Tooth Decay Treatment

Frequently Asked Questions

1. QUESTION:
   Severe tooth decay…can’t afford treatment. What can i do?
   This is really a 3 part question:

   1. I have a back molar that was temporarily filled about 2 years ago and was never finished. the filling came out awhile back, and now there is a quarter of my tooth completely gone, and the nerve is exposed. It is extrememely painful — i can hardly function, and with a 6 month old son to care for, i need to do something about it! What will need to be done?

   2. no matter what treatment i need, i probably can’t afford it. i have little to no money after bills, rent, and other necessary costs. Are there any programs in Arkansas that can help pay for treatment?

   okay, so it was a 2 part question….
   HELP!!
   i breastfeed… will treatment affect breastmilk? i know medications probably will.

   • ANSWER:
     You are going to need to have a root canal or have the tooth extracted. You are going to need to be put on antibiotics to clear up the infection. It is best to do the root canal and save the tooth but that is expensive. You should try to get into a dental school in your area and have them do the work for you . The students will be the one working on you under the supervision of a dentist but it is alot cheaper. Good Luck and I hope you feel better soon.

2. QUESTION:
   Does a tooth decay inside crown having no any leakage? If yes then what r the measures of it’s treatment?

   • ANSWER:
     A tooth may decay under a well fitting crown if decay begins at the margin where the crown meets the tooth. The decay will ten spread under the crown and begin to rot away the tooth. the only correction is to remove the crown, clean out the decay and hope it has not gotten into the pulp, requiring a root canal. the crown would then have to be remade.

3. QUESTION:
   Why does fluoride treatment render teeth more resistant to decay?
   A) Fluoride stimulates production of tooth enamel to replace that lost to decay.
   B) Fluoride converts hydroxyapatite to fluoroapatite that is less reactive with acids
   C) Fluoride reduces saliva production, keeping teeth drier and thus reducing decay.
   D) Fluoride kills the bacteria in the mouth that make the acids that decay teeth
   E) Fluoride dissolves plaque, reducing its decaying contact with teeth

   • ANSWER:
     B) The fluoride actually reacts with the tooth enamel to form a compound that is very similar but less vulnerable to dissolution in an acidic environment.

4. QUESTION:
   Is there any option other than general anaesthetic for 3 year old kid’s decay treatment ?
   My 3 year old son has couple of cavities. I took him to several dentists and they all say that at his age the tooth decays can be treated only under sedation. Which realy scares me.

   • ANSWER:
     Sedation is different than general anesthetic. It may consist of a pill to relax him. It may be nitrous oxide which will also relax him. Nitrous is the most common method to employ when working on a child this age. If the cavities are deep a local anesthetic may also be needed. Good luck

5. QUESTION:
   What is the prognosis under the NHS of root canal treatment for a decaying tooth?
   Are X-rays taken? does it hurt post-op? is it the skill of the dentist or the shape of your root canals? is the private treatment an expensive con?

   What does it feel like to have a bloody great hole where the tooth used to be?

   • ANSWER:
     Yes x-rays are taken to ensure that the canal has been cleaned. Shape of the canals rarely has anything to do with the treatment, usually skill. Private treatment would be exactly the same, the only difference would be the filling material used. A hole is made in the tooth so a fine needle like instrument can be insterted into the root canal. This is called a file it removes the nerve and shapes the canal. This is done for anything between 2 mins and 15 mins depending which tooth it is and how many canals there are, ie usually one canal for every root. Measurements are taken and then the canals are sealed using rubber needles covered with a healing cream. The filing is placed. This should not hurt during treatment and if it does let your dentist know so they can administer more anaesthetic. Post op it can be tender for a week or so, but eating away from that side will help. Pain can be subsided by takeing paracetamol.

6. QUESTION:
   What is the treatment needed for a tooth decaying at the gum line?
   Hello everyone. A couple months ago, my back right molar chipped a little at the gum line. It doesn’t hurt but it’s annoying because i’m constantly rubbing my tongue against it and thinking about it. I want to get it treated from the dentist. but i was just wondering what procedure would need to be done? thanks.

   • ANSWER:

7. QUESTION:
   My 3 year old daughter has severe tooth decay, what are the treatments, is there any risk???
   when she was 2 her dentist suggested her tooth to be taken out but i was too scared to go through with it, she was going to be hospitilized and there were risks. But its getting worse. i need suggestions, is there any other treatment??? does any of your kids went through this procedure. Thanks

   • ANSWER:
     Most likely they would assign a specialist paediatric anaesthetist, and as long as your child was normal and healthy, then the risks are insignificant, especially compared to the pain and trouble she’ll have if the teeth are not treated ASAP.
     Certainly, you should seek assistance from either the dentist or a dietician to find out why she has such decay, and to prevent it from happening again.
     Only the baby MOLARS are important for keeping spaces open for adult teeth. From a dental point of view, it is not necessary to save the front teeth at all costs. But in the end, it is up to the situation in the mouth that will determine what can be reasonably saved, and what should be removed.

8. QUESTION:
   what is the treatment for a dental crown that has fallen off due to tooth decay under the crown?
   when i was much younger i had a cavity in my left first molar and my dentist filled it with a metal filling. however a year or thereabouts the filling fell out leaving a gross hole, which worsened over time cause my mom took forever to make me an appointment. after an x-ray my dentist discovered that there was no permanent tooth under my gross tooth so he decided that the best way to fix it was by putting a crown on it. i dont know if they half assed it but now the crown fell off, im guessing because the tooth under the crown decayed and was to deteriorated to hold it on…

   i guess what im asking is how is this treated, how serious is this particular problem, how much will it cost, will it hurt, pretty much any info will help…

   • ANSWER:
     i just had this exact thing happen to me. my crown came off & i thought they could just put on another crown. but – my own tooth had rotted away under the crown & the only solution was an extraction. there is no other way.

     i did however, have a dental implant put in it’s place. don’t worry…they numb you so you will not feel a thing….but do expect an extraction.

     p.s. had mine done in India so the price won’t compare to what it would be here.

9. QUESTION:
   How does a dentist treat a decaying painful tooth? Will I get pain treatment because I can’t take this!!! ?
   I go very soon to the dentist. What will he do?

   • ANSWER:
     Tooth decay takes place in a tooth when the tooth’s enamel has been damaged or has dissolved, resulting in a hole or tooth cavity. Causes of tooth decay vary, but overall the damage is caused by bacteria living in the mouth as a result of poor dental hygiene. These bacteria eat the same food as we do and thrive on sugars in our food and drinks. These same bacteria release acids, responsible for the breakdown of minerals in our teeth.

