Annmarie Worthington

Am I Too Old to Extract a Wisdom Tooth?

February 28, 2025 by writeradmin

I have a wisdom tooth that is starting to bother me. All of them are impacted, but this is the first time I’ve had any trouble with them. I have a consultation scheduled with a dentist. The thing that worries me is that I am 32 years old. Am I too old to have this extracted if it is infected?

Camille

Dear Camille,

If your tooth is infected, then you will have to have it extracted no matter what the age. An infection from a tooth will continue to spread until the infected pulp is removed. That means a simple toothache can turn into a dental emergency where you are in a lot of pain. If that isn’t treated, it can turn life-threatening as the infection makes it’s way out of your jaw and travels to other parts of your body. Your jaw is close to your brain, heart, and throat. You don’t want the infection reaching there.

While, at your age, your risk factors are up, I don’t start to get worried about the complications until a patient is forty. You mentioned that all of your wisdom teeth are impacted. I am going to recommend that you get them all out. This way you won’t be risking them blowing up when the risks from complications are at their worst.

The good news is that with a wisdom tooth, you don’t have to find a tooth replacement, like you would with any other tooth. That’s because there won’t be gaps between teeth where the other teeth can shift or tip into. If you were losing another type of tooth, I would recommend a dental implant as a replacement.

At your consultation, I would highly suggest you talk to him about removing all the impacted wisdom teeth.

This blog is brought to you by Auburn, AL Dentists Drs. Murphree and Yount.

Dental Implants Fell Out in Just a Few Days

February 19, 2025 by writeradmin

I had six dental implants placed and planned on having four more placed after I was done with these. However, Of the six that are already placed, three have fallen out in just a few days. I’m worried that this will continue to happen. Do you think I should wait to see if the other three hold before I move forward having the other four placed? Do I need to pay for the ones that failed?

Ebony

Dear Ebony,

First, I am going to say don’t let this dentist place anything else until you know why the first three failed. Most implant dentists only have a 5% failure rate at most. Your dentist’s failure rate is ten times that with your case and, in my opinion, likely to go up. I don’t know that I would hold out too much hope for the other three.

The first thing I want you to do is get a second opinion on your dental implant situation. First, have an expert implant dentist look at everything. They should be able to tell you what went wrong. Look for a dentist who studied at The Dawson Academy, The Spear Institute, or The Las Vegas Institute of Advanced Dental Studies. There are others, but these are among the top.

Causes of Dental Implant Failure

Incorrect placement of the implants
Infection, generally from poorly fitting fixtures
Premature loading, which simply means placing the crowns or dentures if you’re getting an implant overdenture before the bone has had time to integrate
Diagnostic shortcuts, such as not running adequate tests to assure there is enough bone structure there to retain the implants
Cheap implant fixtures, which means the dentist ordered cheap overseas implants to keep his profit margin high

Sometimes a dentist can do nothing wrong and a dental implant will fail, but definitely not in a few days. As to whether or not you should have to pay for the ones that have failed, absolutely not. I’d ask for a refund on those. A basic principle of dental work is that it actually stays in your mouth. Start by getting that second opinion, though. That will help you know what the problem was and give you more leverage when you approach your dentist. He or she can also tell you the condition of the remaining three in your mouth.

This blog is brought to you by Auburn, AL Dentists Drs. Murphree and Yount.

What Do You Know About Premium Home Whitening?

January 31, 2025 by writeradmin

Can you tell me anything about the Premium Home Whitening Kit? It’s cheaper than what my dentist offers, but I want to make sure it is legitimate first.

Kate

Dear Kate,

I looked this over. It does have a valid whitening ingredient, so that part is good. I don’t know what your dentist charges, but I’m pretty sure you’ll end up paying more in the long run. This is because of the whitening tray that you get with any over-the-counter kit.

When your dentist whitens your teeth with take home trays, they are custom fitted to your bite. This means that the gel stays in the trays and on your teeth and saliva stays out of the trays. Why is this important?

First, if the gel leaks out, which it will with the type of trays you can get over the counter, then you are losing whitening for your teeth. You’re also letting the gel get on your gums. This can lead to irritation of the gums. I read a blog post about a woman who ended up needing a root canal treatment from an over the counter treatment.

