Oluwadayo Oluwadara, DDS

Yes, local anesthesia can be used for your grandfather that is over 80. Local anesthesia is usually safe, now if there are considerations for high blood pressure or some heart/other health issues, local anesthesia without the usual epinephrine content may be used. Local anesthesia preparations without epinephrine is available, such as mepivacaine. If such local anesthesia without epinephrine is needed based on medical considerations, your dentist will coordinate with the physicians managing your grandfather. However, generally, local anesthesia are usually safe.

Yes. A dentist can fix half a tooth. However, the options for the fix depends on the stump of teeth left, how viable and strong the stump is. It may require a root canal treatment on the remaining stump and a crown over the stump. Sadly though, if the prognosis are not good, it may involve extraction of the stump.

Usually, stitches that are resorbable are used with most of the implants procedures, so the need to remove them is not necessary. Although your surgeon or dentist may decide to remove any stitches at any time based on his or her evaluation of your surgical area, and the benefits/risk for allowing the sutures to stay in. Usually, most stitches that need removal may be done within days to 2 weeks, again based on clinical evaluations.

Dry socket is painful. Yes, you can eat anything, but you have to eat to your comfort level. Also, you have to eat gently so that whatsoever dressing placed on your extraction sockets to help manage the dry socket is maintained well enough to achieve its therapeutic purpose.

You may also want to avoid excessive smoking and extensive alcoholic beverages to allow the dry socket dressing to produce therapeutic effect.

Dentures are okay to use when you discover you can no longer eat well, or function well, or smile well. While we advised to get dentures quickly, there may be personalized reasons why dentures may not be the best fit for you. You can always look into teeth replacements with Implants/Crown.

Thanks for the question. Yes, it depends on the type of extraction, extent of extraction, pain tolerance of a given individual, commitment of the patient to post-operative care, and possible underlying medical conditions of the patient that may affect healing. So, ability to eat after extractions on the side of the extraction depends.

Thanks for the questions. Yes, dentist can fill cavities in between teeth.

Yes, absolutely. There is a possibility that the tooth treated with a root canal will hurt later if the tooth fractures, the root canal fails, or restoration on the tooth is not properly done. A new problem may arise on the tooth such as gum problems or additional tooth support problems.

It is not compulsory to brush your teeth after a dental appointment. However, keeping your teeth clean and without food particles prior to a dental appointment is advisable. It allows your providers to evaluate you quickly, freely, and easily during the dental appointment.

Thanks for your question. There is really no reason why you should not be able to eat anything after root canal, we do advise generally after any dental treatment that you wait to allow your local anesthesia effects to wear out before massive chewing, so has not to hurt yourself, your tongue or abnormally chew yourself. Also, your treating dentist may give you specific instructions per chewing or eating, please ensure you follow your treating dentist instructions after each procedure.
Thank you.