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Dentist
June 2008: dentist Q&As
Dr Keith Cohen answers online readers' questions about a root infection, tooth whitening and a fractured tooth
Root infection
Q: On holiday I received a course of antibiotics (penicillin) and on returning, a course of metronizadole for an infection under the root of a posted tooth supporting a six-tooth bridge that no one wants to try to remove. An apecoectomy has been suggested but there is now (five weeks later) no discomfort whatsoever. Is it possible that the infection problem could have been permanently cured by the antibiotics?
A: The antibiotics will only remove the acute symptoms of the infection but the original problem will still be there and likely to recur. This will be seen on an X-ray image. If the bridge is otherwise satisfactory it would be preferable to leave it in place. The treatment depends upon the exact cause of the problem which is likely to be either from the root canal or the gums.
Discoloured teeth
Q: I am 62 with most of my own teeth. The four front teeth are crowned, the two front ones are whiter than all the rest and stand out brighter. Is there a way of tinting them to match or can I have them replaced?
A: The colour of ceramic or resin materials cannot be easily altered so your only option is either to change the crowns or bleach the surrounding teeth. If somebody is going to have restorations and bleaching it is always best to carry out the tooth whitening first and then match the colour of the crowns to the bleached teeth.
Tooth pain
Q: An ejected crown could not be reinserted as the stump had fractured and had to be extracted. The next tooth is painful when touched; could it be fractured also?
A: The next tooth could be fractured although this is unlikely unless you suffered a knock to the teeth. The other likely causes for the pain are either a root canal problem or gum disease which your dentist should be able to diagnose quite easily by examining the teeth and an X-ray of them.
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Information on this site is for interest only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. You should consult your own doctor about any specific health concerns.