Second, if the gel can get out, your saliva can get in. That is a second way that your tooth bleaching will get diluted. You will get much more effective (and safer) results with professional teeth whitening.

If cost is the only factor in why you are considering something other than professional work, then I would like to suggest you talk to your dentist. They may let you pay it out or lower the price a little. I can’t guarantee that. But, if you don’t ask you’ll never know.

This blog is brought to you by Auburn, AL Dentists Drs. Murphree and Yount.
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Hockey Players and Dental Implants

January 15, 2025 by writeradmin

I have a son who plays hockey. He’s managed to stay uninjured all these years. But, now that he’s in college, he received a direct hit from a puck. Now he’s lost a tooth. We had already got him a dental implant and are almost to the point of getting his dental crown when one of his teammates told him that a dental implant is a bad idea because if he gets hit there again, the damage will be a lot worse. Now I am not sure what to do. Do you have any advice? Should I have the implant removed?

Casey

Dear Casey,

I’ve thought about your question. First, do not have the dental implant removed. It is the best tooth replacement and that root form being there will come in very handy in the future.

What you don’t want to do it put on the dental crown yet. With that crown anchored on a dental implant, the implant would be ripped out of the bone by another direct hit. His teammate is correct that this will do some damage. Plus, to repair it would require an additional procedure of bone grafting.

I suggest, at least until he is done with hockey, to just get a temporary tooth replacement that is easily removable, like a dental flipper. This way if he is hit, then the the replacement will come out without doing any damage to him. If you want it to match really well, then you’ll want to go to an experienced cosmetic dentist. It will cost a bit more, but no one will know that his tooth is fake, which is important to a young man.

Because you’ve already placed the root form for his implant, you are not only saving time for when he’s ready for the permanent replacement, but you’re also saving yourself expense. The implant being placed there is preserving his bone in that area. If he didn’t have the root form of a tooth, then the bone would slowly shrink because your body would resorb the minerals in your jawbone to use them elsewhere. Then, when he was ready for the dental implant there would not be enough bone for the implant and he’d need the additional bone grafting procedure I mentioned earlier.

This blog is brought to you by Auburn, AL Dentists Drs. Murphree and Yount.

Porcelain Veneer Fell Off

December 31, 2024 by writeradmin

I had some porcelain veneers placed on my teeth. I really like them and how they make my smile look. A front one split lengthwise and fell off. I salvaged the pieces and called my dentist. They did temporarily glue it back on. It feels weird and to me it is obvious that something is off about my smile. I have to wait a week before they’ll even get me the temporary veneer. I argued feeling that it is a dental emergency. My dentist said it’s just cosmetic. Is this the typical attitude. Also, should I replace it with another veneer or is a crown better after they fall off?

Belinda

Dear Belinda,

Whether a dental office would consider it a dental emergency depends on the practice. Some dentists do more cosmetic work than others. Those who do more would tend to prioritize this as an esthetic emergency.

My suggestion is that you replace it with another porcelain veneer. If he does a porcelain crown will require your dentist to grind down healthy tooth structure. It is very feasible to re-bond a veneer. However, your dentist will need to have a good understanding of bonding chemistry.

It is preferable to remove all of the old bonding material so that there is a clean surface to work with. But, that won’t be completely necessary so long as your dentist knows how to properly treat the surface.

If you are concerned that your dentist will take too long or that he does not have the skill to do this, you don’t have to have it done by the same dentist. Your dentist is under an ethical obligation to share all his treatment notes with any dentist you choose. Even if he doesn’t, if you go to an expert cosmetic dentist they can match the new veneer perfectly. Look at Dr. Murphree’s bio in order to get an idea of what to look for in an expert cosmetic dentist in your area.

This blog is brought to you by Auburn, AL Dentists Drs. Murphree and Yount.

Will All-on-4 Keep My Face From Collapsing?

December 14, 2024 by writeradmin

I was recently diagnosed with a severe calcium deficiency. My dentist is suggesting that I remove the remainder of my teeth. I have always had trouble with them. He thinks the calcium deficiency will throw the remainder of them over the edge. I’m trying to be okay with this and be proactive. He’s suggesting dentures, but I know that will lead to my face collapsing. I can’t afford a dental implant for every tooth. I have heard about this procedure known as all-on-4, which would only require four dental implants. I think I could swing that. But, I’d like to know if it will prevent my face from collapsing.

