Most of us know someone who has had a serious dental emergency. Or maybe you’ve been unfortunate enough to experience a dental emergency yourself. Dental emergencies can be debilitating and cause us to miss work or time with our family. There is no good time for a dental emergency, and unfortunately we cannot predict when these things will happen. But that doesn’t mean that we cannot plan for the unfortunate event.

Earlier this week, I wrote a blog about how hospitals are seeing an increasing in dental emergencies. I told you that most hospitals are not equipped to handle dental emergencies because most hospitals do not have a full-time dentist. The best option patients will get at a hospital is a Band-Aid.

At Newingham Dental Care, we treat patients with preventative dentistry, cosmetic dentistry and restorative dentistry, but we are also here for patients who have dental pain and dental emergencies. There are a number of reasons you could be experiencing dental pain. The important thing is to relax and call our office so we can take a first-hand look at what is causing your pain or discomfort.

Handle Those Dental Emergencies

As I wrote in a blog earlier this week, preventative care is the best way to avoid serious dental issues down the road. Dental cleanings and exams help us identify and treat problems before their turn into larger issues. That tiny cavity can grow into a large cavity and threaten the health of the tooth’s root, which can create the need for a root canal and crown. While preventative care can erase future problems, some dental problems are unavoidable.

Our office has treated countless patients who are suffering from breaks or even those who have knocked out their teeth. Knocking out a tooth can be a painful and traumatic experience. Missing teeth create an overall oral health issue, and of course, an obvious cosmetic issue. If you or someone you know knocks out tooth, it’s important to act quickly in order to save the tooth. Yes, the tooth can be saved and even replaced without permanent damage or the need for a root canal.

When a tooth is knocked out of the socket, pick it up by the crown – never the root – and keep the tooth moist.

You can place the tooth in water, but do not wash it off with soap. One of the best ways to preserve the tooth is to actually place it beneath your tongue. That sounds a bit unorthodox, but the tooth will have a better chance of surviving if it is kept moist and in its natural environment.

Repairing Damaged Teeth

Your natural teeth are your best teeth, and we work diligently to preserve your natural teeth for as long as possible. In the event that your natural teeth cannot be repaired or save, we have replacement options that will keep your smile beautiful and restore your oral health. For missing teeth, your best option is to replace those teeth with dental implants. Dental implants have been used in dentistry for decades, and modern dental implants can be placed with an extremely high success rate. We work with a specialist to place dental implants and then our office restores those implants with crowns. Using CEREC same-day crowns, we can restore dental implants in just one visit. Also using CEREC, we can prepare and restore teeth that have had root canals. Our crowns are extremely durable and perfectly match your natural teeth. We use a shade chart to match the color or your nearby teeth and use accurate impressions to perfect the bite.

We highly recommend that patients repair broken teeth or replace missing teeth. Missing teeth not only create gaps in the smile, but they can disturb the alignment of the rest of your mouth. Additionally, patients with full arches of missing teeth do not get the proper nutrition they need in their daily diets, which of course can shave years off of your life. Dental implants can restore your chewing ability and allow you to eat the food you love and need!

Our office is dedicated to handling your dental emergencies, relieving you of pain and fixing damaged teeth. We can give you a variety of options that will restore your smile and keep your mouth healthy! Call us today to hear more about our comprehensive dental services at 248-972-8720.