I am working to get all my dental work caught up. On my upper left, I have two teeth that recently had a root canal treatment. I also have an impacted wisdom tooth that is infected and causing problems. Because the root-canaled teeth still bother me, I want those removed too but my dentist is refusing. I am waiting to get the wisdom tooth done until I can get all three done at once. Is there a way to convince him to do all three so I can get this over with?
Susan
Dear Susan,
I am going on the assumption that your dentist x-rayed the teeth that were given the root canal. If he has not, then that is the first thing that needs to be done in order to determine if one or both of those teeth have an infection because of a root canal failure. If he has done an x-ray and said that those teeth are fine, then that means you do not have an infection there and it would be a really bad idea to extract those teeth.
Meanwhile, you have an active infection with your impacted wisdom tooth. I would consider that a dental emergency and get it dealt with right away. Otherwise, it can spread. Your jaw is close to your heart, brain and lungs. You do not want your infection spreading to one of those. Then your dental infection could turn life threatening.
If your dentist has done that x-ray, I would trust him on this. The pain you are experiencing there could actually be referred pain from your infected wisdom tooth. To be frank, your dentist has integrity. That is why he does not want to take out a healthy tooth. He could do it just to make you happy and collect the fee, which gives him more money. But, he knows in the long run it is better for you to have a healthy tooth. He’s costing himself money with his honesty. I would say, be grateful to know you have a dentist like that.
Of course, you are always welcome to go somewhere else where the dentist is happy to collect an unnecessary fee and lose a healthy tooth, but this will cost you more than just an extraction because that tooth, unlike a wisdom tooth, will need to be replaced. Then, you are looking at a dental implant, a dental bridge, or a removable partial denture.
I hope this helps. I know sometimes when you are in pain it is hard to understand why that tooth does not need to be extracted. Your dentist really does have your best interest at heart.
This blog is brought to you by Libertyville Dentist Dr. David Potts.