Bethany

Dear Bethany,

illustration of an all-on-4 dental implant procedure — All-on-4 Dental Implants

I have some good news for you. First, I have serious doubts about the advice your dentist is giving you. If this is a calcium deficiency that you’ve just developed, then it would have zero impact on your teeth. The only way to for a calcium deficiency to impact your teeth is if you had it when those teeth were being formed. You haven’t told me your age, but based on your vocabulary and means of processing the issue, I’m assuming you are an adult with fully formed teeth.

It’s possible that your dentist is simply one of those dentists who does not like spending extraordinary effort to save teeth. Some dentists think it is just easier to extract them. My suggestion is that you get a second opinion on your remaining teeth. It’s very possible that they can be saved and you will not have to worry about replacing them at all.

If, on the unlikely chance, the second dentist also believes that you need to replace the teeth, then yes, all-on-4 will prevent facial collapse. However, you do not have to get a dental implant for each missing tooth. You can simply get between four and six dental implants and then have dentures anchored to them. All-on-4 is usually used for people who are lacking some of the bone structure in their jaw and do not have enough to retain traditional implant overdentures.

All that being said. I really think, barring something else going on that I’m not aware of, you can probably save those teeth.

This blog is brought to you by Auburn, AL Dentists Drs. Murphree and Yount.

Can I Get a Refund for a Failed Dental Implant?

November 30, 2024 by writeradmin

I had a tooth which was bothering me. My dentist said that it could not be saved and suggested we extract it right then. He gave me a Novocain shot that hurt a crazy amount and caused a burning in my mouth. Plus, it still hurt to remove the tooth. The medicine he gave me to numb my teeth did not work for long. The burning continued and I kept going back to find a solution. He eventually said it was thrush and gave me a prescription. That didn’t help and no matter how many times I went back he said that I should just keep taking the medicine he gave me. Next, he suggested a get a dental implant for the missing tooth, which I did under anesthesia. While I was on a family vacation the dental crown fell off for the implant. I went to see a dentist on our vacation to get it fixed. He said my dental implant was loose and needed to come out. I was devastated, but what could I do? He took it out the next day, which officially made it the worst vacation I’ve ever had. I’m scheduled to get a dental bridge from my husband’s dentist because I don’t trust my dentist any more. Is it possible for me to get a refund from my dentist for the failed dental implant?

Mary

Dear Mary,

I have very little confidence in your dentist myself. First he had the thrush misdiagnosis. Obviously, if the medicine didn’t help then that means it wasn’t thrush. My guess is that you’re dealing with burning mouth syndrome. We’ll go over that in a minute. Then, there was the crown falling off. Keeping a dental crown on is not that hard if it is properly bonded. In fact, most dentists go their entire careers without having a crown fall off.

I have some doubts about the dentist you saw on vacation. You didn’t mention that the dental implant was loose or that there was any pain or fever with it. This makes me wonder if the crown really did need to come out. It would be hard to prove either way now that it is out. However, I would get all the diagnostics from him, including any x-rays. He is ethically bound to provide those for you.

I would start by asking your dentist for a refund, letting him know what you went through on your vacation. If he says no, then you could threaten a lawsuit or to leave a bad review. Bad reviews are free and will impact his business. To get anywhere with a lawsuit, you will need expert testimony. Have a dental implant expert look over the diagnostics the vacation dentist did. If he can give you testimony that the implant failed because of something your dentist did then you have a decent chance at your refund. If he can’t, then I would ask for a partial refund because the bad thrush diagnosis and the failed dental crown are easily proved.

Burning Mouth Syndrome

The most common cause of burning mouth syndrome is a traumatic dental appointment, which you definitely had. As you are probably switching dentists anyway, and I would suggest that you do, I’d like to suggest that you look for a sedation dentist. They can give you a medication that will completely relax you for your dental appointment. In fact, depending on the type of medication you get, you will be able to sleep through the appoint if you choose to.

This blog is brought to you by Auburn, AL Dentists Drs. Murphree and Yount.

