Dr. Noah's Dentistry Blog

Questions About Dentistry Answered

Can a Toothache Cause Chest Pain?

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I want to know if chest pain can be caused by a toothache. My mother is 75 and is a tad stubborn. She periodically has toothaches I have to try to convince her to get checked, but this morning she mentioned chest pain too. I started to panic but she says it has happened before and it ended up being nothing. I wanted to take her to the hospital but she said no. Now, I’ve been fretting about it all day. Could that just be referred pain from her tooth or should I have taken her to the hospital?

Karen

Dear Karen,

blonde woman holding the side of her jaw in need of an emergency dentist

ANY time someone has chest pain it is important to get them to the hospital!

Heart attacks can have multiple symptoms and often vary by person. Orofacial pain happens in about 10% of heart attacks. However, it isn’t generally localized to a single tooth, but radiates across the jaw. That doesn’t mean your mother shouldn’t get checked out because as mentioned earlier, everyone manifests a heart attack slightly differently. This is especially true of women.

Toothaches Should be Taken Seriously

Even if her heart is fine, a toothache needs to be taken seriously. Often, they are a sign of a tooth infection. These should be considered a dental emergency. When the infection is not physically removed by a dentist in a procedure known as a root canal treatment, the infection will spread. Antibiotics alone won’t help. Even in the 21st century, people still die from tooth infections.

The Link Between Bodily Health and Oral Health

There are increasing studies that show dental health has a direct link to someone’s general health. This is especially true with gum disease. Patients with gum disease have an increased chance of heart attacks, diabetes, high blood pressure, and stroke. Helping your mother get in front of her dental issues will have an overall positive impact on her health.

This blog is brought to you by Tulsa Dentist Dr. Ryan Noah.

How Long Does Emergency Bonding Last?

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I had quite the fight with a flight of stairs and my teeth lost. Two of them were badly chipped. I went to see an emergency dentist and he put some kind of emergency bonding on them and told me to follow up with my regular dentist. The bonding he did seems to be holding up, even though it is a few days later.  How soon will I need to see my dentist before it wears out?

Caryn – MIchigan

Caryn,

I’m assuming  the emergency dentist used a composite bonding on your chipped teeth. It’s used in emergencies, but not soley. It’s a common treatment for chipped teeth and will last several years. He didn’t want you to follow up because it needed replacing right away.

Instead, it is to double check the tooth itself. When a tooth is traumatized, it doesn’t always give  symptoms right away. If the blood flow was cut off to the tooth it wouldn’t show up on x-rays. If this is the case, the tooth could be dead or dying, and it will eventually need a root canal. Unfortunately, the first sign this has happened is often pain or an abscess, though sometimes the person notices discoloration as well. Anytime you see an emergency dentist, he’ll refer you back to your regular office for a follow-up.

I hope this helps you. Do make sure you follow up.  It could save you a great deal of time and money, as well as unnecessary treatment.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Ryan Noah.

What Should I do about My Gray Tooth?

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I’ve never had any cavities in my life but just over a year and a half ago, my dentist pointed out that I have a gray tooth. She wasn’t certain if I needed a filling or a root canal and said she wanted to see me again. I never went back because I was anxious about the outcome. The gray tooth is my bottom right molar and it’s partially gray. I have an appointment this week but I feel stressed and think the tooth might be dead. What do you think?
– Brad from Oklahoma

Brad,
When teeth begin to turn gray it can be a sign that the tooth is dying. Since your dentist was unsure if it was a cavity, this was probably not observed in the X-ray of the tooth.

Teeth can die for no reason, however usually dental trauma or decay is the main cause. Most patients experience pain and sensitivity when trauma or decay occurs. If you are not experiencing any pain, the nerve in the tooth could be dead. A tooth can die from a heavy biting force and clenching of the teeth because the blood supply to the nerve becomes reduced causing death to the tooth. Sometimes people think that if the tooth doesn’t hurt, don’t do anything but here may be dead nerve tissue in the tooth. Leaving this tissue gives bacteria a feasting ground to grow, which does lead to an infection.

It is recommended to have your dentist take another X-ray to see if there are any changes in the tooth. If you feel like she is unsure if the tooth is dead or not we would recommend you visit an Endodontist. An Endodontist is a dentist that had more schooling then a typical dentist who solely specializes in root canal treatments. They use more equipment and different techniques to determine if the tooth has died.

For more information about Dr. Noah, visit Region Dental.

 

Why do I feel pain after a root canal?

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Around three and half years ago, I had a tooth that needed to have a root canal and crown. Now, I’m experiencing pain with this tooth but my dentist says the root canal looks good. The dentist did not inform me of any cracks in the tooth so I’m not sure if that’s the problem or if I will lose my tooth. Also, the dentist said my tooth might need a new crown. I think the crown looks good and I don’t see any problems. What do you think?
– Brenda from Oklahoma 

Hi Brenda,
There may be many reasons why you’re experiencing discomfort with your tooth that has had a root canal and crown. One possibility for the pain you’re feeling is that the crown may be placed too high and it may need to be adjusted. If you’re biting hard on a crown tooth and it’s seated too high it can cause the tooth to ache even with a root canal. It’s important your bite be checked.

Did your dentist study your bite to see if the tooth needed adjustments? If not, have them check to see if it needs to be adjusted. If this isn’t the problem, it may be that you may grind or clench your teeth at night when you sleep and may not be aware of the issue.

Clenching and grinding can also cause teeth to hurt. Get your dentist to check and see if there are signs of grinding or clenching. If you have this issue, the dentist should create a night guard for you to protect your teeth and gums. There is a possibility the tooth has a crack within the root, however it is difficult to diagnosis. To confirm this, you will want to have a consultation with an endodontist who specializes in root canal treatments and would give you a better indication if the tooth actually has a crack or not. If your tooth has a crack, it would need to be extracted because there is no way to fix the tooth. If your tooth has to be removed, you have the option of getting a dental implant or dental bridge to replace your missing tooth.

Reasons why a root canal procedure may fail and cause discomfort:
■Sealers used to coat the filling material may wash out, creating a gap within the root canal, therefore causing infection
■If gaps are left at the base of the root and not filled properly, the tooth gets contaminated with bacteria which infects the tooth again
■If the tooth had multiple canals and exit points a spot may be missed and infection can set in
■If the root has small fractures the tooth may get contaminated with bacteria, causing infection which will lead to extraction
■If the tooth is not restored with a properly fitted dental crown then contamination may occur
■Inadequate cleaning, reshaping, or a lack of aseptic techniques of the root may cause root canal failure

As was mentioned before, there are multiple reasons why you’re having pain in your tooth. You should consult your dentist to determine if the bite is too high or to see if you have issues with grinding or clenching. These are two very common reasons for root canal pain. If your issue isn’t resolved, we advise you to see an endodentist who will inform you whether  the tooth is re-infected and needs to be retreated or if the root is cracked and the tooth needs extraction.

For more information about Dr. Noah, visit Region Dental.