I had a root canal treatment that ended up having problems with a fracture in the tooth. My dentist sent me to a specialist who will remove it but he cannot for about three more weeks. I’ve already had this going on for three weeks and there is an infection in the area as well that is causing me pain. Is it safe for me to wait the three weeks?
Erin
Dear Erin,
As long as there is not anything unusual about this tooth that requires a specialist then, no, you do not have to wait. In fact, I would encourage you not to wait. Infected teeth are considered dental emergencies because they will continue to spread until the infected tissue is removed. Normally, you would do that with a root canal treatment. But, if you’ve had a returned infection then your root canal treatment failed. Additionally, you have a fracture in the tooth to deal with. There is no point in keeping that tooth.
My suggestion is you start with calling the specialist and tell him you want to be seen sooner. If he cannot accommodate you, then I would next call your dentist and tell him the wait is unacceptable and ask him to refer you to someone else. In the meantime, ask for an antibiotic to keep the infection under control. It won’t heal the infection, but it will help keep it from spreading.
The next step is what to do after you’ve removed the problem tooth. You will want to get the tooth replaced. That will be important, and not just for aesthetic reasons. If you leave the space open, then the surrounding teeth will begin to tip or shift into the empty space. This will throw off your bite. That type of situation can lead to painful TMJ Disorder.
The best tooth replacement option is to get a dental implant. It is the closest thing to having a healthy, natural tooth there again. In your place, that is the replacement I would want.
This blog is brought to you by Decatur, AL Dentists Drs. Drake and Wallace.