Dentist Can’t Find the Problem

November 14, 2024 by writeradmin

I had an emergency root canal while on a trip in France with my university before I fell and damaged one of my front teeth. The other front tooth was fine. When I returned home, my dentist checked everything out and placed a dental crown over the root canal saying that everything looked good. Fast forward about a year later, and the crowned tooth became sensitive. I went in to see my dentist. He did x-rays and messed about with it but could not find anything wrong with it, so he sent me to an endodontist. The endodontist said the pressure is probably coming from the next tooth because it looks like I’ve been clenching my teeth. Neither of them of them have done anything for the tooth and, even though it has stopped hurting, I am worried there is a real problem. Otherwise why would it be absolutely fine for a year and then start hurting?

Amelia

Dear Amelia,

If they did a proper root canal treatment on you then that tooth should not have any pain because the nerve was removed. Sometimes, when a root canal is done on a back tooth, there could be a hidden canal that gets missed, but front teeth are very easy so this should not be an issue. Plus, you had two dentists, on separate continents, look at the root canal when you first got it done, both of them said it looked fine. Because of that, I don’t think the root canaled tooth is the problem.

Bear in mind that I have not examined you. That being said, I actually think it is the tooth beside the one with the dental crown that is the problem. When you damaged your front tooth, the adjacent tooth likely experienced trauma as well. It is not unusual for an injured tooth to not show symptoms at first. Some can take a couple of years.

Not having the problem show up on the x-ray does not surprise me. It will not show up until the inflammation progresses to an infection that starts to spill out of the tooth. You don’t have a dental emergency at the moment. But, if it starts hurting again or you develop a pimple on your gums, then that means the adjacent tooth will need a root canal treatment as well.

This blog is brought to you by Auburn, AL Dentists Drs. Murphree and Yount.
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Are There Porcelain Veneer Emergencies?

October 31, 2024 by writeradmin

My daughter had porcelain veneers done before leaving for college. About a month ago she fell and chipped one of them. We went to see her dentist while she was home for a quick break. That dentist “fixed it” by trimming down both teeth to the same size. Now the teeth have a blue tinge to them. Did she do something the damage the teeth? Are the veneers in danger of falling off?

Pamela

Dear Pamela,

You didn’t say where the color change is. However, It sounds like the bonding between the tooth and the veneer is failing. While it is possible that it will fall off, unless she has an expert cosmetic dentist nearby that can replace the porcelain veneers, she is better off allowing the veneers to fall off on their own.

I don’t think the dentist did anything by trimming them. The problem was probably there from the beginning and is just now showing up. The bluish color is from things getting caught between the tooth and the veneer.

When it falls off, most dentists would not consider it a dental emergency. That being said, a true cosmetic dentist does understand the urgency of an aesthetic emergency.

So, how will she find one of those dentists? She will want someone who has had both post-doctoral training and a track record of artistry in creating beautiful smiles. Take a look at Dr. Murphree’s bio to get an idea of what you are looking for.

This blog is brought to you by Auburn, AL Dentists Drs. Murphree and Yount.

Pain from Teeth Bleaching

October 17, 2024 by writeradmin

I have been whitening my teeth at home. It was going okay until about a week ago. That’s when I felt a zing of pain. The pain happened right where I had some dental bonding done to repair a chip. Is it possible that the whitening is damaging the bonding? Will it fall off? Is there a way for me to whiten my teeth with bonding?

Loretta

Dear Loretta,

There is no evidence that teeth whitening can damage the bonding on your teeth. If the bonding weakened, the repair would just fall off. My guess is that your chip repair has a small part that is exposed. This is likely what is causing the zing that you are feeling. It is possible you had a small piece of your repair that was damaged at some point and now the area is a bit sensitive.

My recommendation is that you temporarily stop your teeth whitening procedure until you can have your dentist look at this. I’m going under the assumption you are having your bleaching done under the care of a dentist. Even if you are not, this will need to be looked at.

The damaged portion to your dental bonding needs to be repaired. That will protect is from other problems as well. Then, once the sensitive portion is appropriately covered, you can resume your bleaching again. Your dentist won’t necessarily need to redo the repair. He or she may just need to coat it with something that will protect it from sensitivity.

This blog is brought to you by Auburn, AL Dentists Drs. Murphree and Yount.