Emergency Dentist Archives | Auburn Alabama Dentist

Tooth Infection with No Money

June 12, 2019 by writeradmin

I don’t know what to do. I am sure I have a tooth infection. My cheek is so swollen and there is a pimple on my gum. My problem is I have no dental insurance and no money. I was laid off six months ago, my savings has run out, and I have no job prospects. I do have some leftover antibiotics in my house, from a time they decided to switch me to a different antibiotic. Would that work?

Livvie

Dear Livvie,

I’m very sorry for what you are going through. I am going to discourage you from using these antibiotics. Once a tooth infection has reached a certain point (and yours has) because of the anatomical structure of teeth, the antibiotic won’t even get to your tooth. Instead, the infection will continue to spread.

This is super dangerous for you because of how close your jaw is to your brain. This infection can cause a brain infection, a heart infection, or even spread to your throat and swell up so much that you can breathe or swallow.

This is a dental emergency. It does need to be dealt with. Ideally, you’d be able to get a root canal treatment and a dental crown to be able to save your tooth. If that is not possible, you’ll end up with a tooth extraction, which also requires you to find a tooth replacement.

Now that I’ve completely depressed you, I also want to give you a solution. First, you should know that most dentists went into their field because they care about people. Many will be willing to help you and let you pay it out. Some of them have in-office payment plans. However, most work through Care Credit. This is a medical credit card which has low and no-interest plans.

If You Lose Your Tooth

If the worst case scenario happens and the tooth can’t be saved there are good options these days. The ideal tooth replacement is to get a dental implant. In your current circumstances, that is impractical for you. Instead, you could look at a dental bridge.

Sometimes even that isn’t affordable. In that case, I suggest you get a removable partial denture and save up for the better replacements in the future when you have found your new job.

This blog is brought to you by Auburn Family Dentist Dr. Raymond Bolt.

Are Wonky Implants a Dental Emergency?

March 18, 2019 by writeradmin

I had two dental implants placed about three months ago. Everything seemed fine until recently. I had some weird pains and tingles in it the last few days and today the area surrounding the two implants seems spongy. I don’t know if that’s the right way to describe it, but the gum was moveable. My implant dentist is on vacation. Can this wait or do I need an emergency dentist?

Candace

Dear Candace,

It’s good that you are attentive to what’s going on with your dental implants. That alone could help save them. This need to be looked at before your dentist returns. You could have an infection brewing.

Infection is the leading cause of dental implant failure. So you’ll want this looked at as soon as possible. Your implant dentist should have a protocol in place when he’s not available. Usually, they will have a colleague who will stand in for them if a patient needs urgent care.

If by chance your dentist does not have that in place, you’ll need to see an emergency dentist.

Ideally, you’d want one versed in the dental implant procedure, but if you can’t find one, they could at least prescribe you a broad spectrum antibiotic which should hold off any infection while you’re waiting on your dentist’s return.

If Your Dental Implants Fail

Though with an experienced implant dentist there is a very high success rate (around 98%), sometimes, even when everything is done right, the dental implants will fail.

When that happens, there is still hope. You can get bone grafting done to build back up the area and then try again.

Cosmetic Opportunities with Implants

As you are adding teeth to your smile, one thing you can do is use it as an opportunity to update your smile a bit. Teeth whitening is an inexpensive cosmetic procedure and dramatically transforms your smile’s appearance.

The reason I bring it up is the color your implant crowns are made with is permanent. If you decide later you want to whiten your teeth, the porcelain crowns will have to be re-made.

It saves you money to do your whitening now, so you can have the crowns made a color you will be proud to keep for years to come.

This blog is brought to you by Auburn Family Dentist Dr. Raymond Bolt.

Can a Venue be Billed for Emergency Dental Work?

December 31, 2018 by writeradmin

I was at a small music venue, which also is a bar. A small fight broke out which I wasn’t actually a part of. Somehow, I think the bouncer mistook me for one of the fighters because he punched me. I left after that. I noticed this morning the tooth where he punched is loose. I know enough to know I have to get this taken care of immediately. However, I don’t have the money. Can the venue be billed? It was their bouncer who unjustly slugged me.

Hunter

Dear Hunter,

Woman with a boxing glove punching someone

A loose tooth is a dental emergency.

You are wise to know that a loose tooth is a dental emergency. Unfortunately, unless the venue agrees ahead of time there is not a legal way for a dentist to bill them. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t receive the treatment you need. Most dentists are compassionate and went into their field because they wanted to help people.

