Best Dentist in Kalamazoo Archives - Susan M. Dennis, D.D.S

I Don’t Think I Can Go Back to the Dentist

Posted on June 19, 2024 by writeradmin.

I need some help. I have a toothache, but I don’t think I can go back to the dentist. Everything was fine until a couple of years ago. My dentist retired and this new one bought the practice. I didn’t like him as much but a dentist is a dentist. My last appointment there changed my ability to go to the dentist. He cut my lip with his tool, which he did not even apologize for. Then, he kept pressing on it which caused it to bleed the whole time. Then, my pain meds wore off and when I asked for more he complained. Not loud, but I heard it. Unfortunately, nothing worked after that. He couldn’t get me numb. I’m worried he didn’t complete the job properly because of that. Now I have a horrible toothache but I am afraid to go back to the dentist. First, is there something I can do for this toothache from home? Second, I can’t avoid the dentist forever, do you have any tips for anxious patients?

Sandra

Dear Sandra,

person cowering behind a chair in fear.

I am sorry this happened to you. Right off the bat, I can tell you that this is not going to be the best dentist for you. He does not seem to have a great, or even kind, chairside manner. If you’d never been afraid of the dentist and one interaction with him has made you this fearful, you will be much better served with a different dentist.

Let’s start with your first question. There is not a way to treat a tooth infection at home. There are two ways to get rid of a dental infection. The first is a root canal treatment. This is the better solution because it does save your tooth. The second is for if your tooth cannot be saved. That would be extracting the tooth, which, of course, that means that you will need to replace the tooth.

However, a toothache does not necessarily mean that you have an infection. The best thing to do is to get this checked out. It could end up being something very simple. Before you panic about having to be seen, I do have a solution for the anxiety that you are feeling. This is perfect timing as you have to find a new dentist anyway.

The reason you were not able to get numb again during the second half of your procedure was due to the trauma you had just experienced. This led to your anxiety. That anxiety has the metabolic effect of burning off your numbing medication. If we can get you relaxed during your appointment, then you will have no trouble getting numb. The best thing for you is to see a dentist who offers dental sedation options. These medications can completely relax you. To find one, you can do an internet search for either a sedation dentist or a cater to cowards dentist. They tend to be much more compassionate than what your recent experience gave you.

What I do not want you to do is to avoid getting this toothache looked at. Otherwise, this will lead to a dental emergency and then you may not even have time to find a sedation dentist.

This blog is brought to you by Kalamazoo Dentist Dr. Susan Dennis.

Can a Metal Post Be Removed from a Tooth?

Posted on March 6, 2024 by writeradmin.

My dentist put a stainless steel post in my tooth with a root canal treatment and I really want it out and replaced with a zirconia one. I am not crazy about the idea of metal being in there, especially because I have some metal sensitivities. He said he doesn’t do the zirconia posts and that it is encased and I’m overreacting. I’ll admit that annoyed me. I’m just trying to figure out if it can be replaced before I try to find a new dentist. I currently have the temporary crown and the permanent one is coming in soon. I’d like to exchange this before that.

Caroline

Dear Caroline,

I’m surprised your dentist is still using a stainless steel post. Pre 1980s, the dental post of choice was stainless steel. However, in the 80s, we discovered that the metal ions in the post would leach through the tooth and into the bloodstream. Because stainless steel contains nickel, which many people have sensitivities to, this was concerning. It was around that time dentists switched to using titanium, which is the most biocompatible metal around. It’s been used for decades in prosthetics all over the human body. In the 1990s both carbon fiber and fiberglass were introduced. Now we also have the option of zirconia. Your dentist is decades behind in his treatment procedures so I do not think this is the best dentist for you.

These dental posts can be tricky to remove. It could possibly be removed with an ultrasonic tip, but there are risks that you should be aware of, including perforating the roots. If you believe you are having a reaction to this, then yes, you should exchange it for a different type of post. I would not trust your dentist to do this. He’s so behind in the field that I feel it is too risky to have him do it. I would recommend you see a root canal specialist.

