Saving a Dying Tooth With Root Canal Therapy

A dentist performing a root canal on a patientUnderneath the hard enamel of your teeth there are many living nerves. When your teeth decay there is the risk that the pulp and the nerves can become infected, killing the tooth off. One way to save a dying tooth is with root canal therapy.

Root canals are incredibly complex. Before your dentist performs the procedure he will want to examine your tooth and perform an x-ray to assess the extent of the damage. You may then be given a course of antibiotics in order to clear up any infection that is currently present. After this, you will be given a local anesthetic so that the dentist can work on your tooth without causing too much discomfort.

Your dentist will then open up the top of the tooth, and remove any pulp inside. If you have an abscess, it will be drained at the same time.

Once the inside of the tooth has been cleared out, the next step is to hollow out the roots and then fill them to prevent further infection.

It is essential that the roots are filled in properly, because if they are not then more bacteria could get into the root canals, and they could become infected. Infection of a hollowed out canal is even worse than infection of the canal when it is still intact, because the dead, hollow root canal is an anaerobic environment and it does not get any blood supply, therefore the body’s immune system cannot tackle the infection.

In some cases, the treatment may require several sessions to hollow out all of the roots. If this is the case then the dentist will carry out a temporary filling in between sessions, to protect the tooth from infection. They will also provide antibiotics if necessary.

Depending on the reason that the root canal therapy was necessary, the hollowed out tooth may become discolored. Talk to your dentist if you are not happy with the way that the tooth looks. They will be able to offer advice on the best ways to treat the discoloration without damaging the tooth.

There are a number of cosmetic procedures that may be suitable, but you will need to wait for your mouth to heal after the root canal treatment before any of these are carried out. That could take a while if you need more than one session to fully fill the tooth.

If you need a local Rochester, NY dentist to do your root canal contact the dentists at emergencydentistrochesterny.com for a consultation and examination.

See A Dentist If You Are Experiencing Persistent Jaw Pain

A woman with jaw painAre you experiencing persistent pain or discomfort in your jaw? If so, do not just try to ignore the pain or mask it by taking painkillers. Such pain can be a sign of a serious dental problem that could threaten your health, or even your life. You need to call our Rochester dental office right away to make an appointment so that we can diagnose the problem.

Many patients just try to ignore the pain for as long as possible in the hope that it will go away on its own. They may be more afraid of visiting the dentist than they are of the pain. However, this is not the right approach. We need to examine your teeth and jaw so that we can give you the treatment that you need.

In many cases, such jaw pain is a sign of an infection. Left untreated, such infections can become quite serious. A dental abscess, for example, can damage your teeth to such an extent that the only course of action is to extract them. By treating the abscess promptly, your teeth can be saved.

There are other problems that can lead to persistent pain in your jaw. For example, you may be clenching or grinding your teeth in your sleep. Many patients do not even realize that they are doing this. Over time, this can wear down your teeth and cause a great deal of pain and discomfort.

We can examine your teeth for the characteristic pattern of wear that indicates that you are grinding your teeth. By fitting you with a special splint that you wear at night, we can help you eliminate this habit. Many patients find that their pain starts to go away almost immediately after they start wearing the splint.

Another possible cause of jaw pain is a problem with your temporomandibular joint. This is the joint where your jawbone connects to your skull. If there is some weakness in this area, it can cause significant pain. Have you noticed that your jaw tends to pop? This can indicate a TMJ problem.

Do not ignore jaw pain or just rely on painkillers. We can help you diagnose the problem and recommend a course of action that will deal with the root cause of your discomfort.

Call our Rochester emergency dental office today to make an appointment so that you can enjoy a pain-free life again.

Do You Have Facial Swelling?

A woman with facial swelling from a dental abscessFacial swelling can be the sign of a very serious dental emergency so make sure to contact a dentist immediately for a complete examination.

If facial swelling is bothering you, then you need to visit a dentist immediately. Facial swelling is a strong sign of infection. Many dental patients like you experience swelling and discomfort due to infections in the teeth or gums. As infections can spread very quickly, it is important for you to come get dental treatment as soon as possible.

There are many different sources of tooth infection, and any of them can cause swelling. In most cases, swelling is a sign that the infection has begun to spread. If you do not get treatment quickly, the swelling can spread to your eyes, neck, chin and other places. Fortunately, you can avoid a trip to the hospital if you act quickly.

