics. One of them has always had a rough spot or a divot, though. I can feel it with my tongue, but I have never been able to see anything wrong with it. I did mention it to the dentist who did the crowns and she smoothed it out some, but I’ve still noticed over the years. It was close, but not quite perfect. Lately, it has been feeling different- much more rough,  and I can actually see a dark mark. I don’t know if it’s just attracting stains or what, but I don’t think I’ve changed my habits and I get regular cleanings. I’m a little concerned that that it is failing and that I’m going to be out on a business trip and the whole thing will crumble. Is this urgent enough to warrant a trip to the emergency dentist? Should I have the crown redone now or am I worrying about nothing?

Sincerely,

Hank

Dear Hank,

This may not necessitate a trip to the emergency dentist and it isn’t exactly “urgent,” in that you need to get in as soon as possible, but it is something you should get checked out in the near future. It’s common for crowns (and natural teeth) to have some defects, but it sounds like yours is changing, and that could mean it’s actually cracked now, not just a defect. In this case, it would also pick up stains more readily and there’s a chance it will break sometime soon. It’s impossible to guess when it will happen, though.

Rather than letting it turn into a trip to the emergency dentist, especially if you’re an avid traveler, you should find a dentist who is skilled at cosmetic work and have him examine it. Due to the age of the crowns, it might be time to start thinking about replacing them all. Don’t be surprised if the dentist mentions this.

However, the only reason to update the others is age or wear and tear. If the dentist suggests switching them all out so he can make them all match, that’s a sign that you’re not working with a skilled cosmetic dentist. You should be able to have just that one replaced and have it blend naturally, without having the others redone, too. Best of luck to you.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Kevin Peck.

Pediatric Dentistry

What Happened to my son’s tooth?

When my son was three, he took a tumble and bumped his face. He was upset and cut his lip, but his teeth looked fine, so I didn’t even consider taking him to the pediatric dentist back then. Here we are six months later and his tooth is turning an ugly gray color. At first, I thought it was just come kind of staining, but I have scrubbed at it to no avail and it looks like the whole thing is colored. I know in an adult this means the tooth is dead, but my son doesn’t seem bothered by it at all unless I’m messing with it. I think this must be connected to the fall, but I don’t understand why it would take so long to develop- he’s four now. I’m kicking myself for not taking him to the pediatric dentist back then. Could this have been prevented? Going forward, do I need to book him with a pediatric dentist, a root canal specialist, or should I just monitor for more symptoms?

Thanks,

Delilah

Dear Delilah,

It does sound like that tooth has died. When a tooth is injured, it can start to look like a bruise is developing from the inside. This may be from the fall he experienced earlier or from an unrelated incident. It’s not always easy to tell with small kids. Moreover, a dead or dying tooth doesn’t always cause pain. It just depends on what happened with the nerve. Taking him to the pediatric dentist right after the fall would not have prevented this from happening. The damage was instantaneous and even if it wasn’t killed right away, nothing could have stopped the progression.

At a certain point, baby teeth begin the process of resorption, in which the body starts diminishing the roots in order for the tooth to fall out. The pulp fades away naturally at this point anyway, and your son could be getting to that stage. With an adult, there’s concern over bacteria entering the chamber and creating an infection, which is why a root canal is necessary. The dentist cleans out the canal, and then fills the space so bacteria can’t seep in and cause a problem.

Given that your son will probably lose the tooth naturally in the next couple of years, you may not need to treat the tooth at all. It’s a good idea to keep an eye on it and if you’re worried about anything, you can have it checked out by the pediatric dentist.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Kevin Peck.

Lumineers

Are off-brands of Lumineers causing bad breath?

I worked hard to get my body and teeth in shape.  I went through a gazillion deep cleanings to try and get rid of my gum disease. I finally got to the point that my dentist would let me get lumineers. Now, though, a couple of months later and I have horrible bad breath. I know my dentist used an off-brand of veneers. Could that be the problem?

Chloe S. – Arkansas

Chloe,

I can’t be definitive with you because diagnosing bad breath over a computer isn’t actually a great idea. But, I have a couple of thoughts.

Porcelain veneers don’t really cause bad breath. Bacteria does. That bacteria can be from poor hygiene or from an illness you have.

