I had a problem with a tooth hurting and it has a little white bubble on it. My dentist wants to extract the tooth and put a false one there. I’m only 20. Is it normal to lose a tooth at that age? I don’t know much about this because I’ve only had like one cavity in my life so this seems weird. What do I do?
Cameron
Dear Cameron,
That white bubble is probably an abscessed tooth. That means your tooth is infected. An infected tooth doesn’t necessarily mean that the tooth needs to be extracted. Often, an infected tooth can be saved with a root canal treatment and dental crown. Some dentists are better than others at trying to save teeth. Extracting a tooth is easy for them; saving one is hard work.
Because of that, I would like you to get a second opinion before moving forward with your dentist’s recommendation. When you do, don’t tell them who your dentist is or what your dentist diagnosed. Instead, just say you are wanting a blind unbiased opinion. My guess is he will tell you that a root canal treatment is really all you need.
However, if it turns out that you do need to have the tooth extracted, don’t panic. Having a false tooth these days is not at all like it used to be. Especially given your young age, I will recommend you get a dental implant. It’s a little more expensive, but it is the closest thing to having a healthy natural tooth in your mouth again. It’s completely secure and permanently placed. You won’t have to worry about anything falling out of your mouth.
I hope this helps.
This blog is brought to you by Atlanta Periodontist Dr. David Pumphrey.
