root canal treatment Archives | Poplar Crossing Dental

Cyst or Abscess?

Posted on November 23, 2023 by writeradmin.

I have had a lump above one of my teeth for a while. My dentist calls it a chronic abscess and says I can either try a root canal treatment, which has about a 70% success rate or extract the tooth. I sort of hate the idea of going through a root canal treatment, especially if it won’t have that great of a chance of doing anything. At the same time, I’m not sure if taking my tooth out is the right way to go either. I went to get a second opinion from another dentist and he said it could just be a cyst. Now I’m not sure what to do. This has been here for a while as my dentist has kept and eye on it for over three years and I am really worried we’ve left a cyst there.

Callie

Dear Callie,

It would be very rare for this to be a cyst. Yes, they do happen but they are by far the exception. Most dentists go their entire career without seeing a cyst. Your first dentist called it an abscess. My bigger concern is why he has left you with a tooth infection for three years. These are laden with bacteria and have an impact on your general well being. When this is removed, don’t be surprised if you feel better in your body as well as your mouth. In some cases, they spread past the gums or jaw and lead to even more dangerous infections that can reach your heart or brain.

It is always better to get rid of a tooth infection. There is zero benefit to leaving it there and just keeping an eye on it. My recommendation is to get the root canal treatment. This gives you a chance to save the tooth, which is the ideal outcome. As for the 70% success rate he mentioned, I think that is a bit low. Maybe that is his success rate. In general, there is an 85% success rate. If you went to a root canal specialist, called an endodontist, the success rate will be higher than that.

If you were to remove the tooth, then you would also have to replace it. Not only is that not as good as having a natural tooth, it is more expensive. My recommendation is to always save as much natural tooth structure as possible. If for some reason the tooth cannot be saved and you have to remove it, the tooth replacement that is closest to having a healthy natural tooth again, is a dental implant.

This blog is brought to you by Hoffman Estates Dentist Dr. William Becker.

A Missed Diagnosis that Caused a LOT of Pain and Problems

Posted on September 7, 2023 by writeradmin.

I had a tooth that was hurting me and was sensitive to hot and cold. It hurt even just when I touched it. I have a bit of a dental anxiety so don’t have a regular dentist at the moment. I went to one who said he’d see non-patients in cases of emergencies that I found in an advertisement. When I saw him, he said the problem was that my wisdom teeth all needed to be extracted, though one he thought he could do a filling on and it would help. I did tell him that the tooth that hurt me felt further up and on a chart showed him tooth #19. He still felt the problem was my wisdom teeth. I decided to start with the filling he said could help. It didn’t. Then, I had the wisdom teeth extracted by an oral surgeon. At first I thought he had actually solved the problem but I think it was just painkillers. Eventually, my jaw swelled up so I went back in for a 3rd time. This time, he prescribed me antibiotics, which helped until they wore off. I finally gave up on him and went to the ER. They told me I had an infected tooth and showed me the abscess. Guess what? It was tooth #19. I went BACK to the dentist and he referred me to an endodontist. When I called them, they told me it would be at least three weeks before they could fit me in. I could not bear to wait three weeks and I could tell the infection was spreading. It had made its way up to my eye. I ended up just going back to the oral surgeon and had him take it out. I couldn’t take any more. I will admit to being angry. I have wasted so much time and money and if he would have just listened to me about what tooth it was from the beginning, I might still have a tooth. Is there any legal recourse for this?

Andrew

Dear Andrew,

This is a horrific story and you definitely have some recourse here. This dentist has crossed the line into gross negligence and malpractice. Here is what I think your dentist should cover at a minimum:

Your extra visits
Your visits to the oral surgeon, Endodontist, and ER
The cost of your extractions
The cost of replacing this tooth, which could have been saved, with a dental implant.

If he does not agree to this, you have a great malpractice case. Here is a list of some of his mistakes:

It Was Clear a Root Canal Treatment Was Needed

Sensitivity or pain to a tooth with cold means the pulp of the tooth is inflamed. This is dentistry 101. If you include the pain to the touch you were having then the need for a root canal treatment is even higher. I have absolutely no idea why he was talking about your wisdom teeth when these symptoms were present in your tooth.

Antibiotics are NOT the Solution for a Tooth Infection

Next, he prescribes you an antibiotic when his solution didn’t work. First, if he didn’t recognize the infection, he certainly should have now. Plus, antibiotics do not cure a tooth infection because the medicine cannot get inside the tooth. The only thing an antibiotic can do is hold an infection at bay. Maybe he does not like doing a root canal treatment. That’s fine, he could send you to an endodontist, which is sort of did eventually. Then, there was the swelling and he still did nothing. This indicated a spreading infection, which is considered a dental emergency, leaving it put you in danger. People still die from tooth infections.

