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I have had severe toothache for the past three days. I took antibiotics and painkillers but no improvement at all. What should I do?
You have to visit a dentist and get X-Rays done. This symptom of severe toothache means your tooth will either require root canal treatment or will have to be extracted. Only a dentist will be able to suggest the exact treatment after a thorough examination. My advice is not to delay. Visit a dentist ASAP.
I am a 55-year-old female. I was diagnosed with breast cancer six months ago. Currently, I am under radiation and chemotherapy. I have a dull continuous toothache in my lower wisdom tooth. My dentist refuses to do surgery and remove it. What is the solution?
Your dentist is correct. Extractions should be avoided during chemotherapy, especially when there isn’t any severe pain. Ask your dentist to discuss with your treating oncologist your case and recommend a good painkiller along with a course of antibiotics. After your chemotherapy cycles are over you can get consent for extraction from your treating physician/oncologist and a dentist can do the needful.
I visited a dentist for implant surgery in my upper molar area. However, during the surgery, my dentist could not place the implant as the sinus is perforated while drilling. I took a second opinion and the dentist told me that the previous dentist has spoiled my case and I will never be able to get an implant again. What should I do?
Maxillary sinus floor perforation is a complication that can occur during dental implant surgery, especially in the upper premolar and molar areas. However, it is very rare if the surgery is done by an experienced dental implantologist. These are complications that can happen and you cannot blame the dentist for them. The second dentist you visited gave you the wrong opinion. You will be able to put an implant at a later date in life. A thorough evaluation of the site is needed by an experienced dentist. Bone grafting along with a sinus lift procedure will have to be done. Following this, the dentist will be able to place an implant in that site.
I have cavities in my molars but no pain at all. They are like small black dots on my tooth surfaces. Is it necessary to get fillings done?
Yes. Of course. Those little black dots we call pit caries. These caries are within the enamel. If not treated the cavity will spread to the dentin and pulp which are the inner layers of the teeth. Then you might end up having to do a root canal treatment or may have to extract the tooth. So better to clean the teeth and get your fillings done. I recommend tooth-coloured composite fillings for all your cavities.
I got my wisdom tooth extracted. It has been two weeks, and I still have numbness and cannot feel anything on that side. I cannot even feel my lips. My dentist told me it is temporary and I will be okay soon. But I am afraid of this being permanent.
This condition is called paresthesia. This happens when the nerve below the wisdom tooth is compressed or damaged while extracting the wisdom tooth. Sometimes the wisdom tooth is resting on the nerve canal or a part of the tooth is within the nerve canal. It is difficult to remove such teeth without causing a bit of damage to the underlying nerve. However, in most cases (99%) this paresthesia is temporary. It takes a few weeks to a few months depending on the nerve damage. Take a CBCT scan of that particular area and ask your dentist to reevaluate or get a second opinion.
I am eight months pregnant and I have severe pain in my molar. It has a big hole in it and food gets stuck. I visited a dentist who said he cannot do anything because of my pregnancy. Because of the pain, I cannot even sleep at night. What should I do?
I agree, you should avoid any surgical procedure when into this late third trimester of pregnancy. Ask your dentist to give local anaesthesia and open the canals of the concerned tooth. This will relieve most of your pain and you can then plan the extraction at ease after delivery. Meanwhile, your dentist can also prescribe you a mild antibiotic along with a mild painkiller after discussing it with your physician/gynaecologist.
I am a 36-year-old female. My front teeth are out and look like rabbit teeth. My friends tease me about bug bunnies. I do not want to get braces at this age. What do you suggest?
I would suggest getting your teeth aligned using aligners if you do not want to go for conventional orthodontic braces. Another option is the smile design. Consult your dentist for these. If your dentist is not providing these treatments, suggest visiting another dentist for the same.
My child is 12 months old and hasn’t got any teeth yet. Our paediatrician said teeth will come in eight months. Is it a cause for concern?
The lower central incisors are usually the first teeth to erupt. They erupt in the mouth by eight months of age. The upper central incisors erupt in 10 months. However, in some cases, there is delayed eruption of teeth and teeth erupt by 12 to 14 months of age. Your child must be having signs of teething like mild swelling and tenderness of gums, extra drool than normal etc. If these signs are seen, everything is normal, teeth will erupt soon. However, to make sure you can visit a dentist and get an X-ray done.
