Infections around Crowns

When a tooth is unable to fully push through the gum line, it isn’t just uncomfortable or awkward-looking. It also creates a trap for decay-causing bacteria. We provide thorough cleanings at the Miami Beach dental offices of Ressler, Hirschl, and Lelchuk, but an impacted tooth can result in a kind of infection called pericoronitis (inflammation around a crown) which requires special attention.

The lower wisdom teeth are the ones which most often get trapped while emerging. They usually erupt in late adolescence, after all the other teeth are in place and there isn’t enough room in the jaw for them. The emerging teeth are often partially trapped under a flap of gum tissue called an operculum. The space between the operculum and the tooth may be too small to be brushed, but acid and food debris can accumulate there, allowing decay to set in and spread to the surrounding gum tissue.

We can clean an operculum and may recommend that a patient use oral antibiotics and wash their mouth with salt water. But a long-term solution will likely require us to cut away the operculum, remove the tooth, or both. When adolescent patients maintain regular check-ups, we can monitor the progression of their teeth with x-rays and anticipate whether a tooth is likely to be impacted.

Dr. Allen Ressler, Dr. Andrew Hirschl, and Dr. Ira Lelchuk operate from two locations. To schedule an appointment at the location at Mount Sinai Medical Center, 4300 Alton Road, Suite 1190, Miami Beach, Florida, 33140, call 305-532-1444. To schedule an appointment at Intracoastal Mall, 3909 NE 163^rdSt, Suite 310, North Miami Beach, Florida, 33160, call 305-949-2630. They can also be reached on their website, Miami Dental through a contact form.

 

Swelling after Tooth Extractions

Our concern for our patients doesn’t end when they walk out the door. We often perform tooth extractions at the dental offices of Drs. Ressler, Hirschl, and Lelchuk and when we do, we want to ensure that our patients remain safe and comfortable during their recoveries. Swelling is an expected part of the healing process, so we want our patients to feel informed about how to manage it.

Swelling is usually proportionate to the complexity of an extraction. Inflammation is part of the immune system’s response to the loss of a tooth. It concentrates white blood cells at entry points for harmful bacteria and prevents them from spreading. But it may be uncomfortable, which is why we advise patients to limit it by applying cold packs during the first day or two after the extraction. Cold packs should be applied for fifteen minutes at a time with fifteen minutes between applications.

Swelling should peak forty-eight to seventy-two hours after the extraction. The patient should contact us if it continues after that point, but otherwise, they may try to reduce it by the applications of heat packs. The same fifteen-on/fifteen-off rule applies. A patient should seek emergency care if the area turns black or white, but redness is expected. Swelling after simple extractions is usually gone within a week.

Dr. Allen Ressler, Dr. Andrew Hirschl, and Dr. Ira Lelchuk operate from two locations. To schedule an appointment at the location at Mount Sinai Medical Center, 4300 Alton Road, Suite 1190, Miami Beach, Florida, 33140, call 305-532-1444. To schedule an appointment at Intracoastal Mall, 3909 NE 163^rdSt, Suite 310, North Miami Beach, Florida, 33160, call 305-949-2630. They can also be reached on their website, Miami Dental through a contact form.

 

Sectioning during Extractions

When tooth extractions are unavoidable, the doctors of Ressler, Hirschl, and Lelchuk carry out the procedure efficiently and with minimal discomfort for the patient. Some extractions, particularly of the wisdom teeth, require a tooth to be cut apart prior to removal, and we want our patients to better understand the procedure.

Wisdom teeth have large roots and are anchored by strong ligaments. They are often unable to erupt fully, leaving a part of them stuck below the gum line. Extractions are usually done by wiggling a tooth while elevating or pulling it, but this approach may not work with teeth that are firmly rooted or are at an angle that makes them difficult to move through a small opening. When this happens, we use a dental drill to cut into the tooth, dividing it into sections. This does not hurt the patient, who is already numb, and a steady stream of water is used to keep the extraction site cool. Once the sections are split up, they require less strength to pull and are more maneuverable. The patient may require sutures if any incisions were made, but the risk of damage to the ligaments has been reduced.

Dr. Allen Ressler, Dr. Andrew Hirschl, and Dr. Ira Lelchuk operate from two locations. To schedule an appointment at the location at Mount Sinai Medical Center, 4300 Alton Road, Suite 1190, Miami Beach, Florida, 33140, call 305-532-1444. To schedule an appointment at Intracoastal Mall, 3909 NE 163^rdSt, Suite 310, North Miami Beach, Florida, 33160, call 305-949-2630. They can also be reached on their website, Miami Dental through a contact form.