He Ignored Your Pain and the Danger You Were In

Even after you got a proper diagnosis (from the ER and not from him), he showed a depraved indifference to your situation and suffering. He could have easily gotten you out of pain by drilling an opening in your tooth. With the swelling in your jaw, the pulp of the tooth would have been dead so you wouldn’t feel the drilling. But, no, he left you in pain. Then, he sent you to an endodontist who could not see you for weeks. Honestly, if the infection had spread my more, like to your brain, you would have died.

Why Charge Him for a Dental Implant?

While all the other charges I mentioned he should cover are pretty self-explanatory, you may be wondering what is the justification for charging him for the dental implant. It’s actually pretty simple. If he had done his job properly, it is very likely your tooth could have been saved with a root canal treatment. Now, you’ve lost an important molar. If it isn’t replaced, then the other teeth will drift or tip into the open space. This will lead to your bite being thrown off and TMJ disorder. A dental implant is the only tooth replacement that prevents bone loss.

A Help for Your Dental Anxiety

I am certain this experience has not helped with the dental anxiety you experience. When you see another dentist (and please let it be a different one from the one you just went to) make sure it is a sedation dentist. They can give you an anxiety-free/pain-free dental procedure.

This blog is brought to you by Hoffman Estates Dentist Dr. William Becker.

Are There Things Emergency Dentists Cannot Do?

Posted on March 7, 2023 by writeradmin.

I had a problem while my dentist was on vacation. He did have a colleague that was supposed to be seeing us in case of emergencies, but apparently, there was a miscommunication and he could not fit me in. I ended up doing an internet search for an emergency dentist. They fit me in that day, did some tests to see what the problem was, and got me out of pain. They gave me a choice between coming back to them for the root canal treatment I needed in a couple of days or waiting for my dentist. They said they’d prescribe the right amount of antibiotics for either decision. I found them to be efficient, compassionate, and effective. In fact, I sort of want to switch to that practice completely. Before I make the leap, are there things that emergency dentists cannot do that I would need a general dentist for?

Amelia

Dear Amelia,

One important thing to note is that emergency dentists are general dentists. They can do anything any other general dentist does, which would include things such as cleanings, fillings, and dental crowns. Beyond that, it really depends on the dentist and where their interests and additional training resides.

For example, if you are someone who wants cosmetic dentistry done, such as porcelain veneers, you would need to find a dentist who has invested in post-doctoral training in cosmetic work. There isn’t actually a cosmetic dental specialty, so you have to do some research and be willing to ask them what training they received. Teeth whitening, while it is simple enough to be performed by any dentist but may not be offered by any dentist.

Other times, you may have more extensive needs like dental implants or TMJ disorder. For these, you will want a dentist who has done the training necessary for those procedures.

What this boils down to is if you like this dentist, go to this dentist for all your general dental needs. If anything specialized comes up, they can recommend to you a dentist just for those needs. It is not uncommon for people to have a family doctor, then maybe a heart specialist or an endocrinologist. This is the same in dentistry. Go to the dentist who meets the majority of your needs and when you need something special, the two of you can work together to find the right dentist just for that procedure.

This blog is brought to you by Hoffman Estates Dentist Dr. William Becker.

Store Bought Filling Material

Posted on December 9, 2022 by writeradmin.

I have a cavity that is having trouble and causing me pain. I don’t have money for a dentist right now, but did see that my pharmacy has some store bought filling material. Would it be enough for me to fill the cavity with that material? I’m plain broke right now.

Drew

Dear Drew,

The temporary filling material is designed to only fill the whole for a few days while you wait to get into the dentist’s office. If you wait longer than that, you are harboring bacteria and will end up with a massive dental infection. If you go to the dentist early, like now, it may only be a simple filling that you need to have cleaned out.

A lot of pain will indicate that there is a dental infection. This will mean more than cleaning out the decay. It will mean a root canal treatment, which also cleans out the infected pulp.

I know you are in a bit of a bind, financially. However, the longer you wait the worse (and more expensive) this will get. In general, dentists are compassionate and went into their field because they wanted a career that would allow them to help people. If you don’t have money and have a dental emergency, I am positive you will find a dentist who is willing to work with you financially.

I would start by looking for an affordable dentist. They are usually more apt to have payment plans. Whatever you do, please do not put this off. Speak directly to the dentist if the front desk isn’t willing to work with you. They have to follow the general procedure. However, the dentist has more wiggle room.

This blog is brought to you by Hoffman Estates Dentist Dr. William Becker.

Problems with a Root Canal

Posted on August 31, 2022 by writeradmin.

My husband was in an accident that landed him in the E.R. He also had some fractured teeth. The dentist wanted to wait a couple of weeks before seeing him. Over that period of time, the tooth changed color. The dentist said she felt dried blood, but my husband was in no pain so she just fitted him for a temporary crown which was completed within 3 weeks. It was after this that the problems really started.