In some cases, dental infections can become fatal when they go untreated. As the infection spreads, it is very possible for it to get into your bloodstream. Once your blood is poisoned with the infection, you may face serious risks. This information is not to scare you, but rather to educate you on the importance of quickly seeking our dental treatment.

One very common source of facial swelling is a tooth abscess. This common infection can be a very painful infection that typically occurs within the root of the tooth. In some cases, it may also happen between the gum and tooth. Abscesses occur when bacteria becomes trapped in these locations. This bacteria is most commonly caused by significant tooth decay that is left untreated. We can quickly treat a tooth abscess to eliminate the infection and symptoms.

In addition to facial swelling, swollen glands in the neck are a prominent sign of tooth infection. As the roots of teeth become infected, the swelling can spread downward. You may experience swelling in both areas or just one area. It is important to call for treatment even if you only have swelling in your neck. These symptoms should both be treated quickly.

At the first sign of facial swelling, call our Rochester, NY dental office to speak with someone who will assist you. Make sure to list your symptoms so that we can get an accurate feel of what is wrong. With this information we can determine whether you need emergency treatment or not. In any case, we will be able to provide you with thorough care that meets your needs. Treating dental problems is a serious matter, so act quickly to get optimal results.

Five Emergencies A Dentist Can Treat

A dentist performing dental services on a patientDental emergencies can happen at any given time. It is best to have a dentist that you can go to in order to deal with and treat any type of dental emergency that you may have.

Below we will discuss five different dental emergencies that a dentist should be able to treat.

1. Lost Filling

If you lose a filing, the first thing that you need to do is wash out the cavity with warm and salty water. You can take a cotton ball or cotton pad and press it tightly against the empty cavity. A dentist should be able to treat this type of emergency fairly easily and quickly.

2. Lose a Crown or Cap

This type of emergency happens all the time. Missing a crown or cap likely will not trigger too bad of a pain that you will need to take medication. However, if left untreated, it can begin to cause significant pain. It is best to get this type of problem situated and fixed immediately or else it could spiral into a larger problem. A reputable dentist should be able to replace your crown and/or cap.

3. Chipped or Broken Tooth

The first thing that you are going to need to do in this situation is save the chipped or broken tooth. After your tooth is secured, you will want to wash your mouth out with warm and salty water. It is important to rinse off the tooth that has been displaced thoroughly. If you are experiencing bleeding in the area, you will need to utilize a gauze pad or a cotton ball in order to stop the bleeding. Press firmly against the tooth/area that is bleeding and try to control it. Once you do this, you can go to a dentist and they will be able to repair your chipped and/or broken tooth.

For more information about our emergency services visit:
EmergencyDentistRochesterNY.com

Don’t Delay In Getting The Dental Treatment You Need

A dental professional treating a patientWhy Waiting To Get Treatment When You Have A Dental Emergency Is A Bad Idea

A severe toothache, broken tooth, or another type of medical emergency is not something to take lightly. At first you might think that the dental emergency is simply a cosmetic problem, but the truth this type of emergency presents a serious health risk as well. The reason being that if you allow any type of medical emergency to develop without being treated your body may suffer serious consequences.

For instance, if you have major swelling in your gum or find yourself bleeding uncontrollably that is a sign that you need to visit the dentist immediately. Infections can easily spread around the mouth causing the rest of your oral hygiene to suffer. Not only is your oral hygiene at risk, but other areas of your body may be damaged as well. Should the infection spread down the tongue and to the throat it could create an infection in your esophagus. Imagine your throat closing when you eat food, it is not a comfortable feeling. Some infections can become so severe to the point where a person cannot breath down his or her mouth, which can cause a person to almost suffocate.

The moment you feel a part of your mouth becomes so severely damaged that you need to visit a dentist or the emergency room it is recommended you go without hesitation. People with minor health issues related to their oral hygiene are recommended to visit a dentist as well. Studies have revealed a direct correlation between oral hygiene and the function of the heart. Take proper care of your oral hygiene to avoid infections or any other health detriments. The longer you allow a problem to persist the more you are putting your body at risk, so visit a dentist listed at emergencydentistrochesterny.com for a dental emergency the first chance you get.