     Mild and Severe Tooth Decay
     Depending on the seriousness of the tooth decay process, tooth decay needs different kinds of treatment. Holes formed by mild tooth decay are experienced by nearly every person, at least once in their life. The holes are filled by your dentist, and the tooth can be used again.
     Severe tooth decay might result in having the tooth capped with a crown, to protect the damaged part of the tooth. Root canal treatment is also an option. In root canal treatment the infected core of the tooth (the pulp) is removed, thus removing the infection inside the tooth. Extraction of the tooth is the last option if severe tooth decay has damaged the tooth to a point where it cannot be treated anymore.

     Types of Tooth Decay
     There are different typed of tooth decay as listed below

     Occlusal Caries
     Occlusal caries is a form of dental carries in fissures on the surface of the tooth that we use to chew food. This area is called the occlusal surface of the tooth. This process of tooth decay starts slowly and can remain unnoticed for over a year. The tooth is attacked by bacteria living on sugars and the enamel of the tooth is damaged.

     Facial Caries
     A late or untreated tooth decay process may lead to complications such as facial swelling and the passing on of pus coming from an infection in the mouth, to another area in the body, usually the face or a cavity in the facial area.

     If tooth decay, or caries, is not treated properly, it may lead to other painful side effects such as inflammation of the pulp inside the tooth and the bacteria in pus coming from infections could possibly spread to organs in the body.

     Signs and Symptoms of Tooth Decay
     Tooth decay can be identified by the various signs and symptoms mentioned as follows

     Halitosis
     Halitosis is another word for bad breath. The unpleasant smell that so many people suffer from comes from bacteria caused by decaying remnants of food in the mouth, causing caries. Tooth decay will cause bad breath and poor dental hygiene is another reason why people suffer from bad breath. The decaying food and bacteria produce a sulphur compound, causing bad breath

     Toothache
     One of the results of tooth decay can be a severe toothache. As tooth decay develops and remains untreated, an infection will occur in the soft tissue inside the tooth (the pulp). As the infection grows and pus is formed, you will experience a throbbing and very uncomfortable pain.

     Causes of Tooth Decay
     Tooth decay is caused by different reasons, but most of them stem from poor dental hygiene or neglect. Caries can take up to 7 years to cause a cavity in a tooth and can therefore go unnoticed for a long period of time. Tooth decay prevention is of the utmost importance, from a young age onwards. The most common causes for tooth decay are:

     Food Containing Carbohydrates
     Carbohydrates coming from sugars or foods high in starch content, leave traces on and in between teeth, and settle in cavities. They are broken down by bacteria, feeding on these sugars. Acids, created by the bacteria in this process, attack and damage the teeth, damaging them severely.
     Accumulation of Plaque and Bacteria
     Plaque contains up to 400 different kinds of bacteria, and starts to form on and in between teeth when bacteria and food and sugar remains are not effectively cleaned from the teeth. This accumulation of bacteria is one of the main causes of tooth decay, and will slowly break down the enamel of the tooth, after which it will attack the pulp in the tooth.

     People who suffer from diabetes are, due to ever changing blood sugar levels, more prone to dental caries. For these people it is overly important to take good care of the teeth and gums to prevent any accumulation of plaque.

     Treatment for Tooth Decay
     Tooth decay can be treated with the help of the following methods

     Dental Fillings
     When teeth show signs of cavities and dental caries, the decayed bone and pulp will be removed and replaced with dental fillings. These fillings can be made of porcelain, amalgam or even gold.

     Crowns
     If the tooth decay process has caused too much damage and there is no bone left to place a filling in the cavity, a crown (a cap) will be placed over the remainder of the damaged tooth.

     It goes without saying that a dentist will always try to keep the tooth as whole as possible. If the tooth is too far gone for a filling procedure, or even a crown, extraction is a last option.

     Do Treatments Preserve the Tooth?
     Treatment is aimed at preserving the tooth. Early treatment will be more succesful in saving a tooth, and expenses for early treatment will obviously cost less as there is less damage to repair. Local anesthetics are sometimes necessary, especially in the case of drilling in damaged teeth. Most dentists offer the possibility of anestesia with nitrous oxide, for those who are scared of dential treatments.
     Problems Caused By Untreated Tooth Decay
     Untreated decay in a tooth cavity could spread to other teeth and surrounding bone. The pulp in the tooth will be affected and this could cause more damage and possible loss of the tooth. The tooth or gums could get infected, resulting in bacteria possible spreading throughout the body of the patient, fever and loss of teeth.

     Prevention of Tooth Decay
     A good standard of oral hygiene is the best way to keep tooth decay at bay. Regular brusing, flossing and checkups with a dentist cannot be underestimated. Brushing the teeth after sweet snacks such as dried fruit or candy will help prevent the forming of plaque.

     Oral Hygiene
     The bad breath cause is sulphur-producing or anaerobic bacteria. This bacteria breed in the mouth, producing bad breath. However, there are other medical conditions that can lead to chronic breath. Knowing what causes bad breath is one of the first steps in dealing with bad breath.

     Use of Dental Sealants
     Dental sealants, thin layers of hard plastic applied to the crown of a tooth, are mostly apllied to childrens’ teeth after their teeth have developed properly. This procedure may also be applied to adults dealing with causes of tooth decay, such as diabetes patients. This thin protective layer will prevent bacteria from forming on the crown of the teeth, making it more difficult, if not impossible for bacteria to damage the tooth. If however dental hygiene is not up to scratch, tooth cavities may still be infected.

     As with nearly any dental problem, treatment is available but prevention of decay problems is obviously best. No snacks in between meals, a very low sugar intake and regular brushing will make you lees susceptible to attacks by the bacteria that causes tooth decay.

10. QUESTION:
    Should I get this tooth extracted or go for the root canal treatment?
    I am 47 and have had lots of trouble with my teeth, including two root canal treatments and numerous caps already. I now have deep decay in a lower molar which is starting to give me pain. My dentist has advised me that I require root canal. I am now seriously considering having the tooth extracted instead and getting an implant. Is this a sensible thing to do?

    • ANSWER:
      When possible, it is always best to retain teeth instead of extracting. Should you choose to extract, you will need to hold the space, and depending on which tooth was removed your options will vary. Implants are one way to go, or you may be able to get a bridge. But be sure to do something should you go the extraction route because if you don’t, your teeth will shift causing poor alignment and potential TMJ troubles in addition to chewing and speaking properly.

11. QUESTION:
    I have decay under a long ago capped tooth. What are the options for treating it and the prognosis ?
    I am elderly and have been told there’s decay under a cap in a back tooth. Can I leave it unattended for period of time? If not, what is the most cost effective treatment option- I’ve been offered a root canal followed by restorative work, but it apparently will cost a few thousand dollars… At my age and on fixed income this seems excessive to me..

    • ANSWER:
      If you have a cavity under the cap, they have to remove the cap. I had that done, otherwise you will loose the tooth. I live in L.A. CA and I paid about 0.00. I don’t know why you have to have a root canal. Seek a second opinion, some dentist let you pay little by little.

