Can I wait 6 months for a root canal

For the past two months, I have had cheek and jaw pain from an upper right tooth in front of where my wisdom tooth was. My sinuses and noes are achy, too. Late last week, I woke up with a sore neck, and that pain radiates into my right ear and temple. I’ve been taking antibiotics until I can afford to see a dentist. I cannot afford a root canal and certainly not a dental implant. My dental coverage only covers routine exams and cleaning. Could all these symptoms be related to my tooth? I am afraid that I will lose my tooth. I know your doctor has not seen me, but how much longer can I wait? Thank you. Joziah from TN

Joziah,

We are glad that you asked the question! You cannot afford to wait any longer. You are describing a tooth infection that is spreading. If you act quickly, a dentist might be able to save your tooth with root canal treatment. Otherwise, a dentist might need to remove the tooth.

What If You Cannot Afford a Root Canal?

If you cannot afford root canal treatment, look online for a nearby university dental school, a dental clinic, or a local dental society. Any of those organizations can direct you to dentists who treat patients that require prompt, serious care.

If you go to a hospital emergency room or an urgent care facility, they may give you pain medication or a more potent antibiotic. But eventually, you must see a dentist for root canal treatment even if you do not have dental insurance.

Are Antibiotics Enough to Treat a Tooth Infection?

The root canal process can be an alternative to tooth removal and a dental implant

Continually taking antibiotics for tooth infection can promote an antibiotic-resistant infection that becomes worse. The American Dental Association confirms that the infection can even spread without root canal treatment into the bone supporting the tooth.

The only way to treat an infected tooth is with a root canal procedure or tooth removal. A dentist will not recommend a dental implant knowing that you cannot afford it. Please do not let the cost of treatment prevent you from getting help.

Steven Brooksher, DDS of Baton Rouge, sponsors this post. Dr. Brooker is a Fellow of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists.

Throbbing pain, sensitivity, and sore gums are just a few of the most prominent signs that you might have a root canal in your future. But how long can you wait?

This is actually one of the more common questions that gets asked when patients learn their teeth are infected. But ask yourself, if you looked down at a cut you happened to get on your arm, leg, or finger and happened to notice the telltale signs of bacterial infection (redness, swelling, fever, etc) would you stand-by and do nothing?

Probably not. Chances are, you might get a little concerned. So why would you put off treatment of an infection in your mouth?

The stone-cold truth is this: infection is dangerous, and infection wants to spread. Once your dentist or endodontic specialist (root canal doctor for short) tells you that your tooth is infected, the very real reality is that it’s just waiting to move on to greener pastures with more opportunities to feed and spread. While the pain might get a bit better due to the nerves gradually dying, you’ll eventually begin to feel more pressure and you’ll experience more swelling. At its worst, a tooth infection – left untreated – can continue to spread through your blood to even more vulnerable parts of your body like your heart.

Did you know it’s possible to die from a tooth infection? 

Granted, modern dental technology has made it all but unheard of these days. But it just goes to show that ignoring the problem is no way to solve it – only make it worse.

So, to answer the question: Don’t wait long!

Immediately upon discovering an infection, your dentist will likely prescribe you an antibiotic that will help control the infection. But even then, the underlying cause of the infection still isn’t treated, and antibiotic will only buy you a handful of weeks. After this, the tooth has to be treated in order to be saved.

While many patients think that they’re saving money by putting off root canal treatment, the opposite is actually true. Waiting to fix your teeth is like waiting to exterminate the termites eating away at the foundation of your home. The longer you wait, the longer the “infection” has to work away at the structure of your teeth, and the more expensive it will be to repair the damage. In some cases, waiting too long can even make the damage irreversible – meaning you’ll need to spend even more to fully replace the tooth.

Are you experiencing a sharp, prolonged tooth pain or sensitivity? Have you noticed swelling or a white, pimple-like dot on your gums in the same area as dental pain? Find a dentist nearby immediately to minimize the damage and get back to living your life pain free.