I had a root canal treatment a couple of months ago and then lost my job. I didn’t keep my appointment to get the dental crown placed. Now I think I’m dealing with a tooth infection as a result. I happen to have a sinus infection and can get my doctor to write me an antibiotic prescription. Is there a better antibiotic for tooth infections?
Cary
Dear Cary,
It would be a wonderful solution if tooth infections worked that way. Unfortunately, the physiology of a tooth prevents that from being a viable option. An infection kills the inside of a tooth. Because of that, the medicine never reaches the infection. At that point, the only way to “heal” the infection is for your dentist to get in there and physically remove the infected pulp. This is typically done one of two ways: either by a root canal treatment or a tooth extraction. At this point, you may need an extraction.
You may already know this, but just in case you don’t, I want to make sure you understand an infected tooth is considered a dental emergency. I don’t know if you are still out of work, but I don’t want you to put off getting this treated. People still die from tooth infections. People don’t realize how the proximity of our jaws to our brain, heart, and lungs can put you in serious danger as the infection spreads. I’m saying this not to scare you but to ensure you treat the infection seriously.
I know especially during this time with the pandemic going on, money is tough for many people. If you’re out of work, I am positive you will be able to find a dentist who will be willing to treat your infection and work out a payment option for you.
Replacing a Tooth
When a tooth is removed, with very few exceptions, it needs to be replaced. When finances are better, the ideal tooth replacement is a dental implant. It is like having a healthy, natural tooth in your jaw again. I realize that is not an option for you right now. You can either get an easily replaceable temporary tooth or invest in one of the other options like a dental bridge.
The downside to a dental bridge is that it requires the two adjacent teeth to your missing tooth to get ground down for dental crowns. If they’re healthy, you may not want to do that. Instead, you can get a dental flipper or a removable partial denture while you save up for a dental implant.
This blog is brought to you by Michiganย Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Susan Dennis.