12. QUESTION:
    Is it possible to place a crown/cap on the molar without root canal treatment?
    I’ve a lower molar which was already filled many years ago. There is no pain or trouble at this moment, but as it does not look nice because of the fillings and to prevent further or future decay. Crowning is said to prevent or protect from future decay of the tooth. Is it good to place a crown on it, can I skip the root canal treatment since there is no pain or trouble on the tooth at this moment??? Will it give any trouble in future and for many years down the road, if there is no root canal treatment on the tooth???

    Also, drinking cola and sugary beverages (like hot chocolate, milk & cereal, which usually have sugar content) are bad for teeth as these often causes the tooth decay. Will rinsing the mouth with tapwater (without brushing as no food intake) prevent the decay?? (I do at least 2 brushings and 1 flossing per day, however, I do need to take these beverages in between meals).

    Will anyone please give good suggestion and advice. Thanking you in advance.

    • ANSWER:
      Sure it is possible to place a crown on a tooth that has not had a root canal. Probably more of my crowns are on vital teeth than those tha thave had root canal treatment.

13. QUESTION:
    Will tooth filing make them more susceptible to decay?
    My orthdontist filed BETWEEN some bottom teeth to help them close as the final step in orthodontic treatment. I told him NO and he did it anyway. : ( : ( Ive been freaking out and crying all day. Will the filing make them more susceptible to decay. I really do not notice any difference in the teeth but i worry that the structure was compromised and i feel awful. Did anyone else experience anything similiar?

    • ANSWER:
      Slightly yes, thinning of the enamel equals less area for a cavity to break though. If you floss properly you shouldn’t have too many problems. Also, watch your diet and avoid frequent snacking and soda drinking or any frequent drinking throughout the day fo anything not sugar free.

14. QUESTION:
    what will ultimately happen if i dont get treatment for my decayed teeth?
    I have about 7 teeth in my mouth that are really bad off they are decayed and i’ve had terrible pain that ends up going away after about a week then the tooth gets numb, one has broken off all the way… all of them are back teeth

    • ANSWER:
      The tooth will die and eventually fall out. This will mean that the opposing tooth will overerupt and eventually fall out. Teeth behind the missing tooth will fall forward and also eventually fall out. Also, if you don’t have teeth, you won’t be able to chew your food. Poor dental hygiene leads to bone loss in the jaw and you may think that you can just wear dentures, but if you have radical bone loss, there is nothing to put the dentures on.

      Poor dental hygiene has been linked to heart disease, although not much is known about this yet.

15. QUESTION:
    Treatment for cracked tooth? Help!?
    Below are my symptoms that was diagnosed as cracked tooth on my first upper molar

    1) No visible signs of cracks/tooth decay upon physical examination
    2) X-rays do not show up anything unusual (for eg no abscess, no signs of
    cracks, no tooth decay)
    3) Pain when bite
    4) Tooth is sensitive to cold
    5) Light can only pass through half/one side of the molar (upon shining the luminous blue torch light,)

    What are the alternative treatments other than root canal/crowning?
    If light can only pass through half/one side of the molar (upon shining the luminous blue torch light,) does it really that the tooth is cracked? or it can be due to other causes?
    i also gotten periodic sharp pain on teeth, tho’ its not persistant. Would i be able to avoid root canal and just do a crowning?

    • ANSWER:
      That’s a pretty good description that you give. Depending on how much the root canal is affected (how sensitive to cold it is), you may not need the root canal treatment. However I would still recommend a crown for sure… I know of no other good treatments for this kind of thing besides a crown. A basic rule of thumb regarding cold sensitivity on teeth: if you get cold on it, but then you take the cold off, and the tooth continues to be irritated… if the tooth continues to be irritated for 10 seconds or longer, that is often an indication that the tooth will need a root canal (usually at this point, the tooth just continues to get more and more sensitive until it turns into a toothache). If the tooth is irritated for less than 10 seconds, lots of times it will get better [For other readers, this is in regards to a cracked tooth without caries...don't use this rule of thumb for other types of cold sensitivity.]. This would be monitored over time. In your case, if cold sensitivity was borderline, my recommendation probably would be to do a temporary crown in to see if the sensitivity got better. If it did not, I would recommend a root canal. If it did get better I would just do the crown.

      I suppose an alternate treatment would be a full coverage silver filling (amalgam), but even with this the crack could continue to propagate and you could still end up losing the tooth. And just so you know, there isn’t a 100% guarantee that the crown will work… much depends on how far the crack has gone. The sooner you do the crown the better chance that the crack will not run all the way through the tooth in the long run. Best wishes.

      PS the other answer is also correct…Extracting the tooth is an option. An implant may also be an option depending on the location and the amount of bone available.

16. QUESTION:
    My 2 year old possibly has baby bottle tooth decay, early stages?
    Ever since his front teeth had settled into his mouth, he had light brown stains on about 4 of his top teeth. I would scratch at them and they do not go away. My mother suggested for me to wait, and because it was his baby teeth that the staining wouldn’t effect his adult teeth later.
    Well, after I had moved out on my own, my son started taking his bottle with him to bed. I honestly did not think it was an issue, or lead to problems with his teeth! (Please no mean comments, we brush his teeth 2 times a day..) Well, I just noticed the other day, that he started having this little HOLE in the middle of one of his front top teeth The staining is still there, and I am so worried. Anyway, we have Tricare insurance for him because his Dad is in the Army. I was wondering has anyone had treatment done for baby bottle teeth decay? Also, how much did Tricare cover and what will I expect at the doctor’s office?
    Thanks!

    • ANSWER:

17. QUESTION:
    I have braces and the band (metal ring ) is on the tooth with the big decay inside?
    do I need to stop my orthodontic treatment because of the root canal treatment that I need. will that extend the time of the ortho treatment?
    My dentist drilled a whole and put some medication in my tooth until the next appointment and she prescribed some other antibiotics?
    I usually avoid medicine I am very healthy and never needed medicines
    so do I really need to drink those. She said it is necessary to prevent infection.

    • ANSWER:
      yes, you do need them, and take the whole prescribed amount even if you feel fine. There should not be a delay in your ortho. infection of the mouth is very important to take care of…think of how close it is to your brain! take care of yourself!

18. QUESTION:
    Tooth decay but healthy gums!!!?
    I have always, always had to have some form of dental treatment or other for bad/decaying teeth. Ever since I can remember, my teeth are practically all filled or crowned or bridged. My sisters and brother have perfectly good, strong healthy teeth. I have not neglected my teeth and if anything I am paranoid about my oral hygiene. How can my teeth be so bad but my gums healthy?? I hate going to the dentist as I am embarrassed about my heavily restored mouth. I am only 36, so not too old. Why is this? And are my gums healthy because I try to look after my teeth? .

    • ANSWER:
      Perhaps your enamel has been weakened. This can occur from certain foods (very acidic). You could very well have healthy gums and just weak enamel. Don’t be embarrassed. Better late than never, and you’re going to have a great set of teeth when you are done!

