Tuesday, April 28, 2020

What Exactly is a Dental Emergency?


We are all doing our part to help stop the spread of COVID-19. But sometimes, it’s hard to know when to stay home and when to seek care.

The American Dental Association (ADA) asked dentists to close their offices to everything but urgent and emergent care through at least April 30th. So, what exactly is a dental emergency? And if you have one, what should you do?

When to Call Your Dentist

There are some dental issues that just can’t wait. If you think you have a dental emergency, always call your dentist before coming into the office. Your dentist will determine when, and how, you need to be seen.

But in general, these situations are considered emergent:

  • Persistent bleeding: Bleeding heavily from the mouth, or gums that don’t stop bleeding.
  • Painful swelling in mouth or gums: This could be a sign of a serious infection.
  • Pain in teeth or jawbone: Sudden, acute pain or throbbing pain that persists.
  • Toothache with fever: This could be a sign of a serious infection.
  • Broken or knocked out tooth: Call your dentist right away if this happens.
  • Growths or discolored patches on gums or tongue: Most likely, your dentist will want to examine any abnormalities.
  • Braces wires hurting cheeks or gums: Call your dentist or orthodontist to determine if you need your wires snipped or adjusted.

When to Keep an Urgent Dental Appointment

A few types of dental situations shouldn’t be put off, even if they aren’t considered an emergency. The following dental appointments should be kept even during COVID-19 closures, unless your dentist tells you otherwise.

  • After surgery treatments (dressing changes, stitch removals, etc.) 
  • Denture adjustments for people receiving radiation or cancer treatment

When to Wait

Although it is hard to wait, we all must postpone routine dental appointments for now. Your dentist will call you to reschedule the following types of appointments:

  • Routine exams, cleanings, and x-rays
  • Regular visits for braces
  • Removal of teeth that aren’t painful
  • Treatment of cavities that aren’t painful
  • Tooth whitening

Call First and Avoid the Emergency Room

Most importantly, please remember:

  1. Don’t show up at your dentist’s office without calling first.
  2. Avoid the ER unless it’s life threatening. This helps reduce the burden on emergency rooms during this crisis.

Saturday, April 25, 2020

Causes & Treatments for Tooth Nerve Pain


Tooth nerve pain can occur in a variety of ways; sharp, stabbing, or a dull ache are all signs of tooth nerve pain and all of them make eating less than enjoyable. Getting to the cause of the nerve pain quickly will allow for treatment to begin sooner and for a return to normal eating and drinking habits.

Wednesday, April 22, 2020

Smile! Tips for Proper Tooth Brushing for Kids


Cynthia Johnson, CDA, RDH demonstrates proper tooth brushing techniques for kids, and offers tips for good dental health in children

Sunday, April 19, 2020

The Real Reason Humans Have Those Sharp Front Teeth


We share our sharp canine teeth with lions, hippos, and other mammals. But believe it or not, they have nothing to do with tearing into meat. Instead, our ancestors originally used them to fight for mating rights, and they shrunk over time as we stopped using our teeth as weapons.

Thursday, April 16, 2020

Root Canal Procedure


What is a root canal, and why would you need a root canal procedure? If you’re having a lot of tooth pain and your dentist finds deep decay, you may need to get this in-office procedure.

Monday, April 13, 2020

Gum Disease


Gum disease is an infection of the tissues that surround and support your teeth. It is a major cause of tooth loss in adults. Because gum disease is usually painless, you may not know you have it. Also referred to as periodontal disease, gum disease is caused by plaque, the sticky film of bacteria that is constantly forming on our teeth.

Here are some warning signs that can signal a problem:

  • gums that bleed easily
  • red, swollen, tender gums
  • gums that have pulled away from the teeth
  • persistent bad breath or bad taste
  • permanent teeth that are loose or separating
  • any change in the way your teeth fit together when you bite
  • any change in the fit of partial dentures

Some factors increase the risk of developing gum disease. They are:

  • poor oral hygiene
  • smoking or chewing tobacco
  • genetics
  • crooked teeth that are hard to keep clean
  • pregnancy
  • diabetes
  • medications, including steroids, certain types of anti-epilepsy drugs, cancer therapy drugs, some calcium channel blockers and oral contraceptives

See your dentist if you suspect you have gum disease because the sooner you treat it the better. The early stage of gum disease is called gingivitis. If you have gingivitis, your gums may become red, swollen and bleed easily. At this stage, the disease is still reversible and can usually be eliminated by a professional cleaning at your dental office, followed by daily brushing and flossing.

Advanced gum disease is called periodontitis. Chronic periodontitis affects 47.2% of adults over 30 in the United States. It can lead to the loss of tissue and bone that support the teeth and it may become more severe over time. If it does, your teeth will feel loose and start moving around in your mouth. This is the most common form of periodontitis in adults but can occur at any age. It usually gets worse slowly, but there can be periods of rapid progression.

