tooth extraction Archives | Poplar Crossing Dental

Worried About “Treatment” Dentist Gave Me

Posted on August 24, 2025 by writeradmin.

I am worried about something going on with one of my teeth as well as how the dentist is handling the situation. I go every three months. This month, I had a toothache. I went in a month early just to have that tooth checked out. He looked at the x-rays from my last appointment and said that there was no sign of an infection. He also peeked at the filling which is on the tooth that is bothering me and said that there are no cracks in it. With those two things combined, he felt I’m safe but gave me a prescription for antibiotics and said if those work, I have nothing to worry about and won’t need to come back until my next appointment. I’m worried that something is really wrong. I’m fairly sure that the antibiotics might help at first, but from everything I’ve read that won’t solve the problem, right? I do realize I don’t have a dental degree, but I’m worried just taking these won’t be enough.

Martha

Dear Martha,

I sometimes get frustrated with the things that happen to patients. This one, however, has such a high level of incompetence that I am going to suggest that you leave this dentist immediately and find a much better dentist. One who understands tooth infections, which I consider a fairly basic requirement for someone who graduated dental school.

Let’s look at where he went wrong. First, he looked at two month old x-rays (if I understand you correctly) in order to determine if you had a problem with a tooth. Well, gee whiz, the tooth wasn’t hurting two months ago, so there would not have been a problem to show up on that x-ray. He should have taken new ones. Then, just going by the fact that your dental filling isn’t cracked is also a big no-no. He should have also checked if the tooth was sensitive to hot or cold, aggravated by tapping, etc. There are even electrical tests to do that can tell him whether the pulp of the tooth is dead. It doesn’t sound like he did any of that.

All that aside, his biggest mistake is just giving you antibiotics and saying that was enough. You mentioned your concern with that and also that you doubted your instincts because you don’t have a dental degree. Well, let me tell you that even without a dental degree, you have a better understanding of tooth infections than he does. You are correct that the infection will return after the antibiotics of finished. Without proper treatment, which will mean either a root canal treatment or tooth extraction, you are going to end up with a dental emergency.

My advice is you find another dentist and get this treated.
This blog is brought to you by Hoffman Estates Dentist Dr. William Becker.

Infected Tooth and No Money

Posted on May 6, 2025 by writeradmin.

I’m feeling desperate and hope you can help me. I am already missing a tooth in the back of my mouth. I don’t know what happened, but I’m pretty sure I have another infection. I’ve been having some pain for a while, but I don’t have any type of insurance and am currently out of work as well. I’m broke. Now, though, my cheek is swollen and the pain can no longer be ignored. Do you know any way I can get the help I need?

Elaine

Dear Elaine,

Your situation is difficult and I’m sorry you are dealing with it. Sometimes people in your situation try to just take antibiotics in order to “treat” the infected tooth. This will only temporarily hold off a tooth infection from spreading. It will not actually cure the infected tooth. Then, once your antibiotic runs out, the infection returns with avengence.

The only real way to treat an infected tooth is by a dentist removing the infected pulp, either with a root canal treatment or a tooth extraction. The better option of those two is the root canal treatment because it saves your tooth. Your infection has left the tooth and has now spread to your cheek. I would consider this a dental emergency. As it continues to spread, it can become life threatening. Think about what would happen if it spread to your throat, heart, or brain. Your jaw is close to all of those. Patients still die from tooth infections every year.

My recommendation is that you call your local dental society. Ask them if there are any dentists or dental clinics that run charity hours for people without money and in need of urgent dental care. Most cities have something like that available. If there aren’t, you could call around to some dentists and explain your situation. Most dentists are compassionate and would likely be willing to work out a payment plan for you in order to get you the treatment you need.

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

The Antibiotic for My Tooth Infection Stopped Working

Posted on February 22, 2025 by writeradmin.

I went to my dentist who told me I had a tooth infection. He gave me some antibiotics. At first, the were working just fine, but then they stopped. Now my cheek is swollen. Do I just ask for a refill of the same antibiotic or do I need a different one the second time around?

Elaine

Dear Elaine,

I am really glad you wrote. I think there must have been some miscommunication between you and your dentist. Antibiotics can only work to hold a tooth infection at bay. They cannot cure an infection. Your dentist should have scheduled a follow-up appointment in order to deal with the infection. There are two ways to do this.

The first is a root canal treatment. This is the ideal situation because it save your natural tooth. Sometimes, though, an infection goes too far and the tooth cannot be saved, you’ll have to go for option two, which is a tooth extraction.

