Help! I need a dentist, but I don't know what kind I need?

[Code_Name_D]

I have seven listed on my dental plan, but sence I do not speak laten, I have no idea what they are, and what they speculize in. Some one out there help me with this?

The list includes Genral Practitioner
Endodontist
Oral Surgeon
Orhodontist
Pediatric Dentist
Periodontist
and Prothodontist

And time is of the esseses. An absest tooth appries to have run out of pashents with my procastination. (ouch) And I am running out of asprin!

[meegbear]

1. Call the oral surgeon ...

and describe the symptoms. He could recommend coming in or who to go to.

[SaveElmer]

2. Having just gone through thismyself

A General Dentist should be able to take care of an abcessed tooth. Hope it hasn't gotten too infected. I know how much that hurts...getting it taken care of hurts alot less !!!

[radwriter0555]

7. Yes, go to the general dentist and he'll make sure it's ALL taken

care of.

Usually the generals farm you out to the specialists, if you need to.

THTOP PROCRATHTINATING!

[Don_G]

3. Offhand

I would say you need a GP. Call one ASAP for a prescription for an antibiotic. Generally, they need to control the swelling from the infection before a Dentist can drill and fill.

[bicentennial_baby]

4. Gp and possibly Oral surgeon

Definitely go to the Gp, and they'll let you know if you need an Oral surgeon.

[illini]

5. I have a set of channel locks!!!

$5 a toooth. $10 per shot of Jim Beam. :smoke:

[Another Bill C.]

6. An abscess

usually means the root is infected. The usual remedy is a root canal. An endodontist is the guy who specializes in this. In uncomplicated cases, a general practitioner can do it, also, and may be less expensive. As posted by someone else, you'll probably get some pain killers and antibiotics to bring down the infection before they do anything.

[RebelOne]

8. Yes, go to the General Practitioner.

Having been in your shoes a few times, I feel your pain. Even if the tooth has to be pulled, you will have to take antibiotics until the infection is gone.

[DemBones DemBones]

9. I've had six or seven root canals, ask me anything. . .

Go to a General Practitioner FIRST and let him refer you. I don't think a specialist takes anyone without a referral.

You will need an Endodontist to do the root canal you'll have to have. At least in my experience, an abscess means a root canal -- or an extraction but unless it's a wisdom tooth, you probably don't want that.

Root canals are expensive (good thing you have insurance!) and not a lot of fun so you want a guy who really knows what he's doing, not the cheapest one, or the one nearest to you. (I have to drive an hour away to get to a good endodontist.)

You'll have to take antibiotics to get rid of the infection, anyway, and it'll probably be weeks before you can see a specialist, so be sure you see a good one. (Don't think you can get away with taking the antibiotics and not having a root canal. Let the endodontist decide.)

ASK PEOPLE WHO'VE HAD ROOT CANALS WHO THEIR ENDODONTIST WAS. The important thing is not whether they liked his personality, of course, but how the root canal turned out, as in whether they've had to have it redone, had more trouble with the tooth, etc.

Dentists know who the good endodontists are but may not want to bad-mouth the bad ones so if you have to rely on the dentist's recommendation, ask WHO WOULD YOU HAVE DO THE ROOT CANAL IF YOU WERE THE ONE WITH THIS TOOTH?

With a good endodontist, root canals aren't that bad and are better than losing the tooth. If it's a molar, you'll have to have a crown on the tooth, more $$$.

Sorry for your pain. :-(

[Bronco69]

10. I just went through it a week ago.

Go to the general practioner. He will give you an antibiotic, and hopefully some Vicoden :-) then you will go back and he will do whatever needs to be done.

[Code_Name_D]

11. A big thank you for all the advice.

It proved to be most useful. I go under the drill next wednesday. (sigh) Wish me luck.

[Don_G]

12. Do What I Do

Find a GP next to a bar and ask for a straw with every drink.

I don't like Dentists either.

[noonwitch]

13. If you have an absess, you need a dentist who can spell V I C O D I N

That is, if I spelled it right.

[Code_Name_D]

14. So far, the pain is low

Nothing that 2 advil every 4 hours can't handel.