Recommend an Austin dentist

October 19, 2008 2:48 PM

Please recommend a dentist in the Austin area for a general check-up. Also, how urgent is a toothache? Should I be worried?

I've had a sore tooth for a week and it's slowly getting worse. Who should I see around here? Do I need to see someone right away? What's the worst that could happen if I put it off until after the holidays?

posted by suncoursing to health & fitness (14 comments total)

My wife and I absolutely love Dr. Samuelson off Far West. His hygenists are really nice, too.
posted by puritycontrol at 3:25 PM on October 19, 2008

I like Dr. Cook, who is taking over from Dr. Goldsmith (retired). Their office staff is also nice.
posted by Addlepated at 4:08 PM on October 19, 2008

Never been to Austin, however, to your second question. I had a sore tooth that I was convinced was a cavity. It was my wisdom tooth coming in and pushing against the other teeth, causing a lot of pain on one specific tooth. Do you have your wisdom teeth? Perhaps they are coming in?

I am not a dentist, but in my experience, tooth pain never goes away, just gets worse. But you aren't in danger. You will want to make an appointment as soon as you can (because it isn't going to get better.)
posted by beachhead2 at 4:53 PM on October 19, 2008

What's the worst that could happen if I put it off until after the holidays?

You could get an abscess. These are excruciating and will require costly emergency treatment. I know. I've been there
posted by Neiltupper at 5:00 PM on October 19, 2008

Dr. Meek at 38th Street Dental is good.
Dr. Carl Weber in way north Austin off 183 is good.

Some really bad things could happen if you put it off until after the holidays, so go sooner.
posted by fructose at 5:12 PM on October 19, 2008

In many areas of the country it's prime for ragweed season. If you are allergic to ragweed (or there is another allergen that is bothering you), this could be one of your sinuses full of gunk and pressing against a nerve going into that tooth to make it feel like the pain is from the tooth. But you won't know until you have an exam, unless you can see a cavity on the tooth, or the gum is all red and swollen (which would indicate an abcess).
posted by FergieBelle at 5:20 PM on October 19, 2008

ya lots of pain......get a dr that will give you the gas & get it over with. this order = little blue pill then 1/2 hour later gas & generous Novocain. Then the doc can work & you are happy as a pig in you know what. Don't put it off. abscess can make you very sick ....
posted by patnok at 5:22 PM on October 19, 2008

Dr. Charles Snow on Lamar across from Central Market. He's super cool.
posted by spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmints at 5:22 PM on October 19, 2008

Dr. Lessner was my dentist in Austin, and I would totally recommend him. He's on Duval at 30th, just next to UT. In addition to the usual cleanings, I had three cavities filled there before I moved away. It was a pain-free experience, he was super nice, and his hygienists were very cool and friendly.
posted by sixtyten at 6:03 PM on October 19, 2008

This is the worst that could happen (That's right, death! Death! DEATH by suffocation OH MY GOD!).

Yeah that's pretty remote. Still, don't put this off. Why in the world would you want to?! There's a good chance that you will need a root canal requiring multiple procedures so you'd be better off to get started now. Chances are the pain will be resolved by the first procedure. Enduring this pain is just foolish and it can get much worse. It can turn around on you fast, too: the one time I decided to put off dealing with a problem because I wanted to wait for a more convenient situation (due to a jungle gym accident in the first grade - seriously - I ended up having 4 abscess-related root canals in my late teens and early twenties), I ended up 24 hours later in the most excruciating pain I've ever experienced in my life - and due to the situation I put myself in I ended up having to deal with that pain for 36 hours before I could get it treated.
posted by nanojath at 7:09 PM on October 19, 2008

Your teeth have direct contact with blood vessels. Infection carried directly into the blood stream can cause sepsis. Deadly stuff.
posted by bjgeiger at 8:19 PM on October 19, 2008

I'd call the dentist and ask. If they think it can wait until after "the holidays" (are we talking Thanksgiving? Because that's a long while to live with a toothache -- and you wouldn't be able to enjoy the food), then they'll give you an appointment then. If they think you should come in sooner, they'll try and give you an earlier appointment.
posted by bluefly at 7:54 AM on October 20, 2008

Thanks for all of the responses. I tried Dr. Goldsmith's office, got an appointment within thirty minutes of when I called, and was out of there after another half an hour.
posted by suncoursing at 5:22 PM on October 20, 2008

Hooray! Happy chewing.
posted by Addlepated at 8:11 PM on October 20, 2008