Because your antibiotic started to give you some relief and has stopped, means your infection is back. Worse than that, it is spreading. That is why your cheek is swelling. If you don’t get the real treatment, it will keep spreading and can go from a dental emergency to a life threatening one. Believe it or not, people still die from tooth infections.

Call your dentist and get back in. Hopefully, a root canal treatment will be all that you need. If it turns out that you do need an extraction, make sure that you replace the missing tooth. The best tooth replacement would be a dental implant. This is the closest thing to having a natural tooth.

If your dentist just prescribed you an antibiotic without telling you that you’d need a follow up appointment to get the actual treatment, then I would switch providers. This is not going to be the best dentist to meet your needs.

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

Lost a Tooth During Dental Sedation

Posted on January 10, 2025 by writeradmin.

I’m really confused about my last dental appointment. I’ve always used dental sedation for anything more in-depth than a cleaning because of my anxiety. I have always had a decent relationship with my dentist and trusted him. I’d been away from the dentist for a couple of years because of difficult circumstances. I seemed to have developed a nasty cavity during that time. I went in to get my tooth prepared for a dental crown. Yet, when I woke up I discovered my tooth was pulled. They did this without asking me. Should I report him to the dental board? I feel like I should have been given a choice. Shouldn’t he have realized how bad it was from the x-rays? What do I do now?

Miranda

Dear Miranda,

I can tell you are frustrated and have a lot of questions so let’s go through this a bit at a time. Let’s start with what your dentist could have known. X-rays are wonderful tools, but they are 2 dimensional. Your teeth, however, are 3 dimensional. He may not have known how bad it was until he went in there to do the work.

You said you’d always had a good relationship with your dentist. If you’d always found him trustworthy it’s likely he’s still being trustworthy. It could be that the decay had gotten so far and an infection had taken root in such a way that leaving the tooth would have been dangerous for you. In that case, he would have been negligent to leave the tooth there. As for consent, It could be when you originally agreed to have the dental sedation you signed something giving permission for necessary work. There is no way to know that without looking at the paperwork.

Replacing Your Tooth

You have lots of options when it comes to replacing a lost tooth. The two best options are a dental implant and a dental bridge. A bridge requires the two adjacent teeth to be crowned. If those teeth need crowns, that would make sense. If they don’t, then you don’t want to remove healthy tooth structure if it can be helped.

A dental implant is the closest thing to having a healthy natural tooth in your mouth again. If you’re a candidate for this procedure, this would be my pick.

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

Is a Tooth Infection Really That Dangerous?

Posted on September 6, 2024 by writeradmin.

I had a broken wisdom tooth, which has been like that for a while. Recently, it changed. I think it has developed an infection. I’ve been taking an antibiotic, which helped for a bit but now has stopped working. The pain has not gone from my wisdom tooth to my cheek which is swollen. Today some pain started in my temple. I think I should just get another antibiotic from my doctor. However, my sister, who is a bit of a worrier if I’m being honest, thinks that this is a serious tooth infection beyond antibiotics and that I am putting myself in danger. Are tooth infections really that serious?

Calvin

Dear Calvin,

While your sister may be a worrier, there is a benefit to that. I know of a cancer patient who felt stupid for always running to the doctor any time something odd was going on. Rather than make her feel foolish, he said, “It’s the paranoid ones who survive.” In this case, though, your sister isn’t even being paranoid. She is right on the money.

Not only are tooth infections serious, but people still die from them. Antibiotics will not cure an infected tooth. The best they can do is hold it off temporarily. That won’t last long though, as you’ve discovered. There are only two ways to deal with a tooth infection. The first is with a root canal treatment. The second is by extracting the tooth. The ideal is to have the root canal treatment done because that saves your tooth.

However, if the tooth is too far gone and cannot be saved, then a tooth extraction is your only option. The big downside to this is that you have the additional expense of having to replace the tooth. If you don’t, then the other teeth will drift or tip into the open space. This can lead to TMJ disorder.

You have a benefit here in that it is your wisdom tooth which is infected, so you can just extract it without it needing to be replaced. I wouldn’t worry about a root canal treatment and go straight for the extraction in your particular case. This is a dental emergency. Please don’t put this off.

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

My Gag Reflex is Keeping Me From the Dentist

Posted on June 15, 2024 by writeradmin.

I have a very strong gag reflex. In fact, I can’t even eat certain foods because the texture makes me gag. This has kept me from the dentist. Now I have a pimple on my gums that is causing massive pain. My doctor said it was a dental issue. How can I get treatment for this if I pretty much gag until I vomit every time I go?

