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My Gums Are Too Swollen for a Dental Bridge

Posted on by AllSmiles.

My dentist was supposed to take impressions of my mouth this week, but we had to delay it again because my gums and mouth are still swollen after extractions. I had gum disease, and my doctor prescribed an antibiotic before and after the extractions in December. The infection was getting better, then got worse again. My dentist extended the prescription. I take ibuprofen for discomfort, but the swelling is not improving. The right side of my face is warm and feels hard. My doctor asked me to wait until late next week to see what happens, but this doesn’t feel right. How long does it take for an infection to clear so that I can get a dental bridge? I have taken extra time off work because I am embarrassed to go in without any teeth. Thank you for your help. Milton from Lansing, MI

Milton,

Although Dr. Delaune would need to examine your mouth and X-rays, it sounds like the infection is not improving. It would be best if you talked to your dentist again.

What If a Mouth and Gum Infection Won’t Go Away?

close up of temporomadibular joint

TMJ issues can result from a dental bridge that doesn’t fit well.

When a mouth and gum infection linger, let your dentist know that the antibiotic is not working. Although a dentist may use a standard antibiotic like amoxicillin for an infection, it is ineffective for every patient. When your body does not respond to the medicine, it usually means the bacteria is resistant.

What to do next:

  • Ask your dentist for a prescription for another antibiotic.
  • Act quickly to avoid further inflammation and discomfort.
  • Take the medication as prescribed and finish it all, even if you improve.

Your dentist can take accurate impressions of your mouth after all the swelling resolves and your gum tissue is healthy. Rushing impressions will affect your dental bridge’s fit, disrupting your bite and causing jaw pain and other TMJ symptoms.

Contact your dentist promptly for a new prescription. If your infection lingers, see a periodontist (gum specialist).

Dr. Duane Delaune of Metairie, Louisiana, sponsors this post. Read why Dr. Delaune’s patients consider him one of the best dentists in town.

Her Dentist seems negligent

Posted on by writeradmin.

I wanted to get some advice. I had a check up not too long ago and everything was great. However, recently I’ve been having pain in my lower back teeth. It is hard to describe. It feels a bit like someone is pulling on the teeth and then letting go. I have never had a cavity before so I don’t know what that feels like. Could it be from that? I’m not grinding my teeth when it happens, so I don’t think it is from that. Have you heard of this before?

Olivia

Dear Olivia,

a woman holder her jaw from TMJ pain
Teeth grinding can lead to serious problems

My first concern is that your dentist doesn’t seem to have addressed your teeth grinding. This is quite serious. You can actually end up grinding your teeth down to nubs. In addition, it can lead to TMJ problems by throwing off your bite.

This is such a simple thing to fix I don’t understand why your dentist hasn’t dealt with it. Wearing a simple nightguard can save you tens of thousands of dollars. Once your teeth get ground down to nubs, you are looking at a $30,000 full-mouth reconstruction.

There are some dentists who will only look at things like cavities and ignore other issues. such as TMJ Disorder, gum disease, and occlusion. All off those are important.

I’m going to recommend you get a second opinion from a dentist who may be more thorough than your current one. As for the pain you are experiencing, bear in mind I haven’t examined you or seen any x-rays. I’m just going by your description.

It doesn’t sound like a cavity to me. Based on what you’ve said, two possibilities come to mind. The first is gum disease. That’s a big deal because by the time you start feeling pain, there is usually significant bone loss, which could lead to you losing your teeth. I want you to get that evaluated as soon as possible.

A second possibility is from the tooth grinding. You are likely doing it at night when you aren’t aware it is happening, but the pain you’ve described can happen even when you aren’t grinding your teeth. I mentioned earlier the nightguard. That would be another very important issue to deal with.

This blog is brought to you by New Orleans Dentist Dr. Duane Deluane.

Are dental implants possible for me?

Posted on by writeradmin.

I haven’t been able to afford dental care for years. Now, I finally have dental insurance. Because of advanced periodontal disease, I’ve lost several teeth. Is it possible for me to get dental implants instead of dentures?

Cathy

Dear Cathy,

Abutment and crown being placed on dental implants

Dental implants are the best tooth-replacement option you can get, while dentures have many problems that come with them. For instance, even the best fitting dentures will reduce your chewing capacity by 50%. However, that’s not the worst part.

Your body recognizes when your teeth are gone. In an effort to be as efficient as possible with its resources, it begins to resorb the minerals in your jawbone to use elsewhere. This begins to shrink your jawbone. After about ten years, it becomes difficult to even keep your dentures in. This is known as facial collapse.

Getting dental implants prevents that because the implants serve as prosthetic teeth roots. Your body recognizes their presence and leaves the jawbone intact.

Gum Disease and Dental Implants

You will need to deal with your gum disease to be a good candidate for dental implants. Periodontal disease leads to bone loss, which may have been a contributing factor in your losing teeth.

