I have had tooth pain on and off for a couple of weeks. I went to see a dentist. He did an x-ray and found an infection in a tooth that already has a filling. He said the tooth is so far gone that he’ll have to extract it and then we’ll do a dental implant. I am terrified enough of the dentist already. This sounds like a horrible procedure. Is there any way he’s wrong?
Anne
Dear Anne,
I want you to get a second opinion. I am quite skeptical about your diagnosis. If your tooth were that far gone that it couldn’t be saved, it wouldn’t take an x-ray to see that. Additionally, your filling would have literally sunk into the decay.
You mentioned having tooth pain on and off for a couple of weeks. While some dental infections can spread quickly, I think you would be in agony if it were that advanced.
I have a feeling, once you get that second opinion, you’ll find there is a different diagnosis and solution. When you do visit with the other dentist, make certain it is a blind second opinion. That means you won’t tell the dentist who you went to see or what their diagnosis was. Instead, you’ll just tell them you have a toothache and have already been to one dentist, but want their opinion before moving forward. If they ask for who treated you, just explain you don’t want it to bias his opinion.
A Word About Dental Anxiety
You mentioned being uncomfortable at the dentist. It may bring you some comfort to know you are not alone in that feeling. Additionally, I have a solution that will change how you view the dental chair. Patients with dental anxiety are much better served by seeing a sedation dentist.
Using dental sedation will allow you to have an anxiety-free and pain-free dental appointment. Depending on the level of dental sedation you decide on, you could even sleep through your appointment.
This blog is brought to you by Hoffman Estates Dentist Dr. William Becker.