19. QUESTION:
    Why don’t we galvanise teeth to prevent tooth decay?
    Tooth decay occurs when acid created by bacteria feeding on sugars eats away at the enamel of teeth. Well they had a similar problem with metal dustbins years ago, and a process called galvanisation was used to stop it. This is where a slightly reactive metal, normally zinc, is used to coat the dustbin, and then any acids will eat the zinc, not the underlying metal of the dustbin.
    So why not offer a treatment where microscopic pieces of zinc are fired into the surface of teeth, so having the same effect?

    The treatment could be repeated every few years.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galvanize

    • ANSWER:
      I’m not too sure about galvanising teeth but when my kids were younger the dentist painted a protective coating on to their new adult teeth. To this day it is still there (obviously its clear and not noticeable at all) and both my kids have no cavities, fillings or problems whatsoever. Their teeth look great.

      Perhaps this is the kind of idea you mean.

20. QUESTION:
    I was betting with my friend about the tooth decay?
    I told him: I bet you can kill those ugly germs and stop further infection by simply brushing your teeth (I told him there’s no need for dentist treatment) because I thought that toothpaste invades your tooth and annihilates the tooth decay problem. And he said: I bet that I’m gonna need the treatment. Who will win? I think that toothpaste can cure the rotten tooth after all, and if not, at least it can kill the problem inside. Am I right? Professional dentists will say and explain it better. Please give your opinion.

    I’m waiting for my money from that fella (if I was right)
    also, he would like to know some other thing, since he doesn’t have internet access he asked me to ask you: would caries strike again the same tooth that was treated with amalgam or some other things before?
    so far, I have a good chance of losing my money, but at least I’ve learned something, more answers from other people are welcome

    • ANSWER:
      unfortunately if the tooth is decayed, toothpaste is not going to stop or reverse the problem. I remember the crest commercial where he takes the eraser and says that brushing with this toothpaste will stop tooth decay. well……..you are sort of both right it just depends how far along the cavity is. If it is just starting, very small (on a dental film of your teeth – the decay will not have penetrated the enamel layer) than the job of using toothpaste that is fluorinated, is to stop the cavity from progressing by re-mineralizing the very small cavity that is starting to form. BUT if the cavity has entered the dentin layer (a bigger cavity) than, like I said, no amount of brushing with toothpaste will help!

      hope i helped – I will check back soon to see if you have anymore questions that I may be able to help with:)

      teeth are funny things. you have to remember that they are multi-sided. so if someone has a filling in one part of the tooth (white or amalgam) say for a bottom tooth, top and front (in between – touching the tooth in front) they can get a cavity on the back side between the 2 teeth. Flossing is so important to keep the in between parts clean. A tooth brush can’t get in there! so to answer his ? yes you can get a new cavity on the same tooth.
      the other thing to think about with fillings is that no matter how good the dentist is or how good the filling material is, there is always a microscopic space between the filling and the natural tooth. Bacteria can start to form a cavity in theses spaces over time. yes brushing and flossing will help immensely, but a filling doesn’t cure the cavity, you still have to maintain the tooth! lol just like doing oil changes in your car, kinda have to do it for the car to run its best!!

21. QUESTION:
    Reversing tooth decay and capping?
    What exactly is reversing tooth decay? I heard that their are fluoride treatments at the dentist office that can reverse minor decay, but what is considered minor?

    I won’t lie, my teeth do have some decay to them due to the fact I ate a whole bunch of crap when I was a teenage and didn’t care about it, but I wouldn’t say they were “really” bad, there okay.

    Any capping, what is this exactly, can you make caps to go over the decay on the teeth?

    Thank you!

    • ANSWER:
      The tooth has several layers. The outer layer is enamel, the middle layer is dentin and the internal section is the pulp where the nerve is located. Reversible decay only extends into the enamel layer and has not yet reached dentin. Once reaching dentin it spreads and requires more significant treatment. If the decay reaches the pulp this leads the indication of a root canal (which cleans the damaged nerve out the pulp chamber).

      If decay is visible on a radiograph only in enamel, flouride treatment and increased oral hygiene can reverse the decay, but not necessarily all the time. Its a bacterial tug of war–ridding the bacteria with oral hygiene and remineralizing the tooth with flouride will definetely put the odds in your favor. The fluoride is incorporated into the enamel which is amazingly is a bit stronger than typical/original enamel chrystals. The fluoridate chrystals are better at resisting further decay.

      As far as fluoride treatment goes there are several options. There is over the counter fluoride rinses (ACT) and of course most toothpastes. There are much higher strength fluorides available by perscription from a dentist including high strength rinses and toothpastes. There is also fluoride treatment in a foam that you probably? had when you were a child or your children should recieve now.

      Regarding your question on capping I’m not really sure what you mean. If you are refering to a crown for your tooth this is only done if the decay is severe and the tooth doesn’t have the strength to withstand biting forces as a result of the decay removal. It wouldn’t be indicated for minor decay.

      My suggestion is to ask your dentist for a perscription of high fluoride toothpaste (Prevadent) and use it frequently (2+ times a day). You can kill two birds with one stone–increased oral hygiene and increased fluoride. Not only will this reverse current decay but it will prevent future decay at other locations.

      Good Luck.

22. QUESTION:
    minor tooth decay?
    is it possible to reverse minor tooth decay? its visible on the x-ray but its not very dark. i doubt its on the enamal because it was on the center(inner part). i didnt ask my dentist because obviously he wants my money so he would have probably said that there is no other solution besides treatment, or maybe im just cynical. he said i needed a small filling and thats it. is there any way to stop/reverse this so that i wont have to back? im always suspicious of professionals telling me i need extra work done for something when i really dont.

    • ANSWER:
      No, once the tooth starts to decay you cannot stop it. You must have it fixed ASAP or it will get worse.

      I had not been to a dentist in 12 years, I had to have 4 teeth pulled and sever other’s fixed, and 3 crowns. My gums were perfect because i brushed and flossed, thank GOD! My husband lost ALL of his teeth!!

      I will never ever let my dental care go that long again. I spent a lot of time in that dental chair fixing this mess I made by not having the teeth fixed in the first place.

      If a small filling is all you need, GO, get it done!!

23. QUESTION:
    How does your dentist treat tooth decay?
    I went to a dentist a week ago for the first time in years. I had expected to remove decayed material with a drill or something, but she simply applied fluoride varnish on my teeth and that was all. I felt it was too easy because the lesions were not at all small (she said so, too), so I asked her about the treatment and how the fluoride varnish was working. I understood her explanation, but was still doubtful.

    I learned after that on the Internet that fluoride varnish is used to prevent tooth decay, can only cure an early stage of decay, and is mostly applied to young children. I don’t think my case is one of them.