Your dentist can help you get that under control. Once that is, you want to find a well-trained implant dentist. They need post-doctoral training in the procedure. You can look at Dr. Delaune’s credentials to get an idea of the type of dentist you want to find in your area.

He should run diagnostic tests, including a CT scan to make sure you have adequate bone and to plan the ideal positioning of the dental implants. Don’t be discouraged if you’ve lost too much bone. There is a procedure to repair that. You can have bone grafting done to restore the missing bone. Then you’ll be good to go on your implants.

This blog is brought to you by New Orleans Dentist Dr. Duane Delaune.

It’s been six months and I still have no teeth!

Posted on by smiles4u.

About six months ago, I decided to try and do something about a couple of my lower front teeth that were loose. After doing some research, I decided that my best option was dental implants, but knew it was going to be very expensive. I started looking around for a doctor who could do affordable dental implants and when I came across an ad for a doctor a few miles away from where I lived, I was sure I had found the right person for the job. At my consultation, he priced everything out for me. He said I should go ahead and have the teeth pulled that day and that I needed bone beads to help with the healing (I had to pay for that because my insurance wouldn’t cover it). I went ahead with his recommendation and waited six months — with a toothless smile no less — to go back for the surgery. Much to my disappointment,  he told me that he couldn’t move forward until I had more procedures done – including bone grafting and gum treatment. Now I’m thinking it would have just been better to keep my teeth because I’m having to spend more and more money and I’m still toothless. I feel like my smile is ruined. What can I do? — Christina

 

Christina,
There’s several concerns here, but the biggest one would be that your dentist didn’t first address why you teeth were loose. If you had periodontal disease, you should have never been considered for implants until that was under control. I’m guess that is why he is now saying you need additional gum treatments.  Since the teeth are gone, there’s no way to know if they could have been saved.

The other treatments are probably necessary before moving on with the implant surgery to ensure they don’t fail. Get a second opinion to be sure you’re getting the right treatments. As far as going without teeth for six months, your dentist should have offered you a temporary solution – such as a flipper or partial denture. Either one would not only help with appearance and eating, but also prevent the other teeth from shifting into the open space. You could still get either one of these options now, so schedule a consult with another dentist to find out what they can do.

This post is sponsored by New Orleans cosmetic dentist Dr. Duane Delaune. Read more about why many consider Dr. Delaune to be the best dentist in New Orleans.

Is tooth pain caused from grinding my teeth or something else?

Posted on by smiles4u.

I’m a teeth grinder at night. I’ve been doing it for as long as I can remember, but up until now everything has been fine with my teeth (at my check-up and cleaning several months ago there were no issues).  But something has changed in the last month or so and I am noticing a dull pain (almost like a pulling sensation) in my lower back teeth. It doesn’t last for long periods of time, but it comes and goes on both sides. I thought maybe it could be a cavity, but I’ve never had one before so don’t know what kind of pain is associated with them. I am also concerned that it could it be related to grinding and clenching my teeth? What should I do?  — Marissa

Marissa,
If you grind your teeth, everything is not fine. It’s hard to say what exactly is causing this pain you are experiencing without seeing x-rays or examining your mouth. What is concerning is it sounds like your recent check-up and examination with your dentist may not have been very thorough. Unfortunately, there are many dentists who are just looking for the obvious issues like cavities, fillings, etc. There are other important things they should be looking for during this examination such as TMJ symptoms or periodontal disease.

As for the pain you are experiencing, it does not seem consistent with a cavity. It could be from gum disease or a result of your teeth grinding. But to be sure, you need to get a proper diagnosis. If it’s grinding, you could get a night guard. If it’s something more serious, you need to start treatment right away.  A second opinion from someone other than your regular dentist might be in order.

This post is sponsored by New Orleans cosmetic dentist Dr. Duane Delaune. Read more about why many consider Dr. Delaune to be the best dentist in New Orleans.

How can I tell if I have gum disease?

Posted on by AllSmiles.

How can I tell if I have gum disease? My gums are bleeding. Thanks. Thomas

Thomas – The best way to tell if you have gum disease is to see your dentist. Your dentist will examine your teeth and gums to make the determination.

Symptoms of gum disease

  • Gums that bleed when you floss or brush your teeth
  • Inflamed or sore gums
  • Gums that are receding, or pulling away from the teeth
  • Persistent bad breath
  • Pus between the teeth and gums
  • Loose teeth
  • A change in your bite—the way your teeth fit together
  • An increase in the space between your teeth
  • A partial denture that no longer fits correctly

Inadequate brushing and flossing your teeth, genetics, certain illnesses, and certain medications can make you more susceptible to gum disease. Regular brushing and flossing, as well as regular exams by your dentist and dental cleanings can help prevent gum disease.

If you think you have gum disease, make an appointment with your dentist. Early detection makes it easier to control the gum disease and save your teeth. Teeth that are lost due to gum disease can be replaced with a dental bridge or dental implants.

This post is sponsored by New Orleans cosmetic dentist Dr. Duane Delaune of Metairie.