Hope Restorative & Cosmetic Dentistry

Nervous about Dentist

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My dentist has been closed since the beginning of the quarantine and is opening back up. I know I need a lot of work. I’ve got several cavities and a pimple on one of my gums. I don’t like the dentist in the best of times. The idea of having to go at all gives me the heebie-jeebies. Going more than once…nah. Can I get all of these done at once?

Andy

Dear Andy,

Woma asleep in teh dental chair from sedation

You certainly aren’t alone in your feelings about the dentist. Many people would rather be anywhere else. I have great news for you, though. You can likely get all of this taken care of in just one appointment. Not only that, but you can do it in an anxiety-free way.

I suggest you see a dentist who offers dental sedation. If you get something like oral conscious sedation, you will likely sleep through your entire appointment. Many patients who suffer from dental anxiety find this completely changes their lives. However, you should know it is so strong that you will need someone to drive you to and from your appointment as well as stay with you for a few hours afterward, until you are lucid and steady on your feet.

One thing I am concerned about is the pimple on your gums. This is known as a tooth abscess and is evidence of a dental infection. These are considered dental emergencies. So, even though you don’t fancy going to the dentist, this isn’t something you should put off.

Dental infections have to be physically removed by a dentist either by a root canal treatment or, if the tooth is too far gone, a tooth extraction. If it isn’t treated in one of these two ways, it will continue to spread, even after being treated with an antibiotic. This is a mistake too many people make. If you think about how close your jaw is to your heart, lungs, and brain you can understand why you don’t want to let this spread.

If it does turn out that your tooth cannot be saved and needs to be extracted, you should talk to your dentist about getting it replaced with a dental implant. If I had to replace a tooth, it is the replacement I would want.

This blog is brought to you by Tulsa Dentist Dr. Jerome Cha.

Antibiotic for a Tooth Infection

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I have a toothache. I’ll be honest and tell you that I am not fond of the dentist even in the best of circumstances. I was kind of relieved when the government shut down dental clinics. It stopped hurting for a bit, but now it’s starting to hurt worse. Which antibiotic is best for this? My doctor will write me a prescription.

Luke

Dear Luke,

man holding his jaw in need of an emergency dentist

You are definitely going to need to see a dentist. Antibiotics will not work for this. They are only a temporary stop measure for dental infections. In your situation, it sounds like the tooth has already died, so it will be even more temporary for you. The tooth feeling better is probably when the infected pulp died, but that doesn’t remove the infection itself, just the pain. Now it has spread past the tooth.

This is considered urgent dental care and therefore, your dentist will be able to treat you. This has been a consistent exception to the COVID-19 quarantine because it is medically necessary. Dental infections have to be physically removed. That is typically done in one of two ways. If the tooth can be saved, a dentist will do a root canal treatment. If the tooth can’t be saved, then an extraction becomes necessary. If that happens, you will want to replace your tooth.

Dealing with Dental Anxiety

I know you are not the most comfortable going to the dentist and hearing the procedure doesn’t have to be postponed because of the quarantine probably increased your anxiety. The good news is, there is a fantastic solution, which could change the way you view dentistry in the future.

I’d like you to see a dentist who offers dental sedation options. Most dentists offer two levels of sedation. Nitrous oxide, which is a gas administered to people with mild anxiety, and oral conscious sedation. This is administered by a pill and is strong enough where you’ll need someone to drive you to and from your appointment.

Dr. Cha offers a third level — I.V. Sedation. This is for patients with such high anxiety that they want to be out. Very few dentists offer this option and it requires special training.

This blog is brought to you by Tulsa Dentist Dr. Jerome Cha.

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