My crown isn’t staying on. It has popped off three times now, and after each trip back to the dentist, I get the same answer: another procedure. This time, it is cutting away gum tissue to expose more of the tooth for the crown to hold onto. Sounds intense, right? There’s another thing that freaks me out—the base of my tooth, where the crown is black now. I could swear it wasn’t like that before the last repair. I have the crown in my hand. What should I do next? I’m exhausted. I had never hated dental visits before this drama. I can’t unwind. Thanks. Cherie Cherie, I understand your frustrati ..read more

I’m recovering from bulimia and trying to save my teeth. Will I need crowns on all teeth to save them? I’ve seen four cosmetic dentists with good reputations in the state to see which one is the best dentist for a smile makeover. Two of the four dentists recommended porcelain crowns for a smile makeover because several of my teeth are severely decayed. They basically said that the crowns could correct my bite and give me a good-looking smile. The decay is severe in 11 of my teeth; 3 more have limited decay, and my remaining teeth don’t need major work. Their recommendation surprised me, and I ..read more

I am concerned about a root canal issue that seems will never end. Last November, my dentist filled a small cavity. But the tooth became sensitive to cold on and off. My dentist said I needed a root canal and a crown. He completed treatment, but my dentist had problems getting the bite correct. I was beginning to get jaw pain and earaches. The tooth settled down a bit but was still a little sensitive. Within the past two weeks, the sensitivity increased. When I visited the dentist last week, he said he might need to repeat the root canal. But I am five months pregnant now and need another X-ra ..read more

I had two consultations with dentists, who agreed I needed two dental implants and three crowns. I am terrified of the dentist and will need sedation for the dental work. One dentist only uses nitrous oxide in the office but would refer me to a specialist for implant surgery. The other dentist uses nitrous oxide and sedation pills. I know more than nitrous oxide is needed regardless of the procedure. I read about IV sedation and that it is stronger than other options. I am willing to switch dentists for more sedation, but I need to schedule consultations after finding dentists who use IV sedat ..read more

Do I still need to see a dentist if I am taking antibiotics? I might have a tooth abscess, but I am not sure. I went to urgent care over the weekend. They gave me an antibiotic prescription for a possible infection. They looked at my tooth but said the gum seemed slightly irritated. They gave me discharge papers saying I needed to see a dentist, but I didn’t understand. If the infection goes away, I will be satisfied. Why pay more to have a dentist look at my tooth and tell me everything looks good? Last year I had an infection, but it wasn’t a tooth infection. Still, the antibiotics knocked i ..read more

My crown cracked this week, and I want to know how long it can last. The crack is on a lower molar tooth, and I can feel it if I glide my tongue along the side of the crown. I can barely see the crack when I look at the crown in the mirror. I haven’t been to the dentist since pre-Covid, and I cannot relax enough to go before my vacation next week. I prefer to wait until I return in February to look for a dentist and let them know that I can only get work done if I get oral sedation first. How much time do I have before the crown breaks? Thanks. Ella from Austin Ella, Dr. Lacy would need to exa ..read more

I think my dental implants are failing. My 2021 full-mouth reconstruction included implants, crowns, and veneers. I think several of the implant teeth are infected, and two crowns have fallen off. My gums are swollen, and it hurts to chew. Unfortunately, the dentist relocated, and I cannot find a current listing for him. I am concerned that another dentist must replace my implants and that I will need a repeat full-mouth reconstruction. I do not know where to begin, and my anxiety level is increasing because I am afraid that I will need implant surgery again and who knows what else. – Thank yo ..read more

I delayed wisdom teeth removal for years because of dental anxiety. Now, at age 47, two of my wisdom teeth are infected. I have not been to a dentist yet, but my gums around the teeth are swollen. I am sure that a dentist will refer me to an oral surgeon. Will I get local or general anesthesia? Thank you. Tyler from Boulder, CO Tyler, Thank you for contacting Dr. Lacy’s office. Most wisdom teeth cases only require local anesthesia. Still, an oral surgeon can give you sedation to relax during the procedure. IV Sedation for Wisdom Teeth Extraction Intravenous sedation causes you to drift in an o ..read more

A dentist placed four zirconia crowns on my left central incisor back and the three teeth behind it. I got the crowns from the dentist because his price was $200 cheaper per crown than the other estimates. The crowns do not match the shape of my natural teeth, and they do not look natural at all. I am anxious about dental appointments anyway, and the thought of getting this work redone scares me. Could another dentist reshape these crowns to match my teeth? Thank you. Andra from GA Andra, Thank you for your question. We are sorry to hear about your experience. Getting natural-looking results o ..read more

On April 2, my dentist extracted an upper left root canal tooth that broke. She sectioned the molar into sections to make the extraction easier. Since the extraction pain somehow refers to my lower and spikes in the afternoon through the evening. The side of my face feels numb, and I feel pain in my ear. Why is the pain intense in my jaw when the upper tooth was extracted? And why is it lingering weeks after the extraction? I called my dentist, but she is prescribing pain relievers, which do not help. Should I see another dentist before my anxiety gets worse? Thank you. Alana from NY Alana, Al ..read more