Don’t allow your dentist to place the permanent dental crown. That will make it much more challenging to remove the post. Because of your metal sensitivities, if you do decide to look for a new family dentist, I am going to recommend you see one who has a more holistic approach to dental care. They’ll be more willing to tailor the treatments for your body’s requirements.

This blog is brought to you by Portage Dentist Dr. Susan Dennis.

Bleeding Between Two Dental Crowns

Posted on September 5, 2023 by writeradmin.

I had six dental crowns placed on my anterior teeth for a smile makeover. I am having some problems with bleeding between the front two. I am a bit worried I am allergic to them. I asked my dentist for the certification of the alloys so I could figure out what was going on. There wasn’t any information on the alloys used. One thing that did surprise me is that e.max wasn’t listed, but instead it said it was listed as a GC LiSi Impress. I can’t find any information on this so have no idea how to figure out what is causing the problem. Do you know anything about this? My dentist thinks I’m overreacting. I wonder if I wouldn’t have more help from a holistic dentist with this allergy issue.

Hattie

Dear Hattie,

I don’t think what you are dealing with is an allergy, but I do think something is wrong. If it were an allergy, you would be affected by all the dental crowns and not just the two in front. As to the alloy certification, the reason there were none listed is because these crowns are metal-free, so there would be no alloys to list. A holistic dentist would provide the same material.

That being said, the bleeding indicates a problem. If your dentist is unwilling to take that seriously, then I would say he or she is not the best dentist for you. I lean toward there being a problem with the margins of the dental crowns. If there is, then food and other debris will get trapped there and lead to tenderness, bleeding, and even gum disease if left untreated.

You can check for this when you floss. If the floss seems to get trapped there for a moment, then there is an overhand or open margin. If that is the case, your dentist needs to fix this. Either way, you need a dentist willing to get to the bottom of why your gums are bleeding.

This blog is brought to you by Kalamazoo Dentist Dr. Susan Dentist.

Allergies to the Metal in Dental Work

Posted on October 7, 2022 by Dr. Dennis.

I had two fillings and one restoration placed in my mouth. This was the first time I’ve had any substantial dental work done. My teeth had always been fine until recently. My husband lost his job and the dental insurance that went with it, so I put off going to the dentist for a couple of years until we were back on our feet. I had no idea how much those cleanings and checkups were helping. Since getting the restorations, I’ve been having sores in my mouth and feeling off-kilter. My dentist didn’t feel it was the dental work, so I finally went to a medical doctor. He sent me for an allergy workup and it turns out I’m allergic to nickel, cobalt, and mercury. I’m sure these things are in my dental work. The fillings are silver, so those may be the big culprit. My dentist assures me he’s never encountered a patient who has had problems from their dental work and still believes it is unrelated. Where do I go from here?

Maya

Dear Maya,

I am constantly flabbergasted with dentists who are in denial about allergies. Your dentist is even ignoring the results of the medical tests you’ve had done. Yes, being exposed to materials you are allergic to can cause you to feel poorly and have reactions such as the sores you are experiencing. That seems like a no-brainer to me. I’m going to be blunt and say this is not the best dentist for you.

In your place, I’d look for a metal-free dentist. They will have the materials on hand you need to get restorations that won’t cause a reaction, such as a zirconia bridge or crown.

Your silver / amalgam fillings are going to be a bigger deal. You need a dentist who knows how to remove the amalgam fillings while minimizing the risk to you for swallowing or inhaling any mercury or mercury vapors. There are special materials which can be used such as a stopper dam, and water to keep the mercury from melting.

My suggestion is to look for a mercury-free dentist or a biological dentist. Most, if not all of them are metal-free. Even if they’re not metal-free, a biological dentist will bend over backward to work within your medical requirements.

This blog is brought to you by Holistic Dentist Dr. Susan Dennis of Portage, MI.