    And yesterday, when I asked her about what I’d learned, she said
    “believe it or not, in overseas countries this is the main method to cure tooth decay”
    Honestly I can’t believe her words as well as her treatment
    and I’ve already determined to go to another dentist.
    So, just out of curiosity, please tell me if her words are true or not.
    I live in Japan by the way.

    Sorry for my poor English and thanks for reading.

    • ANSWER:
      IN THE USA WE TREAT DECAY BY DRILLING FROM THE TOOTH AND PUTTING IN A FILLING
      THE VARNISH, CALLED A SEALANT, IS PLACED ON A PERFECT TOOTH TO PREVENT DECAY ON TOP OF THE TOOTH.

24. QUESTION:
    How much will it cost to get a dental treatment in switzerland? Including amalgam restoration.?
    I am feeling pain with my tooth and maybe it’s decayed or it’s a problem with the nerves because I am having pain on the tooth i already had treatment a month ago. So how much would it cost for
    treating decayed tooth plus amalgam restoration, and dental nerve treatment in switzerland

    • ANSWER:
      Dental treatment with filling about 500 swiss francs upwards

25. QUESTION:
    Will wearing braces accelerates tooth decay?
    I am 25 and my teeth are always bad since I was young. A month ago I want to make my teeth look better. I went to see a dentist and he suggested me to do deep clean ( which cost 0 total). He did a Xray and he found that I have a lot of teeth decay (15 surfaces). At that time I told him i would like to fix those in really bad consition and do others when I have insurance. He did 7 teeth filling and I think he did a great job (0). Now he strongly recommend that I need to fix the rest of the teeth with minor decay before I have braces….

    Do you think braces will accelerate tooth decay? Should I listen to him or just go ahead to get my braces? I really want to have my braces as soon as possible. He told me my treatment time will be 1.5 – 2 years.

    Any opinion would be appreciated.
    Thanks!

    • ANSWER:

26. QUESTION:
    I have to see a dentist but I don’t know which one to visit?
    I have a double tooth and it really hurts when I chew something and foods get stuck so I am guessing that I have a tooth decay. The double tooth is located right beside the upper back tooth and it looks roughly like this:

    ….0000
    ..0………0
    .0………..0
    00………..0
    .0…………0

    The foods easily get stuck in between and it is hard to brush that area (and it is painful and looks bad) so I am thinking about pulling one of those two teeth out and getting a tooth decay treatment.

    So my question is where should I go to fix my teeth? Should I visit a orthodontist? General dentist? Or some other? I have no idea. (never visited a dentist for the past 7 years)

    • ANSWER:
      I would go and see a general dentist first. You will need x-rays and a cleaning as well as an exam. If you need work that the dentist cannot do then they will refer you to a specialist. The way I found a dentist when I moved to the US is I asked people which dentist they used. I didn’t want to choose a dentist out of the phone book.

27. QUESTION:
    If a tooth fully decays except the root — what are the patients options for treatment?

    • ANSWER:
      You could have a root canal, build up, and a crown. You could opt to have it extracted and if replaced go with an implant or fixed bridge.

28. QUESTION:
    what home remedy or medicine can i use for my 23 months old daugher for the bottle tooth decay?
    my daughter is 23 mons old and she had the habbit of sleeping with the bottle at the night…but a months back i noticed some chalky lines on her teeth and i found out that it is bottle tooth decay, i took her to the dentist he said tht i have to take her to the ped dentist and the treatment would be done after putting her to sleep…filing or whatever and her pediatric dr said that she is too young for this..and said to wait and brush her teeth and all….but i am so worried that her teeth might get ruined and it would spread no reduce….plz can any one help me find a solutin which is easy and not pain full?? i need your help plzz!!

    • ANSWER:
      As pretty much everyone else has already stated, no home remedy is going to help this situation. The chalky lines you’re talking about are not reversible as it is already decay. Also, I’m sure your dentist has looked around your daughter’s mouth and some areas probably have more decay (cavities) then you’ve noticed.

      You need to stop giving her the bottle ASAP at night, unless it’s only with water. Otherwise the decay can get even worse, start going to the root, and she will probably need some of her baby teeth removed.

      Removing baby teeth at such a young age (way before the teeth are ready to fall out) is very bad for the development of her adult teeth. Her baby teeth could start shifting positions, which would cause problems when the adult teeth are forming and trying to come into their correct position. This means crowding is a high possibility of her adult teeth (meaning she’ll need braces when she’s older). Also, she’s supposed to have her baby teeth for another 4 years at least, and if you leave them with the decay there (let’s just assume that somehow you were lucky enough not to need root canals or teeth pulled before that) then when her adult teeth start to form there’s a chance they will have decalcification and lines and discolouration on them because baby teeth have an effect on adult teeth formation. If the baby teeth are unhealthy or if she’s systemically unhealthy (which is possible because she could get infections from these baby teeth) then it has a direct effect on her adult teeth giving them problems.

      I know you’re worried about her now which is understandable, but the sooner you get her situation under control the less problems you will have in the future, which as I’m sure you’ve been reading there are higher chances for MANY problems. If you take her to a pedo dentist and he puts her to sleep it will be pretty painless now anyways because I’m sure they’ll use laughing gas to get her to sleep first, then they’ll do the fillings.

      You really need to take care of this now though. No home remedies will fix this problem at all.

      EXCERPT FROM A WEBSITE:
      “Baby teeth are important to a child for chewing and biting food, making a good smile, and speaking. However, the most important function of baby teeth is that they are holding space in the mouth for upcoming permanent teeth.

      The first baby tooth erupts around 6 to 8 months of age, and usually all 20 baby teeth are erupted by the age of 2 or 2-and-a-half. Early loss of baby teeth can cause blocked eruption, drifting, crooking and crowding of the permanent teeth.

      A child who prematurely loses baby teeth will have a very high chance of needing braces in the future. If an abscess or infection occurs around baby teeth with ECC, it may affect the development of the underlying permanent teeth.”

      Please read these websites, it will help explain everything as well. Or just search on google for “early childhood caries” or “baby bottle syndrome”

      http://www.cosmetic-dentistry-center.com/PPF/Parameters/101_357_/cosmetic-dentistry-center.asp

      http://www.umanitoba.ca/outreach/wisdomtooth/baby.htm

      http://cudental.creighton.edu/HTM/bottlcav.htm

29. QUESTION:
    Do Fluoride-related products and dentist treaments reverse tooth decay?
    Will fluoride products/dentist treatments remineralize some of my lost enamel do to decay?

    • ANSWER:
      Nope, they can only prevent future problems!

30. QUESTION:
    Very minor tooth decay – Will I need anesthetic?
    I went to the dentists yesterday and they told me I have a very, very minor bit of decay on one of my back teeth and that I will need a filling to correct it… I have never ever had anything done to my teeth in my life (I’m 25) so this is my first bit of dental treatment.