I’m sure you’ll find at least one who is willing to treat you and then allow you to pay out the bill as you go. If you have trouble, you may try doing an internet search for an affordable dentist. They are usually more willing to work with people. Often, they provide in-office payment plans.

What to Expect at Your Emergency Dental Appointment

With a loose adult tooth, they will do x-rays to make sure there is no internal damage. If all else is fine, then the dentist will splint the tooth to keep it stable while the ligaments heal. It is very likely the ligaments were just stretched in the brawl.

If there is internal damage then the dentist will likely have to do a root canal treatment. Either way, you should be able to save the tooth.

If the Tooth Cannot Be Saved

If, for some reason, the tooth can’t be saved there are incredible tooth replacements these days. The best tooth replacement is a dental implant. However, they are quite expensive. If that turns out to be necessary, you may want to file a claim with small claims court to recoup your money from the venue.

This blog is brought to you by Auburn Dentist Dr. Raymond Bolt.

Is a Gum Pimple a Dental Emergency?

September 9, 2018 by iowasmiles

I have had a tooth which has been in pain. I’ve kind of ignored it because I’m a bit low on funds. The pain stopped for a bit so I thought I was in the clear. This morning, though, the pain started up again with a vengeance and now there’s a pimple on my gums. My husband said this is a dental emergency. I think he’s overblowing things. Can’t I just take some pain medicine and try to ride it out?

Simone

Dear Simone,

A pimple on the gum means you have an abcessed tooth

You’ll want to mark this down because from what I’ve heard husbands aren’t often right, but this time yours is. I’m sure he’ll celebrate later. It’s lucky for you he was too. A pimple on your gums means you have an abscessed tooth— an infection.

Without treatment, this will spread and could settle in your organs. Then, you’d not only have a dental emergency but a medical one as well. Think about how close your jaw is to your heart and brain. Things like this can quickly turn life-threatening. Believe it or not, people still die from tooth infections.

Your dentist needs to get in there and physically remove the infected pulp. This requires a root canal treatment, but it can save your tooth as well as your health.

Your dentist likely has an emergency protocol for situations like yours. Call his office and let him know what’s going on.

Affording an Emergency Dentist

I know you were worried about money. In future, you should know there are affordable dentists out there who will work with you financially. They’d rather have you get the treatment you need and pay things out than to ignore necessary treatment and face what you’re facing now.

Truthfully, getting regular dental care saves you money. It’s much more affordable to get regular cleanings than it is to avoid them and end up needing an expensive dental crown because of decay. Even worse, would be to wait so long that the tooth needs to be extracted and replaced. that would cost you thousands of dollars.

This blog is brought to you by Auburn AL, Family Dentist Dr. Raymond Bolt.

Can an Emergency Dentist Help a Canker Sore?

July 27, 2018 by iowasmiles

I know I probably sound like a baby, but I have an unbelievably painful canker sore. If I went to an emergency dentist would they be able to help me? I haven’t been able to eat all day today. I don’t know what to do.

Carla

Dear Carla,

When is a canker sore dangerous?

Canker sores can be incredibly painful. Add eating into the mix and it’s like pouring salt on a wound. These usually take around two weeks to heal. There’s not much that can be done about them so an emergency dentist wouldn’t be helpful.

There are some things you can do to help with the pain. There are over-the-counter antiseptics which can help. Some of them have pads you can place over the sore. However, the moistness of your mouth makes them hard to keep on. They are useful for giving you some relief while you eat though.

Now, if the canker sore doesn’t heal after two weeks it will be time to see your dentist. Sometimes what seems to be a canker sore can be something else, like a virus or oral cancer.

Don’t panic about the cancer possibility. If you get regular dental checkups, your dentist should be giving you regular checks for oral cancer.

When Do You Need an Emergency Dentist?

If you have a tooth in pain, that’s usually a sign of an infected tooth in need of a root canal treatment.
If you lose a tooth, then it’s imperative you get to the dentist within 30 minutes to have a chance at saving the tooth. It helps if you call ahead of time so they can be prepared for you. Time is of the essence.

What If You Lose a Tooth?

If you happen to have a tooth which can be saved, don’t despair. We’ve made many advancements in tooth replacement options. Dental implants are so good, you’ll feel like you have a healthy, natural tooth again.

If the idea of surgery isn’t your thing, a porcelain bridge is a perfectly viable solution.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Raymond Bolt.