Has your doctor checked you for something like strep? Normally you have a high fever and a sore throat with it, but not always.

More likely, though, it’s your gum disease raising its ugly head again.  You may not have noticed before, because you’d been living with it a long time. Now, that you had it gone, you would notice a difference if it returned.  You were doing lots of deep cleanings to help with the bacteria. However, you’re in your normal routine again now.

You many need to go back and deal with the potential gum disease and find out where your oral hygiene issue is.  It may be your not brushing or flossing correctly. Let your dentist see how you’re doing it and he or she may have some advice for you.

This blog is borught to you by Dr. Kevin Peck.

Affordable Dentist

Why can’t I find an emergency dentist for my mother?

My mom is disabled and on Social Security/ disability. Right now, she has no dental coverage what so ever, but I am told she might get some in the future when she gets fully approved for disability. I guess there’s some kind of limbo period where the state plan doesn’t cover it but the federal plan will? I really don’t understand all this. At any rate, I just took over managing her care and she needs a lot of work done. I think it’s going to come down to pulling her teeth and getting dentures, but I’m not totally sure. I have been trying to find an affordable dentist, but nobody seems to be willing to help. They all want thousands of dollars up front. I don’t know if it’s these offices or the healthcare system, but she needs help. Any ideas on how I can find an affordable dentist?

Sincerely,

Jessica

Dear Jessica,

Kudos to you for stepping up to the plate and helping your mom out. The programs are so confusing, you practically need a PhD to understand what covers what and what’s actually available.

Unfortunately, you are correct, in that government programs do not typically see to the dental needs of disabled and elderly adults. Every plan is different, and when you’re still battling it at a state level, each state has different rules, too. There’s a very good chance your mom only has emergency coverage, or coverage for work that needs to be done in the hospital right now, but please contact the company that provides her coverage to be sure.

With disability, there tends to be a 24-month waiting period while you wait for the transition from state to federal coverage, but when the higher coverage kicks in there should be some dental coverage. Again, you must talk to your mom’s case worker, social worker, or plan provider to find out what the process is and what’s available to her. If coverage will increase soon, it may be worth waiting a couple months before you start anything.

If she needs to find an affordable dentist now, you could try asking offices whether they do payment plans or financing. Many of them do. You may also have luck signing up for an inexpensive insurance plan. There are some PPO plans for as little as $35 from reputable companies that provide instant coverage. If you’re getting into an extensive treatment plan, like extractions and dentures, it’s worthwhile to research some of these to reduce your costs. Best of luck to you.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Kevin Peck.

Affordable Dentist

Should I get All-on-Four implants to make it more affordable?

I wanted to get dental implants, but they were out of my budget. I got dentures, but they’re horrible ugly. I’ve been reading that all-on-four dental implants are more affordable. Will that be a better option than the dentures?

Marissa M. – San Antonio, TX

Marissa,

I have several thoughts on this.

First, if your dentures are ugly, it’s because of the dentist, not because you got dentures. Well done dentures can be made to look just like natural teeth. In fact, with a great cosmetic dentist, you could end up with a prettier smile than you had when you went in.  If you’re happy with your dentures, other than their appearance, you could just have them re-done by a more artistic dentist.

There are reasons for choosing dental implants over dentures, though I know affording them is an issue. First, is protection of your jawbone. When you remove your teeth, your body begins to resorb the minerals in your jawbone to use elsewhere. In a few years, you have a shrunken jawbone. Other reasons for implants are comfort, security, and chewing effeciency. Dental implants don’t move around in your mouth the way dentures do.

As far as getting all-on-four, I wouldn’t recommend it. This procedure has a higher than normal failure rate. Plus, if one implant has a problem, the entire unit has to be re-done, which can get expensive.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Keven Peck.

Affordable Dentist

Will insurance cover dental implants?

I’m going to lose three teeth due to a car accident. I’m really devastated about it because they’re in the front. I really want to get dental implants so I can feel confident smiling again, but am worried about the expense. Will insurance cover it?

Laura O. – Texas

Laura,

Just a few years ago I would have had to tell you ‘No’. Dental implants were considered an experimental treatment and insurance companies flat out refused to cover it. That made it almost unaffordable for most patients.