    I am ABSOLUTELY petrified of needles. Seriously, to the point where I’m physically sick and sometimes feel weak and pass out with fear before hand… it’s awful… So you can imagine my shock when I learned that injections are involved when having a filling!!

    What I want to know, if possible, is if I will actually need an injection for such a small cavity/filing? It is so small that it wasn’t even picked up until I had my x-rays. Will it be really painful without anesthetic?! or would I be able to manage it with just some numbing gel on my gums?>

    HELP!

    • ANSWER:
      To put a filling in your tooth, the dentist has to drill out the decay first. That would be very painful without any numbing agent.

      As for the injections, does it help if you don’t look at the needle? You could close your eyes before they do it, and they usually put a gel on your gums to numb them a bit before they use the novocaine. It just feels like a little prick. Trust me, much better than dealing with the pain of the drill. The gel won’t be sufficient for the drilling, it only numbs the surface nerves, and the drilling will hit deeper nerves than that.

      Another option could be gas. Some dentists have gas they can use to put you out, so you aren’t awake during the procedure.

31. QUESTION:
    What is the best treatment of teeth on a man with decaying teeth from no brushing?
    man early 30′s with completely decaying teeth

    • ANSWER:
      Go start brushing your teeth now.

      Actually no, go to your dentist. They’ll give you your fillings, and if the decays are deep, that will kill. So good luck to you. Your teeth are one of the most important part of your body! Sheesh.. how are you going to teach your kids I don’t even wanna know.

      You’re going to have to get fake teeth when you get older now.

32. QUESTION:
    What does it mean if the tooth is said to have lost part of its bone?
    How can one tell if a tooth has lost some of its bone??? From its gum? Or any other symptons?
    For what reason would the tooth lost its bone? How can this be improved? Is it possible for the tooth to undergo root canal treatment later?
    There is no decay or cavity on the tooth and it is not shaking. A little waggy or pain sometime. Can this be improved through brushing?
    Anyone who know or have this knowledge, please kindly advise.
    Thank you very much.

    • ANSWER:
      loss of bone around the tooth is next stage of gingivitis ..called pericoronities..deep scaling has to done .u must do daily compulsory gum massage over the area…

33. QUESTION:
    What do you think about Tooth capping ?
    In my view, tooth capping is for beautiful smiles for three reasons.
    First, it solves for abnormal teeth. Tooth crowding can be repaired. Abnormal teeth is cause to decrease the people’s confidence. Second, the result of orthodontic treatment can improve dental health. You can brush and clean easier. Moreover, not tooth decayed because brush the teeth not thoroughly. Finally, it is helpful for beautiful teeth and confidence. I am confident to smile and enchance the quality of life.
    In conclusion, Tooth capping is for beautiful smiles because it easy to clean the teeth and solve for abnormal teeth.

    • ANSWER:
      We love it at my office. It is a great fix for teeth.

34. QUESTION:
    Does medicare in Australia cover the dental treatment?
    I have tooth decay and need to fix that. will medicare cover for that.

    • ANSWER:
      Medicare cover just about everything except dental unfortunately

35. QUESTION:
    if the inside of my tooth is soft is it decay?
    My doctor said I have a big decay inside of my tooth by showing the texture which was soft. She drilled a big whole and she said that the soft thing coming out of my tooth is the decay and that I need root canal treatment and a crown’
    is it really not normal when it is soft? she said it has to be firm and solid.
    I would like to know when exactly do I need a crown and how much is the crown
    how many visits do I need to complete that root canal treatment/ crown?
    thank you
    P.S>I really hope I don’t have those big decays anywhere else on my teeth
    couldn’t I just do the fillings instead of the crown?
    Thank you all for the answers
    My dentist prescribed me antibiotics but I feel side effects like stomach ache and kind of dizziness
    what should I do? have to drink the whole thing in ten days three times a day
    I already feel bad

    • ANSWER:
      Your tooth should be firm and strong, and not soft. If your dentist already drilled a hole, then you can either put in a filling or get a crown. If the hole is big, you should get a crown. A crown protects a tooth from basically shattering, because if you have a big hole, there is less “tooth” material and the tooth can easily break when you chew. Also, if you have a big hole, your tooth can start hurting because the nerve may be exposed or become pretty close to being exposed. You may not be able to drink hot or cold liquids.

      There are several steps to getting a crown. First they will do a root canal. They just take screws and remove the roots inside your tooth all the way to the gum. Then, they will put ina temporary filling. At this time, they make take an indentation of your tooth so they get a crown that fits propertly. The next time you come in, they will check to see that everything is fine by taking an x-ray, and if it is, they put the crown on. They may ask you to come once after that to see if everything is fine.

      Root canals cost about 500 bucks and crowns cost 800 bucks without insurance.

36. QUESTION:
    how fast can your tooth decay?
    I was at the dentist for root canal treatment in December 2009, in mid January i started getting a few pains from the tooth beside the one i had gotten work done on, i mean, the gap inbetween the two teeth. Well i thought nothing of it and now it’s sore, the gap inbetween the two teeth seem bigger and it’s more sensitive, so i’m going to phone up on Monday morning to get it seen too, but i’m just curious, why didn’t my dentist see this problem before? I didn’t realise that a cavity can happen as quick as that? I don’t eat much chocolate crisps or fizzy drinks of such, infact i hardly have any of them.

    • ANSWER:
      It can happen that quickly i have been at the out of hours dentist today i had a filling on monday last night i have a cavity so i thought right next to were the tooth was filled

      the dentists said today as i needed root canal treatment that it was probably there but so small it could not be picked up and now its got bigger and that is why you have the pain

37. QUESTION:
    Help me please! I need info about tooth decay in toddlers!?
    My daughter is 21 months and still breastfeeding during the night. At her last fluoride treatment, the nurse says her back top molars are decaying, and that is from breastfeeding! She says we have to go to the dentist, and that scares the heck out of me because I don’t know what they’ll have to do to her! Has anyone been through this, or have any advice for me? I feel so guilty, and like I’m a horrible mother!

    • ANSWER:
      I went through this and am currently going through this again. At a year and a bit my daughter was still breastfeeding in bed with me, when I noticed a brown spot on the back on one of her upper front teeth.

      We immediately made an appointment with a dentist that specializes in Children (I greatly encourage this). The cavity was confirmed and they even found a second one. They gave her a liquid sedative (that she hated) and fixed the two small cavities they found while I held her hand and the dentist instructed us to tell her what a good girl she was being. They were fantastic. I would avoid going to offices that use papooses and HOM (hand over mouth) to restrain children. They are terrifying. You want it to be as pleasant as possible especially when you know there is going to be discomfort involved.

      The dentist said breastfeeding was great and his wife fed his children until they were two. He told me to stop feeding in bed just feed her and put her in her crib (or sleep with a top on if you co-sleep to prevent latching) and to rinse her mouth out with water using a medicine dropper after the nighttime feeds. A couple of months later we felt she was ready to stop breast feeding and did. We have been diligent with teeth ever since, but unfortunately new cavities have been formed that are most likely to prolonged nighttime feeding slowly softening her already predisposed teeth.

