I have a prescription for medical marijuana that I’ve been using. I also broke a tooth and need to go to an emergency dentist. Will they turn me away because of the marijuana? Can I just go and not tell them?
Dennis P.
Dear Dennis,
Truthfully, this will vary from dentist to dentist. The worst thing you could do is go without informing the dentist of all medication you’ve taken, including marijuana. The biggest reason for that is the contraindications between medicines. For instance, using marijuana before an epinephrine shot can cause peripheral vasodilation or tachycardia. Both of which are serious risks to your health.
Epinephrine is used in a lot of emergency dentist‘s local anesthetic injection. However, if the dentist knows that you have it in your system, especially ahead of time, they can substitute it with another medication.
I think you’ll have good luck with the situation if you call some emergency dentists ahead of time and let them know the situation so they can be prepared with the right medications for you.
It’s good that you’re going to the dentist. Though it may just look like a chipped tooth, sometimes the trauma to a tooth can cause it to die. In that case, it would need a root canal treatment and porcelain crown. If it’s just a chip with no further damage, then just repairing it with dental bonding will suffice.
Something to consider if it’s a front tooth is the cosmetic skills of the dentist you go to. They are not all equal in their abilities and you’ll want it to match your other teeth. Ideally, you’d like a dentist who’s accredited with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD). They’re among the top cosmetic dentists in the country.
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