This Patient Needs to See a New Dentist

I hope you can help me. I ‘m not sure the dentist that I went to see is telling me the right things. I’ve had a tooth bothering me on and off for a while. I finally bucked up the courage to see a dentist. When I got there, he did an x-ray. He told me that a tooth, which already had a filling on it needed to be replaced. He also told me that once he gets in there that he would probably end up needing to extract the tooth. He said that by his calculation only about ten percent of the tooth is savable. Once it is out, then he’d like to do a dental implant. I have to be honest, that I am not keen on his plan. Do you think I should get a second opinion or is this what I should expect for a tooth ache?

Jewel

Dear Jewel,

I am glad you wrote. I have some serious doubts about your dentist’s recommendations. So, no, this isn’t what you should expect. First, if there were really only 10% of the tooth still viable, he wouldn’t need an x-ray to tell you. Plus, the filling would have fallen into the tooth. You would even be able to tell just by looking at it in a mirror.

I also think that if the tooth were that bad, you would have been in some serious pain. Obviously, at this point, you have probably guessed that I am going to recommend you get a second opinion. My guess is that if you do have a tooth infection, the tooth can be saved. The best option would be a root canal treatment because it will save your tooth. If that isn’t possible, then you may need to have a the tooth extraction done.

If that happens you will need to have your tooth replaced. The only thing I do agree with your dentist about is the type of replacement. If I needed to get a false tooth, I would definitely want it to be a dental implant.  Though, I am not sure your dentist will be the best person to do that if it comes down to it. Dental implants are an advanced procedure that would require someone who has a significant amount of post-doctoral training.

This blog is brought to you by Nashville Dentist Dr. David Wickness.