My Dentist Couldn’t Find My Toothache

I am very diligent with going to the dentist. He suggested because of a family history of decay that I come in for cleaning and checkups every three months instead of every six. I’d been having a horrible toothache on a tooth, which already had a filling, for the last few days, so I went to my dentist a month early. He looked at my old x-ray because it had only been a couple of months ago. He didn’t see anything on it. He also said that he did not see any type of crack or opening on my filling. So, he just gave me an antibiotic and told me if it stops hurting that I would not have to worry or come back in until my appointment. None of this sounds right to me. I mean, how does he know it needs an antibiotic if he doesn’t know what the problem is?

Janie

Dear Janie,

I have heard many stories that demonstrated dental incompetence, but it’s been a while since I’d heard one with so many layers of incompetence. The first thing I am going to recommend for you is that you find a better dentist. Your current one is a disaster. Let’s go through his mistakes in order.

First, he used old x-rays. Sure the x-ray was only a couple of months old, but your tooth wasn’t hurting then. Why would the problem causing the toothache be on that x-ray? It makes no sense. You need an x-ray during your toothache.

Second, he said that because there wasn’t a crack on your filling there isn’t a problem. While that is one example that indicates a problem, there are several more. Maybe he ran some of the tests that I am about to list, but you didn’t mention them so I wanted to make sure you were aware of them.

• Did he tap your tooth to see if that led to pain in the tooth?
• Did he do a cold test on it? What about a hot test?
• Did he run any electrical tests to determine if the pulp of your tooth is alive?

Finally, he gave you an antibiotic and said if that helped, you’re fine. Absolutely not! Antibiotics do not cure tooth infections. They can get them under control so you can get the right treatment, which is either a root canal or an extraction, but they will not get rid of the infection. Plus, after you run out of antibiotics, the infection will eventually blow up again. People still die every year from tooth infections that did not get proper treatment.

You need to see another dentist. Find a dentist or specialist who makes room in their schedule for dental emergencies.

This blog is brought to you by a compassionate San Antonio Endodontist, Dr. Scott Janse.