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Dr Paul F Mitsch
Paul F. Mitsch, D.M.D. believes that this is such an exciting time to be a dentist. Innovations and refinements in technology and treatment options are introduced continually. To maintain a leading edge, he has added to his educational foundation with advanced training in the newest of the new techniques. Education: D.M.D. Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri. B.A., Biology, University of California at San Diego. Fellowships: Academy of General Dentistry, Academy of Dentistry International, and The International Congress of Oral Implantologists. Associate Fellowships: American College of Oral Implantology, American Society of Osseointegration. You can reach Dr. Paul Mitsch at (316) 775-2482 or stop by his office in Augusta at 401 State Street in the historical downtown district.
Dental
2004-12-01 09:07:00
My teeth hurt. Why now?
: I hear more complaints this time of year about teeth hurting than any other time.  Why is that so?
ANSWER: Probably just coincidence, but it could be all of the different foods we eat.  The holidays are once again upon us and we have many choices to make in terms of entertainment, travel, finances and health care so that we can enjoy the festivities and welcome the coming year.  But don't let the hectic holiday rush prevent you from seeking dental care when your teeth are causing pain. "My teeth only hurt when . . ." is the way many of my patients answer when asked, "Do any of your teeth hurt?" It is extremely important that as we consider our health. We consider that pain is one of the primary indicators of problems or pathology of some kind.  There are reasons a person may encounter pain and there are different levels of pain.  However, if one has no interest in considering the problematic side of pain, some facts may be irrefutable in time; the pain will be worse and the problem may be more difficult and expensive to solve.Dental pain has many presentations and there are countless reasons a person may experience pain with his or her teeth, face, ears or jaw that relate to the person's dental situation. Understanding the major problems will motivate most of us to seek answers and consider if we should "just live with it" when - or if - we experience dental pain.The infection with the highest incident in the United States is dental decay! Dental decay may be primary in nature when the tooth in question has never been filled or restored.  However, secondary decay is more frequent and occurs around existing restorations (crowns or fillings). Dental decay does not discriminate! If the bacteria responsible for dental decay are present and it has an opportunity, it will invade a small space and the decay process will begin. The name of this decay process is Caries. The bacterium responsible is Streptococcus Mutans (virtually everyone harbors these bacteria). The bacteria metabolize substrate (food, usually sugars) and secrets acid which breaks down the tooth. One good rule to follow is that if a person sees the waste product of the bacteria, such as stains, the bacteria may be in the tooth. Pain associated with decay may be simple to fix or it may require extensive restoration or even Endodontic (root canal) treatment. Cracked teeth can also cause pain. Regardless of the level of pain, cracked teeth must be examined and treated! When a tooth cracks, pain will occur when the patient eats or chews. As the crack gets larger, the pain will become more consistent until it is constant. Teeth crack due to the bite, when large restorations fail or break or when trauma to the teeth occur as in an accident. A cracked tooth may be painful and the pain may come and go. The treatment for a cracked tooth varies but will usually be a filling, an inlay or onlay and is usually a crown. Root canal treatment is sometimes important and necessary with a cracked tooth. If the tooth is not treated, it may need to be removed and in some cases the tooth may need to be removed and replaced with an implant or a fixed bridge. Occasionally, a tooth may need to be removed in spite of all efforts in treatment. There is nothing simple about treating a cracked tooth and perhaps the most important thing to consider in treatment is why the tooth cracked and what made the patient notice the pain.Finally, as we have mentioned before, impacted teeth - usually wisdom teeth - sometimes cause pain that is mistaken for sinus pain or neck pain. A good scanning x-ray will determine if there are any unerrupted (impacted) teeth and when, if and how they should be removed. Impacted wisdom teeth are usually painful between the ages of 15 and 25 years of age. The wisdom teeth can be the cause of painful and difficult episodes of infection and should be removed if they are symptomatic.As we enter the holiday season and we are making the annual "to do" list, consider your teeth and any pain caused by your teeth. If dental pain is in your life or the life of a loved one, seek care and diagnosis as soon as possible and consider your opportunities in treatment to prevent more dramatic problems from occurring. Even if you "haven't got time for the pain" because the holiday season is upon us, be sure that if you have dental pain, understand it and fix it as soon as possible!
 
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