Cynthia

Dear Cynthia,

I’m glad you wrote. First, your doctor is right. That pimple on your gums means that you have an abscessed tooth. It’s infected. If left untreated, not only will it become a dental emergency, but it could also turn life-threatening. When people ignore tooth infections they spread. Even in the twenty-first century, we still have people die because the did not get their tooth infection dealt with.

What you don’t want to do is try to treat this with an antibiotic. It will not “cure” a tooth infection. The most it will do is hold it at bay until the medicine runs out and then it will return with vengeance. There are two treatments for an infected tooth: a root canal treatment or a tooth extraction.

The root canal treatment is the ideal because it saves not only your tooth, but the expense of having to get a tooth replacement, such as a dental implant.

Knowing that, of course, does not solve your problem. With a strong gag reflex, I suggest you see a sedation dentist. I do not think you need to see a dentist who wants to give you the type of sedation that will knock you out all day. Instead, I would use nitrous oxide. The is painlessly administered with a gas you’ll breath in with a nose piece (see the image above). Patients with gag reflexes have found this simple addition to their treatment to eliminate the problem. Then, when your procedure is over, your dentist can switch the nitrous back to oxygen and you are good to on with the remainder of your day as you please. You can even drive yourself home.

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

Lost a Tooth During Dental Sedation

Posted on October 11, 2022 by writeradmin.

I will start off by admitting I rely on dental sedation for pretty much everything except a cleaning. The ability to get work done without having fear is one of the reasons my teeth are in such good condition. I did have two years of unemployment and no insurance which caused me to miss my normal upkeep at the dentist. During this time I developed a cavity that my dentist said would need a dental crown. I’ve always trusted him and agreed without question.

I don’t know what actually happened during the appointment but I remember coming out of the fog of sedation at home and discovering instead of getting a dental crown, he’d pulled the tooth. I called the office and they said it was too far gone to save. Here are my questions. How did he not know that to begin with? Was he allowed to do that without my consent? Should he have to replace the tooth?

Debbie

Dear Debbie,

I am sorry this happened to you. I haven’t seen the x-rays your dentist did or examined you, so it is hard to say with certainty that he should have known, but generally a dentist can tell when a tooth cannot be saved. It’s possible he got in there and the decay underneath was much more extensive, but again, I haven’t seen the x-rays.

With dental sedation, there is a release you sign that says what procedure you agree to. I would ask to see the agreement you signed. In order for him to do work you didn’t agree to there would have to be something in the contract that says if something turns up during the procedure you give him permission to move forward. Without that, he could get into some trouble by extracting your tooth without your consent. If the tooth truly wasn’t saveable, then another option would be to give you a temporary crown so you are not at risk from anything jagged and consult with you when you were more lucid. Obviously, it would mean another appointment charge, but many patients would prefer that to losing a tooth without their consent.

As to whether he should pay for the tooth replacement, I would first ask him. If he says no, then ask for your x-rays and chart notes and take them to another dentist for a second opinion as to whether the tooth could be saved. You may want to go to a dentist in another city for your second opinion. Dentists know one another and one dentist may have trouble saying anything against a colleague he knows. If it turns out the tooth was extracted unnecessarily, then you will have a good case to get the replacement of your choice. I would replace it with a dental implant.

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

Options for Infected Teeth

Posted on September 12, 2022 by writeradmin.

I have two teeth that are infected. I went to see my dentist and he said that because these teeth have an abscess they need to be extracted and replaced. I hate the idea of extracting teeth unless it is absolutely necessary, but I am in a lot of pain. Do I have any other options?

Kelly

Dear Kelly,

I am sorry about your tooth infection. You definitely could have some options. The first thing I would do is get a second opinion. The typical solution for a tooth infection is to get a root canal treatment. I would first see if you can have that done first. This enables you to save your teeth. Some dentists are better than others at putting effort into saving teeth. When you have dentists who don’t care about saving teeth, they just go for the easiest solution.

If a root canal treatment is not possible and the teeth do need to be extracted, then I suggest you do it with a sedation dentist so it will be as anxiety-free/pain-free as possible for you. I would not put this off. If the infection is that bad, I would consider it an emergency appointment. You will also need to replace these teeth. That doesn’t have to be done right away. The infection is the priority. Once you are fully recovered from that it will be time to look into a replacement.

The top tooth replacement is a dental implant. I would look into that first. It will be the closest to having a natural tooth back.

Please get your second opinion as soon as possible.

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.

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.