I went in for a tooth that has started hurting. My dentist did an x-ray. When he did he found a severly infected tooth. He told me he’d go in and clean it out, but that the infection was so bad in all likelihood he would have to extract the tooth. After that, I would need to get a dental implant. IT seems like he’s not giving me many options. I am really frightened of dental treatment to begin with , so I don’t want to have any unnecessary procedures.
Brittney- Wyoming
Brittney,
I am uncomfortable with your dentist’s diagnosis. You said that your tooth has just started hurting. If you’d had an infection that was that severe, you would have been in pain quite some time ago. Also, your dentist would not have needed an x-ray to see it. The decay would have been visible somewhere.
I’m also not happy with the fact that he or she told you after the extraction you would need to get a dental implant. While it is the best solution for a missing tooth, a dentist is ethically bound to give you all your options. You could have benefited almost as well from a dental bridge. Or, if you were on a very tight budget, maybe you would have preferred a removable partial denture.
I highly suggest you get a second opinion.
I want to bring up one other issue. You mentioned you are uncomfortable with dental treatments. Many times, with a fearful patient, a local anesthetic will not work. The anxiety they have will burn off the anesthetic and they will be in pain during the procedure. Any easy way to prevent this is with sedation dentistry. You and whatever dentist you end up with can discuss what level of sedation is best for your anxiety level. But, if you do that, you will have a pain free procedure.
This blog is brought to you by Seattle Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Brian McKay.