A few weeks later, he ended up in serious enough pain to have an emergency root canal treatment started along with a 5 day treatment of amoxicillin. At first, there was a bit of pain relief, but then by the time she finished the root canal treatment a week later, he was in pain again. She said to give it time. Two weeks later, his pain had increased. We went back and she decided to root canal the tooth next to it. I was uncomfortable with that as his pain wasn’t in that tooth, but she said she was out of ideas and this was worth trying. He’s still in massive pain and I don’t know what to do for him. Should we have the tooth extracted? Can it still be saved?

Rebecca

Dear Rebecca,

Your husband sure has been put through the wringer here. I am glad you are trying to advocate for him. There are a few things that went wrong here. I wish your dentist would have root canaled your husband’s tooth when she first saw the discoloration. That was an obvious sign that he needed one and doing it before an infection sets in gives it the best chance. Instead, she waited until there was pain and infection.

On the topic of infection, I don’t understand why she just gave him 5 days of an antibiotic if the root canal wasn’t closed until a week later. It is the standard operating procedure to have enough antibiotics to last until after the tooth is closed. Otherwise, the infection has nowhere to drain and there is a greatly increased chance of the infection flaring up again. Her choice of antibiotic is questionable too.

Your dentist has done so much wrong here, including a second root canal treatment that was at best, an honest attempt in ignorance. My recommendation is that you get him to an endodontist as soon as possible. Tell them what has happened and they may get him scheduled for an emergency dental appointment. They may prescribe him some clindamycin first in order to get this infection under control and then see him. Either way, make sure they at the very least get him out of pain in the interim.

This blog is brought to you by Hoffman Estates Dentist Dr. William Becker.

Can Crest Whitestrips Cause a Need for a Root Canal Treatment?

Posted on July 8, 2022 by writeradmin.

I have been using Crest Whitestrips. It was going fine, but then I started having some tooth pain. I went to my dentist and he gave me a cold test that I failed. He feels I need a root canal treatment. He also said I have a cavity which is making me wonder if that could be the cause of needing the root canal treatment. Either way, I have stopped whitening and now I need to get this extra work done. To be honest, the whitestrips weren’t helping that much anyway. I still have the brown spots on my teeth that I was hoping they would fix.

Lindsey

Dear Lindsey,

So, it is probably a combination of both of those issues. If your tooth was weak from decalcification, which is a precursor to decay, the whitening strips could have entered through that area and led to affecting the pulp of your tooth. A cold test is definitely an indication of needing a root canal treatment. However, the white strips have such a weak ingredient that I would be surprised if that is what caused the need for your root canal, though anything is possible.

There is a reason the Crest Whitestrips were not working on your brown spots and it is not just because of how weak their whitening ingredient is. It’s because teeth whitening will whiten teeth evenly, so it would actually make the brown spots more evident, even if you had professional teeth whitening done.

The solution to brown spots on your teeth, depending on the amount and depth of color will either be dental bonding for small spots, or porcelain veneers for more severe discoloration, such as you’d get with tetracycline stains.

Get your root canal treatment done, then go to a cosmetic dentist for a consultation on your brown spots.

This blog is brought to you by Hoffman Estates Dentist Dr. William Becker.

My Dentist Wants to Pull My Tooth

Posted on June 30, 2022 by writeradmin.

I have a tooth that has a dental crown already but has been hurting again. My dentist gave my antibiotics, but they didn’t help. After doing an x-ray he said there isn’t a canal and therefore there is no way for him to do a root canal treatment and he’ll have to pull the tooth. I’m not too keen on this idea. Do I have any options?

Mazie

Dear Mazie,

Your dentist seems a bit confused about dental infections. First, the antibiotic can only do so much. If it is not doing anything, that is a sign that the problem is NOT a tooth infection, but something else. He needs to start investigating other causes of the pain. He’s trying to solve a problem when he does not know what the problem is. That’s like shooting an arrow in the dark when you don’t even have a target there.

If the antibiotic was helping, that does indicate there is an infection there. Even if it was helping and then got worse. Just because your dentist cannot see a canal does not mean there is not one there. Some of those canals can be very difficult to see.

My suggestion is you get a second opinion before you go any further with this. I’d actually have an endodontist look at it for you. One tip here, when getting a second opinion, don’t tell them who looked at your tooth or what their diagnosis was. Tell them you just want their unbiased opinion. This will keep them from just parroting a colleague.

This blog is brought to you by Hoffman Estates Dentist Dr. William Becker.
We treat patients with dental anxiety.

How Long Can You Put Off Getting a Root Canal Treatment?

Posted on June 12, 2022 by writeradmin.

If I know I have a tooth infection and need a root canal treatment, is it a dental emergency or can I wait? If so, how long can I go before I have to get it?