      I just want to say, that the worst thing you can do is wait because the cavities will only get deeper. Forget the guilt all you can do is move forward. A lot of kids are given milk at night and many of them will never get a cavity during their preschool years.

      If you’re in Ontario I know there are resources to help families with low incomes and no health insurance pay for “emergency dental treatment” including cavities. It is called the CINOT program

38. QUESTION:
    Dental caries, tooth decay: Define and causes… (easy 10 points!)?
    Hey there I have an assignment on Dental Caries. Here are the questions:

    1)Definition and the causes

    2)Symptoms

    3)HOW DIET CAN BE EFFECTIVE IN PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF THE DISEASE.

    I am just trying to get more ideas to help me out. Thank you so much! bestt detailed answer get an easy 10p :) ty!!!

    • ANSWER:
      Pretty much all there is to say to the topic:

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dental_caries

39. QUESTION:
    In my view, tooth capping is for beautiful smiles for three reasons.?
    In my view, tooth capping is for beautiful smiles for three reasons.
    First, it solves for abnormal teeth. Tooth crowding can be repaired. Abnormal teeth is cause to decrease the people’s confidence. Second, the result of orthodontic treatment can improve dental health. You can brush and clean easier. Moreover, not tooth decayed because brush the teeth not thoroughly. Finally, it is helpful for beautiful teeth and confidence. I am confident to smile and enchance the quality of life.
    In conclusion, Tooth capping is for beautiful smiles because it easy to clean the teeth and solve for abnormal teeth.

    • ANSWER:
      I’m glad that you’ve come to this definite conclusion through pleasant experience

40. QUESTION:
    Should root canal treatment be done on the support teeth for a bridge?
    I have a missing molar on both upper sides. In neither case is there enough bone for an implant, so bridges are needed – given my nocturnal grinding problems, I’ve been advised to get them sooner rather than later (bridges would also deal with my main sites of decay recurrence and filling dislodgment). I’m now in Argentina and able to get them done very cheaply, with a dentist I’m comfortable with. However, he plans to do root canal treatment on the teeth that will be the supports of the bridge; he says it’s for practical reasons, to facilitate the work overall. I’ve spoken to two dental surgeries back in Australia, and in both cases they say it is better to leave the support teeth alive (eg to avoid later brittleness), and only to do root canal if there is a problem with those teeth. Do you have any view as to whether it is indeed a bad idea to remove the nerves unnecessarily? Or is it a way of reducing the chance of future decay/pain problems in the teeth within the bridge? Thanks!

    • ANSWER:
      I see no reason for doing the root canals on perfectly normal teeth. If they were to need them later, the bridge won’t be in the way; they’ll take it out while working on the root canals.

      The ONLY logic I see to this is if the dentist is going to put in screw-and-post crowns after the root canal, which *might* be stronger than the teeth. That’s where they put a threaded anchor piece into the jawbone at the tip of the root, then screw the crown down using that anchor. This might make sense, given you’ve mentioned not enough bone for implants.

41. QUESTION:
    Has anyone had FACIAL SWELLING caused by INFECTION due to TOOTH Decay/ ABSCESS?
    i have terrible facial swelling, because of a root canal treatment that was most likely not done properly, and the area is infected which resulted in my face ballooning up. i needed antibiotics which are working…very slowly, but i would like to know is has anyone had to deal with a problem like this ?
    i think i’m going to have to go back to the emergency room, even though the swelling went down a little i’m still in a lot of pain and this morning (Wednesday) i woke up and there was a little swelling by my throat.
    i thank you all for your advice.

    • ANSWER:
      The other people has answered you to see your dentist again, and you really should! If the antibiotics seems to work that’s all right, but if it works very very slowly, or if it doesn’t seem to get much better you need to do something about it. As long as it’s in the face it’s painful, but if it spreads to your neck area it can really start to become dangerous. So, don’t be too patient about this!!
      Best wishes…
      ..B – Dental student

42. QUESTION:
    Root Canal Treatment results in blacken tooth?
    I had a root canal treatment on my left front tooth before, it was due to an infection from a decay in between the two front teeth, that was roughly 2-3 years ago. And now that I wanted to get braces, the dentist found out that my right front tooth has abscess gum. The dentist told me that if I want to have braces, I have to first get rid of that problem via root canal. The problem is, after I had root canal a few years ago my left front tooth gotten slightly black. This then resulted in uneven color and hence making me too ashamed to smile. I kinda regretted doing it, but I had no choice.

    So if I were to have root canal treatment and after that braces done, after roughly 2.5years, both my front teeth will be slightly black. Whitening can only be done only getting braces. So should I still go for root canal treatment? My mother wants to stall for time and look for other alternatives such as chinese medicine to cure my abscess gum even though the dentist told her there’s no other way. She believes that the dentist just wants to cheat us of our money and seeing how desperate I want to get braces, she urges me to get root canal treatment.

    My question here: Do you think that root canal will be good? Are there really no other way to cure an abscess gum? Also, is it true root canal treatment will result in a black tooth? I know they are dead, but since so many people go for root canal treatment like no biggie, as if it’s a common procedure. Do they not have the black tooth?

    Please help me, I really love to smile and I hate it when people point out to me and ask why do I have a discolored tooth.

    • ANSWER:
      You can also have the tooth bleached internally. The stain comes from inside the tooth, so external bleaching (whitening) will have little effect. Dentists can also bleach the tooth from the inside out to bring the color back to normal. Talk to your dentist about it.

      As for needing the root canal, if there’s an abscess that the dentist sees, you need to get it done. Alternative medicine will not help you.

43. QUESTION:
    Treatment to avoid decay?
    When I was 11 (or earlier), my dentist applied a treatment to my molars and pre-molars to avoid the formations of cavities and decay. Does anyone know what this might have been? I know that it was a substance placed on/in the teeth, and was hardened with a UV lamp. The substance was tooth coloured.

    Any ideas?
    At the time, I was told by the dentist that it would need re-doing in a few years. I’m now 16 – is it something that I should get done, or leave it? (I have one filling, and will probably need another next time I visit the dentist)

    • ANSWER:
      SEALANTS!!!!!! They are a clear or whitish colored coating on the biting surfaces, especially in the grooves and they do wear thin or can pop off over time.
      If you have a cavity or a filling already sealants for those teeth are not recommended , they are only done on virgin (no cavity) teeth. (or pinhole cavities at the most)
      At the age of 16 years your insurance may not cover, if you have insurance. They are great protection for cavity-free teeth and are worth the investment.