But, a lot has happened in the last few years. Because more dentists have made the effort to get significant training in the procedure, the success rates have skyrocketed. Now, about half of all insurance companies are willing to cover the procedure.

You’ll want to go to a dentist with the right training AND is willing to work with you to get the most out of your insurance policy. Even if yours is not one that covers the procedure, there are ways your dentist can work with you to make it happen. Be open with your dentist. They’ll help.

This blog is brought to you by Drs. Kevin and Hillary Peck.

Emergency Dentist

Implant Dentist or Emergency Dentist

My dental implant has been in for about 9 months. Everything was fine until a few weeks ago, when my jaw started hurting. I went to see my dentist who did my implants. He said everything is fine. The pain got worse and I went back. He still said everything was fine. I believed him, though was beginning to have my doubts. Today, I was eating and I realized there is puss in my mouth. the implant tooth feels loose. I’m not sure what to do. I can’t reach my dentist. Do I wait for him or see an emergency dentist? Help me, please.

  • Misty – Nevada

Dear Misty,

 

I’m sorry for this experience you’re having. Your dentist should have been more in tune with your concerns. It sounds like you’ve got a pretty massive infection and it needs to be dealt with. I’m surprised you can’t reach your dentist at all. Usually, there is a protocol in place for emergency situations.

Because your dentist doesn’t seem to have a procedure for situations then you need to see an emergency dentist. There is likely only two things he can do. First, he’ll give you some antibiotics to stave off the infection until your implant dentist can get in there and deal with the issue. Secondly, he may need to splint the implant tooth. Hopefully, this can be resolved in a way that allows you to save the implant.

This blog is brought to you by Drs. Kevin and HIlary Peck.

Pediatric Dentistry

Questions from a child

Hi my name is Neil and I’m going to the dentist for the first time. I had some questions and my mom said the best thing to do would be to ask a dentist. So, she’s typing my questions to you.

  1. Will it hurt?
  2. What happens if my teeth ever get twisted?
  3. What happens if my teeth look like a cows? (My mom doesn’t want to ask this one, but I made her promise).

Thanks, Neil

Hi Neil,

Great questions! (Even the one about the cow).

  1. Usually children’s dentist appointments don’t hurt, especially first ones. The dentist just checks out that your teeth are growing in healthy. A special helper called a hygienist will give your teeth a gentle cleaning and take off any bacteria. Most children like going to the dentist.  (Some even give treats at the end of the appointment)
  2. If your teeth come in twisted, your dentist will suggest that when you’re old enough you get braces. Those gently fix your teeth into their proper position.
  3. Hmmm….that’s a new question for me.  I think if you had cow’s teeth (and didn’t like them), when you were old enough you could get them to look different with porcelain veneers.

I hope you really enjoy your first dental appointment. I bet it will be awesome!!!

This blog is brought to you by Drs. Kevin and Hillary Peck.

Lumineers

Can I get Lumineers if I have two crowns?

I was thinking of getting lumineers. Is that possible to do if I have two dental crowns?

Monica C. – Alabama

Monica,

Yes and No.  You can get Lumineers on the teeth that don’t have crowns, but not on the teeth that do.  That won’t negatively impact your smile makeover if you have the crowns re-done at the same time.

When you have the dental crowns re-done, make sure your dentist gives you all-porcelain crowns. These are much more natural looking.

You’ll want to go to a dentist who has experience with Lumineers and has created beautiful smiles.  It is perfectly within your rights to ask to see photos of smiles he or she has done.

This blog is brought to you by Drs. Kevin and Hillary Peck.

Affordable Dentist

What if you can’t afford a toothache?

I’m being honest with you when I tell you that I just cannot afford a dentist. But. I also have a horrible toothache. What do I do?

Lance Q. – California

Lance,

What you need to do is find a dentis who is willing to work with you.  It’s not as hard as it sounds.  Most dentists get into the field because they like to help people. There are a lot of dentists who will be willing to work with you.

It’s easier if you look at dentists who advertise as affordable dentists. They’re usually more willing to work with patients. Not only do they have affordable fees, but they also have payment plans.

Explain your circumstances and they may have other ways of helping as well. What you don’t want to do is to put off being seen. If this is a tooth infection, it will spread and only get worse.

This blog is brought to you by Phoenix Dentists Drs. Kevin and Hillary Peck.