Jannie

Dear Jannie,

I can only give you general guidelines here. It would be impossible for me to say with anything definitive without examining you. That being said, if the tooth is hurting at all. Even if it was recently hurting but is pausing at the moment, I would get it treated as soon as possible. A live infection will spread. I would consider that an urgent dental situation and get it taken care of as soon as possible. Your jaw is quite close to your brain, heart, and lungs. If it reaches one of those it can end up turning life-threatening quite quickly.

If it is not hurting and hasn’t in a while, then you are probably okay to wait, but if it begins to hurt again, that will mean the infection has become active again. Some people go for years with a tooth that needed a root canal treatment and do fine. Others, need to get it repaired rather quickly.

I tend to err on the side of caution. You want to get it done sooner so you don’t have to worry about it any longer or have it hanging over your head.

It is completely up to you. There is not a right or wrong way to handle it if you do not have an active infection.

This blog is brought to you by Hoffman Estates Dentist Dr. William Becker.

Can a Broken Tooth Get Infected?

Posted on February 3, 2022 by writeradmin.

Several years ago, while I was in college, I broke my molar. As a poor college student, I didn’t have any money so I just left it. Because it wasn’t bothering me, I didn’t think it would be a big deal. Now, I’m having pain from the hole down to my chin. It is not a constant pain, but when it comes, it is pretty severe and it makes it hard for me to work. Is it possible that a broken tooth can get infected if I leave it like this?

Laurence

Dear Laurence,

I hate to break it to you, but you already have an infected tooth. That is what the pain you’re experiencing is telling you. You need to get this checked out. Tooth infections are considered dental emergencies. If left untreated, they can turn into life threatening emergencies. Generally, there are two ways to deal with a tooth infection. The first is with a root canal treatment. This is the ideal because it allows you to keep your natural tooth. However, if left untreated for too long, it will be too late for a root canal treatment. At that point, your only course of action is to extract and replace the tooth.

As you can see, each proceeding level of treatment gets more expensive. You didn’t mention why this tooth broke to begin with. If you are not certain know yourself, then that probably means that it had a cavity that was left untreated. As it spread and weakened the tooth, it broke. Dentistry is more affordable if you take care of things quickly.

A simple filling is cheaper than letting the decay grow to where you need a crown. A crown is cheaper than needing to add a root canal treatment to it. A root canal is cheaper than an extraction and tooth replacement.

Let’s say you are looking at a worst case scenario and the tooth has to be extracted. In that case, it will be important to replace the tooth. The best tooth replacement is a dental implant. That will be the closest to having a healthy, natural tooth in your mouth again.

This blog is brought to you by Hoffman Estates Dentist Dr. William Becker.

Getting a Refund from a Dentist who Messed UP

Posted on December 28, 2021 by writeradmin.

I had a dental crown put on a front tooth that had stuck out a bit since childhood. The only reason for the crown was to make that tooth look “normal”. After the crown was placed I had sensitivity to cold and hot. My dentist told me this was normal when first getting a dental crown. Fast forward a few weeks and I was in so much pain I ended up in the ER with a swollen face. They told me it was a dental issue. So, I got an emergency appointment with another dentist who could fit me in faster and they told me that I have a massive infection because the dental crown has something called an open margin. I missed a few days of work because of the pain, plus the cost of the ER, and now I have to pay for a root canal treatment and a new dental crown. I am only halfway through paying for the first dental crown. I called them and told them what happened and asked for my money back. They replied by saying once the crown is in my mouth it is my responsibility. How was I supposed to know about an open margin and what it was supposed to do? I stopped paying on the crown and now they are suing me for the balance! What do I do? Should I file a countersuit?

Kelly

Dear Kelly,

You have been through so much here. I am so sorry. It sounds like your dentist is not someone who is going to be voted “Best Dentist” any time soon. As for a countersuit, it is not always financially feasible to file a suit because of the amount of money you get as oppossed to the legal fees. However, there are ways to pressure a dentist.

You’ve already done the most important thing, which is getting a second opinion from another dentist who has determined your dentist messed up. That will help with every thing else I am going to say. Bear in mind that I have not examined you. However, based on what you described, your dentist did not meet that standard of care that he should have. One thing he is supposed to do after placing a dental crown is to check the margins to make sure there is no risk of decay due to the margins being open.

I would tell your dentist if he does not retract his suit and give you a refund that you will be contacting the dental board about his negligence. If that doesn’t work, you can have the second dentist contact him and say what in essence is, “Dude, you messed up. Own it and refund the money.” Sometimes pressure from a peer works better than from a patient because they want to keep a good reputation among their peers. A third option is telling him you will be writing a review about the poor care you’ve had. Finally, you can have an attorney write a threatening letter. That may sober him up.

I hope he has the integrity to make things right, or at least the fear of your threats.

This blog is brought to you by Hoffman Estates Dentist Dr. William Becker.