September 2024 - Drake & Wallace Dentistry

I have an infected tooth and I want to wait and see if it gets better before I have a root canal treatment. He insists if I wait I am putting my life at risk and says I could end up with a brain infection. To me, that seems a bit melodramatic. Is he just saying that to scare me? Why can’t I just take some antibiotics and be done with it?

Jasper

Dear Jasper,

If your dentist is trying to scare you, it is not just to make money. He was trying to get you to understand how dangerous this is. Even in the 21st century between 5 and 10 people die from tooth infections every year.

You should be aware that antibiotics do not solve tooth infections. This is because the pulp inside the tooth dies, leaving you without any blood flow to get to the actual infection. The only thing you can do with an antibiotic is temporarily hold the infection at bay. It will only last until the antibiotics run out. Then the infection will blow up even more.

The only way to truly deal with a tooth infection is for a dentist to get in there and physically remove the infected pulp in your tooth. There are two ways to do that. The first is with a root canal treatment. This is the best solution because it saves your tooth. If the tooth is too far gone, then you need to go with the second option, which is a tooth extraction.

If that happens then it will be important for you to replace the tooth. If you don’t, the other teeth will shift or tip into the empty space. That can leave to painful TMJ Disorder. If that happens, the best tooth replacement will be a dental implant.

Please take this seriously. Your dentist wasn’t kidding when he said that this could spread to your brain. If it moves upward, that is a real possibility. Or, it could move downward and close up your throat, get in your bloodstream, or reach your heart. Please understand that a tooth infection is considered a dental emergency. Don’t let it become a life threatening one.

This blog is brought to you by Decatur, AL Dentists Drs. Drake and Wallace.

I am 74 years old and would love to finally have straight teeth! I know it seems like I’ve waited forever, but I focused on kids and then grandkids. I finally have some money for me! Is it possible for me to get that Invisalign thing where no one can tell you have braces or am I too old and decrepit? I have a granddaughter wearing them.

Evelyn

Dear Evelyn,

I’m glad you wrote. Not only are you not too old for Invisalign, you are part of the clientele they are looking for. Invisalign was originally designed for adults. Many times, adults wanted to improve their smile by straightening their teeth, but they had a job in a professional setting. A mouth full of metal wires and brackets would not have been a great thing for their career. It wasn’t until several years later that Invisalign Teen came on the market.

If it makes you feel better, I know of a group of dentists who get together and discuss their Invisalign cases as a study club. They also compare statistics of the patients, though no personally identifiable information is disclosed. One of the things they do talk about is the age of their patients. Several of the dentists had patients in their eighties. In comparison, you’re a babe.

There is an additional benefit to Invisalign that helps with older smiles. As we age, our teeth pick up stains. Teeth whitening can make us look decades younger just by taking care of those stains. The aligners used by Invisalign to straighten your teeth can also double as teeth whitening trays. This also saves you money in the long run because instead of needing to have custom trays made for your whitening, you can just have your dentist provide you with the professional strength whitening gel. Then, you will wear that in your aligners at a time that is most convenient to you.

This blog is brought to you by Decatur, AL Dentists Drs. Drake and Wallace.

Is My Dentist Trying to Scare Me?

Is There an Age Limit for Invisalign?

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