Restore or Extract a Wisdom Tooth with a Cavity?

I think I understand why my new dentist’s fees are lower than most in the area. I’m 52 years old. After my second cleaning and exam appointment, my dentist told me that there is a large cavity in my lower left wisdom tooth. The tooth isn’t impacted, sensitive, or painful. My dentist says that the cavity is so large that she needs to extract it. She didn’t give me an alternative. Can I trust her diagnosis? Dana from Tulsa, OK

Dana,

If your dentist didn’t show you a picture of the large cavity in your wisdom tooth, you should ask to see it.

Large Cavity in a Wisdom Tooth – Restore or Extract?

Consider a few facts about large cavities and wisdom teeth.

Wisdom teeth

  • Although it’s usually best to save a natural tooth, wisdom teeth are often the exception.
  • Sometimes it can be difficult for a dentist to access a wisdom tooth because it’s far back in the mouth.
  • If your dentist doesn’t have full access to a tooth, he or she won’t be able to the tooth well. If the tooth is impacted, complications increase.
  • It’s often difficult for dentists to access wisdom teeth because they are far back in the mouth.
  • If you wait until you feel pain, the tooth can crumble as your dentist removes it—making it more challenging to extract.

Large cavities

Photo of a woman in a dental chair with a dentist and hygienst on either side of her; for information on affordable dentistry from Plano TX female dentist Dr. Miranda Lacy.
Find an affordable dentist you can trust

A dentist can use a large filling or a crown to restore a tooth. If the decay is extensive, your dentist might recommend root canal treatment. It isn’t easy to restore a wisdom tooth with a crown. The crown might need to be replaced more frequently than a crown on a tooth that your dentist can easily access.

Trusting Your Dentist

If you don’t trust your dentist, you’ll be unlikely to be satisfied with any of her treatment recommendations. Affordable dentistry doesn’t mean that a dentist has questionable practices. Speak with your dentist to understand why the is recommending extraction and ask to see your x-rays. If you need further reassurance, you can get a second opinion.

Miranda Lacy, DDS, of Plano, TX sponsors this post.

What Causes Pain After New White Fillings? And How to Resolve It

I need to find a dentist who is skilled at restoring cavities and who is willing to sedate me while I’m getting the work done. Although cavities haven’t been a problem for me in the past, it started after I had my baby in February 2019. Last July, I went to the dentist in severe pain. I had six cavities that the dentist filled at a second appointment. When I returned to the dentist in February of this year, I had two more cavities. One of the two most recent white fillings on a molar tooth is painful when I chew on it. My dentist checked my bite and said it looks good. She offered to remove the filling and replace it. She said that the tooth might have a crack, and she can x-ray it. If it’s cracked, I need root canal treatment.

I decided to wait and do nothing because I don’t understand why I’m having so many problems with my teeth. Meanwhile, the tooth with the possible crack hurts when I floss around it, and it hurts to chew on that side of my mouth. Within the past two weeks, when I’m chewing, I sometimes feel a dull pain in two of the first six fillings that I received. They are molar teeth also. I’ve had some post-partum stress, and this situation is making it worse. I didn’t have dental anxiety before, but I’ve decided that I need to switch dentists and find one who is willing to sedate me to figure out what’s happening with my teeth. I’m not sure if I need a cosmetic dentist, but I would like some advice on finding a dentist who knows if I have more cavities and how to do white fillings correctly.  Thank you. Gabrielle

Gabrielle

Sedation dentistry can make getting new fillings easier

We understand your concern about your dentist’s technique with composite fillings. You described pain when you chew. When and where you feel pain will help a second-opinion dentist determine what’s causing the problem. Look for a dentist with training in cosmetic and sedation dentistry. Ask friends or family members for a cosmetic dentist—not a general dentist. If you don’t get any recommendations, search online, and read each dentist’s bio to determine if they have post-graduate training.

How to Resolve Pain After Getting Composite Fillings on Back Teeth

Pain when chewing, not clenching – Usually, pain while chewing results form improperly bonding the filling to your tooth. A cosmetic dentist with advanced training in composite fillings will remove the filling and replace it using proper bonding techniques.

Composite fillings on front vs. back teeth – Some dentists who place composite fillings don’t have advanced training in the technique. They rely on what they learned in dental school for placing composite fillings on front teeth. But the method for back teeth is not the same. It’s essential to find a dentist who has training in composite filling techniques.

Plano, TX female dentist Dr. Miranda Lacy sponsors this post.