Aggressive periodontitis is a highly destructive form of periodontal disease that occurs in patients who are otherwise healthy. Common features include rapid loss of tissue and bone and may occur in some areas of the mouth, or in the entire mouth.

Research between systemic diseases and periodontal diseases is ongoing. While a link is not conclusive, some studies indicate that severe gum disease may be associated with several other health conditions such as diabetes or stroke.

It is possible to have gum disease and have no warning signs. That is one reason why regular dental checkups and periodontal examinations are very important. Treatment methods depend upon the type of disease and how far the condition has progressed. Good dental care at home is essential to help keep periodontal disease from becoming more serious or recurring. Remember: You don’t have to lose teeth to gum disease. Brush your teeth twice a day, clean between your teeth daily, eat a balanced diet, and schedule regular dental visits for a lifetime of healthy smiles.

Article Source: https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/g/gum-disease

Friday, April 10, 2020

Your Teeth Can Last Ages—Keep Them Healthy


Your teeth can survive for centuries, but only if you take care of them. Keep your teeth amazing - visit your dentist and schedule a check-up.

Tuesday, April 7, 2020

Cracked Tooth: Symptoms and Repair


Inside our teeth is a dense network of nerves and blood vessels known as the pulp. When the pulp is irritated it can make our teeth one of the most sensitive parts of our body. This sensitivity means we may experience pain as a symptom of a cracked tooth.

A cracked tooth can be serious business. Ignoring the symptoms of a cracked tooth can lead to further dental problems down the road, including infection and even tooth loss.

Why Teeth Crack

Just like a chipped tooth, there are several reasons teeth crack. A strong tooth sometimes cracks because of an accident or a blow to the mouth. But more often than not, a tooth is weakened first before it eventually cracks.

As you age, your teeth weaken from the daily forces of chewing, biting, and grinding. In some cases, you might not even realize the exact moment in which your weakened tooth finally cracks.

Different Types of Cracked Teeth

There are actually several distinct types of cracked teeth. The way your dentist addresses your cracked tooth depends on which type of crack you have, its location in your mouth, and its severity.

The five types of cracked teeth are:

  • Craze lines: A shallow, hairline crack in the enamel of a tooth. Craze lines are common in adult teeth and don’t require treatment.
  • Fractured cusp: A crack in, and including, the chewing surface of a back tooth.
  • Cracked tooth: A crack extending from the chewing surface down toward the root. The tooth is still in one piece.
  • Split tooth: A tooth split into two separate parts.
  • Vertical root fracture: A crack in the root of a tooth.

Diagnosing a Cracked Tooth

It can be frustratingly difficult to locate and diagnose a cracked tooth. This is because cracked teeth may not be visible during a dental exam or show up on an x-ray. It also turns out that our brain is bad at locating the exact source of tooth pain within our mouth. Is the pain coming from the top teeth or the bottom teeth? Sometimes the brain just doesn’t know. As a result, cracked teeth can be confused with sinus pain, headaches or earaches.

To pinpoint the location of a cracked tooth, your dentist will have you bite down on a small item like a plastic stick or a wood dowel, one tooth at a time. He or she may also place a light directly on your tooth or use dark-colored dye to highlight fracture lines.

How to Fix a Cracked Tooth

Treating a symptomatic cracked tooth as soon as possible improves the chances of saving the tooth. Even if the crack in your tooth is small, it can expand with the pressure of biting and eating, eventually turning from a cracked tooth to a split tooth. If the crack in your tooth becomes large enough, it could become vulnerable to decay. If untreated, tooth decay can spread to the pulp and cause a larger infection, eventually leading to a dead tooth or even tooth loss.

How your dentist repairs your cracked tooth depends on the location and type of crack. Some don’t need repair, some might require filling the crack or place a crown over the tooth to protect it from further damage.

If a tooth splits, your dentist will need to remove part of the tooth and repair it with bonding, an onlay or a crown. If the split is severe, the tooth will need to be extracted.

Since there is a range of severity for cracked teeth, the best thing to do is call your dentist right away if you feel pain or suspect a cracked tooth. And of course, maintaining your healthy smile with twice annual oral exams can help your dentist diagnose a problematic crack before it becomes unmanageable.

Article Source: https://www.deltadentalwa.com/blog/entry/2020/04/Crack-Tooth-Signs-and-Symptoms

Saturday, April 4, 2020

Easiest Way To Get Rid Of Bad Breath, According To A Dentist


The easiest way to get rid of bad breath is to brush your teeth at night and to drink lots of water, according to an American Dentist Association spokesperson. When your mouth is dry, food and bacteria tend to sit in your mouth for a much longer time. This can cause nasty odors.

Wednesday, April 1, 2020