44. QUESTION:
    a crown on post with part decay (should i wait for treatment)?
    recently i went to my dentist to have two crowns fitted, while i was there i acknowledged to him that i had concerns about a front tooth which was a crown with a post. i told him that i had a bad taste from the tooth when i flossed around the gum area of it. with that he decided to give me an xray which stated that in factthere was a bit of decay at the part of the root which meets the crown.However because i just had two crwns fitted I felt that he did not want to give me more treatment because i am in receipt of benefits. He told me to book an appointment to come back and have it sorted in six months. Do you think i should wait that long? what if the decay enlarges dramatically, i could lose my tooth im sure ?? should i go to another dentist ???

    • ANSWER:
      I don’t know what you mean when you say “However because i just had two crowns fitted I felt that he did not want to give me more treatment because i am in receipt of benefits. ” I personally would not wait 6 months to have this attended to. It could make the difference of whether or not the tooth can be saved. good luck.

45. QUESTION:
    why does tooth ache?????any dentist on the block?
    my frnd had tooth decay and went for filling but now also when she chew her food her molar tooth which had undergone treatment suddenly started aching. she had taken medicines too but not much useful?????

    • ANSWER:
      her tooth is aching while chewing shows various possibilities :
      1. there may be high contact i.e ; over filling ,she should go to her dentist get it checked for high contacts .
      2.it depends on how much decay was there if there was grossly carious tooth and there is pulpal involvement or defect near the pulp may be tooth has to go under rct but was just given filling then it will definitely cause pain due to impingement of filling .
      3. if rct has been done then may be it is over filled.
      4.there may be some soft tissue involvement like presence of pocket or periodontal problem which can lead to bone loss and pain on chewing.

46. QUESTION:
    Does tooth ache mean a sinus infection or problem?
    The pain am having now is at my upper tooth where the crown is…The problem is the Dentist cannot seem to find anything wrong even when taking many X-Rays.. I mean the pain is like an infection or decaying tooth as i have experienced this before..

    If it is sinus then what can be done?..Whats the treatment? do sinus problems really give toothache (crown)?.

    Thanks.

    • ANSWER:
      yes as i said b4 sinus infection can refer the pain to the tooth. and is usually associated with tenderness over ur sinus (from outside) and increase in pain when kneeling.
      treatment i dunno. ask the ENT guy.

      but since theres a crown, it’s more possible that it is the tooth. either decayed (if never had a root canal) or fractures. sometimes xrays dont show anything in early stages of decays and also its difficult to show any cracks or fractures.
      is there pain when u move the tooth with ur fingers? is there pain with cold application? these indicate the tooth problem not the sinus.

      goodlcuk

47. QUESTION:
    Small surface decay on front tooth?
    It’s only small, however, I am deeply concerned that it may spread and worsen. My dentist could not notice it until I pointed it out and he told me that he would have to drill 10x the size before he could fill it… Is this true? Or was he just reluctant to give me a filling?

    I had an osteotomy on my jaws last June and it makes me feel sick to think after 8 years of brace treatment, it could be jeopordised.

    • ANSWER:
      just get it taken care of or it will spread and you will lose the whole tooth. it can spead fast and a bad tooth can cause gum disease

48. QUESTION:
    front tooth cracked and infected, treatment help?
    picture after the injury… it still looks the same. its the top front tooth on the left.

    http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v605/Vanillafoo/teeth.jpg

    daughter threw a Hot Wheels type truck at my mouth a month before i stared feeling the pain. it hit nothing but the left front tooth. the Dentist said there are no fractures and its just a damaged nerve plus infection (no decay). i’ve got an infection now and I’m on antibiotics and the tooth has been and still is throbbing and there’s a lot of pressure in the front of my mouth. i’m pretty sure its a little loose and now i think one of the teeth next to it is loose too. once the infection clears up will the pain and swelling go away? it sometimes goes away but its random and it lasts for an hour max. when i go to get a root canal done in 3 days I’m getting an all-porcelain crown and I’m hoping that when they go to take the mold of the front tooth the tooth itself won’t come loose. i asked if its possibly loose and she said “yeah it might be” but she never said anything about it tightening up again. i was stressed and i wish i asked more about it but she changed the subject and started talking about different types of crowns. so can anyone give me a little info? also do u think its a good choice to go with a pure porcelain crown?

    the tooth has no cavities and no decay. it just got hit hard and i can see a crack that starts in the middle of the tooth and goes to my gums.thought it just needed to be bonded together since the crack looks tiny. the tooth is not that sensitive anymore, only when something rubs it. it tends to throb when i lay down.

    the dentist didnt see the crack in the xray but i look at my teeth closely everyday in the mirror and i know that crack was not there before.
    this dentist is a welfare dentist and i was rushed. i tried to go in to see a different dentist after christmas but they were full and even though it was an emergency they said they could not see me till January 22… i cannot wait this long and i don’t want the crack to worsen so im hoping the dentist that said i needed a root canal is right. i care about my teeth especially my front teeth. not to be conceited but that was my fav feature about my face and now i have to say goodbye to my front tooth. im still wondering if the tooth should just be bonded so the crack isnt exposed like this, but hey im no dentist.

    • ANSWER:
      Hi vanillafoo,
      This is Dr. Tuggle again. Forget the listerine! Thanks for posting the picture. I really don’t think you need a crown but I can’t say for 100% sure. You DO NOT have to say goodbye to your front tooth. You really need to find a good dentist. Ask the right questions and be satisfied with the answers.
      Good luck.
      Steve

49. QUESTION:
    Is there an alternative to “hot pulp” on a tooth nerve except for extraction or RCT?
    My dentist says decay reached my nerve of tooth 46 and that it is highly irritated.
    At the moment there is a sedative dressing on it and the decay is gone.

    I am hoping it will rejuvenate and recover- a long shot I know

    He says I will need Root Canal Treatment.

    Is there an alternative I can try?
    Been on Arnica and Hypericum (homoeopathic remedy)as suggested by an alternative practitioner.

    • ANSWER:
      Sorry to say, there is not an alternative. Once a nerve or the “pulp” of the tooth has been damaged, an extraction or Root canal are your only options. I know you have probaby heard that root canals are scary, but they really are no different than getting cavity filled. It just takes a little longer. If you choose to extract the tooth, be aware. The teeth above/below and around the space can shift over time causing your bite to change and make plaque traps that are difficult to keep clean which in turn puts you at risk for gum disease and more decay. I know that RCTs are very expensive, but talk to the office manager, see if you can set up a payment plan. Most offices are willing to help to make sure you stay out of pain.
      Good Luck!
      RDH in WA

50. QUESTION:
    root canal treatment on a rheumatic heart disease patient?
    a patient comes with a decay in her right lower first molar tooth which requires root canal treatment..can the treatment be started immediately after givin 2gm amoxicillin 1 hr befor beginning the procedure? what are the other precautions to be considered and what dosages of antibiotics to be given post opereatively?

    • ANSWER:
      SAM,
      1 HR OF 2 GRAMS PRIOR TO TREATMENT IS STANDARD. NO MEDS ARE NEEDED AFTER.