Antibiotics Instead of Emergency Dentist? Dangerous Idea

May 15, 2018 by iowasmiles

I don’t like dentists, which is probably why I have a tooth infection to begin with. The infection got so bad I was swollen all the way up to my eye. I went to my doctor. He gave me antibiotics. At first they worked. Everything stopped hurting and the swelling went down. Now, however, the swelling has started back and the pain has returned. Do I need a different antibiotic?

Tony

Dear Tony,

It sounds to me as if your doctor either doesn’t understand dental infections or is a poor communicator. What he doesn’t seem to understand is that antibiotics do not work with tooth infections. The reason is once an infection gets to the tooth the pulp dies which means no blood flow, therefore the antibiotic can’t even reach the root cause of the infection.

In cases like yours where the infection is spreading, antibiotics are used to stave off the infection. It doesn’t stop it. Your dentist has to get in there and physically remove the infected tissue. This is called a root canal treatment. Otherwise, what will happen is you’ll start to feel better as the antibiotic helps with the infection it can reach. Then, the still infected pulp starts to spread again.

Think about how close your eyes are to your brain. If your infection reaches your brain it will become life-threatening fast. 2017 had several people die from tooth infections, including a father of three young children. It always breaks my heart to hear these stories because this day and age it is totally preventable.

Dealing with Dental Emergencies

What you have would be considered a dental emergency because of the risk of dying from a tooth infection. Plus, you’re likely in pain and dentists will want to get you out of pain as quickly as possible. I’m assuming you went to your doctor because you don’t have a dentist. That’s okay, but your doctor will not be able to remove the infection. There are emergency dentists who will see you right away, even if you’re not a patient.

Contact them and let them know what’s going on. As I said above, they’ll do a root canal treatment and provide you a prescription for pain relief. Each dentist is a little different as to what they prescribe. If your emergency dentist prescribes you a narcotic, be careful. They’re quite addictive. You don’t actually have to take them as often as the pill bottle will say. Only take them as necessary and make it a goal to get off of them as quickly as possible. I recently had a dear friend become addicted to them. It nearly destroyed his family.

Who knows, you may find the dentist you see to be so good at his or her job you find a regular dentist for yourself. Best of luck to you and please don’t put this off. Not only do you risk the infection spreading but you may be too late to save your tooth at all. Then you’re stuck with expensive tooth replacement options.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Raymond Bolt.

Dentist Won’t Fix My Crown

March 10, 2018 by iowasmiles

I had a crown done. It never felt right. I had it adjusted several times, but it never helped. Every time I bite it hurt. Finally, a piece broke off. I was so fed up with my dentist that I went to an emergency dentist instead. But, he refused to fix it. He said he’s willing to make me a new one but not fix the old one. That seems unfair. Will all dentists say the same thing?

Carrie.

Dear Carrie,

You’ve been through the wringer with this crown. I’m sorry you’ve had such difficult experiences. I don’t know if this was your first (and hopefully last) crown, but I promise it’s not normally like that. If you’re having pain with a crown when you bite, there are generally two possible reasons for it.

A Lingering Infection

Sometimes there is some infected material left that a dentist missed. This can happen in a root canal treatment because there are more canals in teeth than you’d imagine. If even a little bit of pulp is left, the infection will grow. The solution is to get back in there and do a second root canal. However, I don’t think this was your problem.

The Dental Crown is too High

If the dental crown is seated too high on your gums it will cause you to bite down on that tooth without getting to spread the force among the other teeth as well. When that happens, it can cause some unexpected pain. Usually, adjusting the crown properly will be an adequate solution. Because your crown broke, this is what I suspect is what the problem was with your crown.

Why Wouldn’t the Emergency Dentist Repair Your Crown?

I can’t tell you exactly why this particular emergency dentist refused to repair the crown. There’s actually a good possibility it was just unrepairable. Sometimes it’s just not feasible. Making a brand new crown is the only option.

This leaves you with three possibilities:

1. You could go back to the original dentist and give him a chance to make it right either by making you a new crown at no cost or just refunding your money.

2. You could schedule an appointment with the emergency dentist to create a new crown for you. He may do a better job than your last dentist.

3. You could try a completely different dentist.

Whichever you choose, you want to do it soon and not leave your tooth exposed.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Raymond Bolt.

In Need of Emergency Dentist because of Lord Aragorn

December 22, 2017 by iowasmiles

Apparently, I was an Orc. I didn’t realize that until a young Lord Aragorn came at me with his sword. I happened to turn just as the sword arced and hit me straight in the mouth. I thought it was fine, but last night it started feeling loose. I thought I was just imagining it but this morning I can definitely wiggle it. I think this may be considered a dental emergency. Is there anything that can be done or am I doomed to lose the tooth?

