“While I was recovering from a broken hip and hip replacement surgery, I felt discomfort in my mouth and gums. After I was out of rehab, I visited a dentist who said that I had an infection in my front tooth that needed to be taken care of as soon as possible. He recommended pulling the tooth. My daughter, who lives nearby, also knew that infection can be very serious for someone who has had joint replacement and questioned whether the tooth could be saved. She suggested I visit Dr. Mintzer for a second opinion, which was very fortunate indeed.
Dr. Mintzer gave me a very thorough exam and asked about all the medications that I take before recommending a course of treatment to eliminate the infection and save not just one front tooth-but two. I also learned that one of the medications that I’ve taken in the past can possibly hinder the bone from healing if a tooth is pulled. Dr. Mintzer performed a root canal on one of the teeth and referred me to an excellent specialist for the second root canal, which was much more complicated.
Dr. Mintzer also gave me some very helpful tips for taking care of my teeth and gums on a regular basis. He’s such a gentle dentist, and I appreciate all the work he has done to help keep me healthy and smiling.”
-Mary Shelley, Dearborn, MI
“30 years ago ago, I found Dr. Mintzer’s number in the yellow pages. Thank goodness I did; without hesitation he met me at his office, which I’ve always appreciated since he was not my doctor at the time and it was after hours. He relieved me of a miserable tooth and has been my doctor for 30 years now. He and his staff are the greatest, always friendly and professional. I would highly recommend Dr. Mintzer.”
-Jo P., Dearborn, MI
Dr. Mintzer’s Familiar Patient Stories
By sharing these stories, I hope you’ll learn more about how we can help you with your dental needs-whether for emergencies or routine dental care.
Hitting the pavement
An eight year-old boy hit a rough patch of concrete on the sidewalk, fell on his face and broke two front top teeth. His parents were able to rush him to my office within 20 minutes. I carefully removed all the debris from his upper and lower lips and chin, and cleansed the soft tissue. As a temporary measure to help manage the pain and eliminate the risk of infection, I bonded and sealed the broken teeth. Later, after the tissue had healed, I restored his teeth to their proper form and function.
Oops, no more tears
Ever wonder how many times this happens? The mother of a six month-old was holding her daughter when the infant’s head jerked and hit the mom in the mouth, breaking her front teeth. Fortunately, the husband brought his wife to visit me the same day, and I prepared the remainder of the tooth for a crown. I applied a temporary covering to help her go about her busy schedule for the next few days, before she received a permanent porcelain-gold crown.
It’s the dog’s fault
You can imgaine the embarrassment of one of my senior patients whose dog had chewed up his full upper denture. After several visits, I was able to give him a new denture with fully restored form and function. What a relief to have his teeth and smile back!
Tooth Tips
If a tooth is knocked out of the mouth, place it immediately into a glass of milk and get to the dentist.
If you can do this within one hour, there is a much greater opportunity for the tooth to be saved and repositioned in the existing socket.