Maureen L.

Dear Maureen,

The first thing you’ll want to do is stop wiggling it. That’s making it more likely to come out. Part of the protection for our teeth are ligaments attached to them. These ligaments can stretch and become loose, but mess with them enough and they can completely snap, leaving your tooth with less protection.

Your first order of business is to see your dentist. You’re right that it is a dental emergency and be certain to let them know when you call. If your dentist doesn’t leave room for dental emergencies, go ahead and call an emergency dentist.

The dentist needs to stabilize the tooth. There are several methods in which this can be accomplished including bonding it to its adjacent teeth or using a splint.

What Can Trauma to Do to a Tooth?

Hopefully, just splinting the tooth will give it time to heal. But, there is a chance the pulp has been damaged. If that’s the case, you’ll need a root canal treatment. Most root canal treatments end up needing a dental crown to protect the tooth which becomes brittle after a root canal treatment.

If for some reason your tooth falls out before it can be healed, there is still hope. First, only pick it up by the crown. Never touch the root, not even to clean it. You’ll want to keep it moist though. If you have access to milk, carefully place it in a glass of milk. Ideally, you’ll want to get the dentist within thirty minutes.

Make sure you call them and let them know to expect you and why so they can get to you immediately and have everything prepared. The faster the tooth is re-implanted, the better chance you have of saving the tooth.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Raymond Bolt.

Can I Superglue a Crown that Falls Off?

October 21, 2017 by iowasmiles

I’m in a bit of a bind. I’m out of town. Actually, I’m out of the country in Great Britain. My crown fell off. It’s done this before, but I was always near home so I could go to my dentist to have it re-bonded. I’m going to be here for three weeks. Can I just leave it until I get back? If not, is it safe to just superglue it in place for now?

Michael N.

Dear Michael,

I’m sorry you’re having to deal with this at all, let alone while you’re out of the country. Unfortunately, three weeks is entirely too long to leave your crown off. In that amount of time, your teeth will shift and your crown will no longer fit by the time you get back to your dentist.

I’m a little concerned that this isn’t the first time it’s happened. Most dentists go their entire careers without having a dental crown fall off. Because this has happened several times on your crown alone, I suspect your dentist is struggling with his or her bonding skills. This may end up being a blessing in disguise.

Superglue, however, is a bad idea. For one, it will make it harder to get the crown off if you place it improperly. Placing a crown in its proper position is imperative both for your comfort and the health of your bite. If you place it too high, every time you bite down you’ll wish you had morphine (not a habit I’d recommend). Other types of misplacement can cause your bite to shift in a way that could lead to massive problems for you, including TMJ Disorder.

Handling Dental Emergencies When You’re Out of Town

In the United States, we have emergency dentists. They will see non-established patients the same day when there is a dental emergency. I’m positive the NIH in Great Britain has something similar. They can bond your crown back on properly. If for some reason you can’t find one, many pharmacies have over-the-counter dental cement. It will temporarily bond on your crown. If neither of those things seems available to you, call our office and I will try to find another solution.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Raymond Bolt.

Did the Emergency Dentist Neglect My Husband?

August 21, 2017 by iowasmiles

I’m worried my husband didn’t get the care he needed. I had a toothache. I took me a few weeks to get into the dentist. When I did, I ended up needing a root canal and dental crown. A few weeks later, my husband got a toothache. He refused to go to the dentist until it hurt to eat. Then, I arranged an emergency appointment for him. It wasn’t our normal dentist, who was on vacation. All the dentist did was give him a filling. Was this the right care or was my husband neglected?

Fanny L.

Dear Fanny,

Toothaches don’t mean the same thing for everyone. They can be caused by something as simple as a cavity or sinus infection, or something more serious like an abscessed tooth or broken tooth. So, while a toothache may require a root canal treatment for one person, for another it may just need a simple filling.

Ideally, the dentists should have explained the reasons for their treatment plans to each of you, so you understood what was going on. Even emergency dentists have a responsibility to explain why work needs to be done.

Each person has a different pain tolerance, which also factors into your husband’s result. While your husband couldn’t eat, it’s possible he has a low pain tolerance. Maybe his pain was just from blocked up sinuses, but the dentist noticed he had a small cavity, too, so he went ahead and filled that to keep it from getting worse.

Now bear in mind, I didn’t examine either of you, so I’m giving hypotheticals. I don’t actually know what went on with either of your particular cases. However, your situation likely was much worse than his and you just have a higher pain tolerance, which would explain why your case required a root canal treatment and his didn’t.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Raymond Bolt.