Emergency Cracked Tooth Repair in Rochester, NY

A man in pain from a cracked toothWhen A Cracked Tooth Is A Dental Emergency

If you are suffering from a cracked or chipped tooth you are probably wondering if you should contact a dentist right away or just wait it out til you can get an appointment. Below are the things that you should consider in making this decision.

One sign that you should seek emergency dental services is if you are experiencing a lot of pain. One reason is that there really is no reason to suffer when there are options available to you. Additionally, if you are in pain there may be a larger, underlying issue that needs immediate attention. Finally, as you know, if anything in your mouth hurts it will be nearly impossible to eat, drink or sleep until the problem is fixed.

Another reason that you should seek emergency services for a cracked tooth is that you may cause more damage than already exists before you can be seen by your regular dentist. A cracked tooth leaves the inside of your tooth open to the risk of becoming infected by food and germs that can enter. This is a space that you can not clean, so if you wait to long you could even end up with a cavity as well. In short, by not having this looked at immediately you may end up with much bigger problems than what you originally started with, and possibly a much larger bill in the end.

From what you’ve read above, it is really always best to seek out emergency dental services when you have a tooth that has become compromised due to an injury. Putting it off until later will leave you dealing with unnecessary pain and possibly worse issue. If you have a cracked tooth you should give us a call right away.

Do You Know An Emergency Dentist In Rochester?

A dental nurseWhy You Should Have A Rochester Emergency Dentist On Speed Dial

In my line of work, you see a lot of accidents and emergency situations. A person can’t be prepared for every situation, after all, and sometimes accidents happen. But the worst situations occur when teeth and mouth injuries could have been repaired less expensively if the patient had gotten to a local emergency dentist in time.

One such accident involved a patient’s chipped front tooth. Chipped is the technical term, what had actually happened was that he’d tripped and fallen, and his right front tooth literally broke in half. Now, had he gotten the tooth to our Rochester dental office quickly, I could have used a dental epoxy to essentially glue the tooth back together. The tooth would have been as good as new, more or less, and it would have cost less than one hundred dollars to fix his broken tooth.

Unfortunately, the patient waited until the next day to come in during regular office hours. By that time, the tooth piece had dried out, and could not be epoxied back together. It was unfortunate, but the patient required a full root canal and a replacement tooth, which was much more costly than one hundred dollars.

There are many situations that happen in a similar vein. It’s always unfortunate when a patient can get less expensive care rather than having to have full dental surgery performed, and yet the patient chooses to wait. When you have a tooth injury, waiting doesn’t do anything other than allow the injury to worsen.

That’s why you should always have the name and number of an emergency dentist on hand. You never know when you might trip and fall, and cause damage to your mouth or teeth. Or have something come flying at you. There are a number of possible dangers in the world, don’t let them get the best of you.

3 Typical Pediatric Dental Emergencies In Children

pediatricdentalcareChildren are especially susceptible to dental emergencies as a result of normal play activities or being involved in all sorts of sports such as running, basketball, cycling, skating and football.

Very commonly, we pediatric dentists have to treat kids with avulsed, fractured or intruded teeth, lacerated lips, mucosa or tongue on an emergency basis.

Conversely, most people especially parents do not realize when a child is in a state of dental emergency and actually come to know it when it’s too late.

In this article, we will cover the three typical pediatric dental emergencies that can occur to your child and hopefully, you will be able to handle such as situation in the right manner by immediately consulting a dental pediatric.

1. Fractured Teeth

A tooth fracture mainly results from a traumatic blow that usually affects the crown of the tooth. The strength of the injured tooth must be determined so that a course treatment can be developed in each situation. The process may involve testing the tooth’s sensitivity to to air, cold, hot and pressure.

A fracture may occur on the crown of a primary or permanent tooth and no matter the class of the fracture, whether class I, II or III, all must be treated as emergencies and a dentist should be consulted.

2. Avulsed Tooth

An avulsed tooth is one that has been totally knocked out as a result of traumatic injury. A primary avulsed tooth is not replaced because high chances are that another one will grow, but there is need to replant the permanent one, followed by stabilization until it’s secure in the next 7 to 10 days.

A parent should be well educated on the problems that arise with avulsed teeth as well as the importance and benefits of a successful replanted tooth.

3. Luxation

Injuries to the oral cavity can also involve luxated teeth. A tooth may be intruded or extruded with a certain degree of movement out of the socket. Again, the course of treatment in this case is determined by whether it is a permanent or a primary tooth.

A primary luxated tooth is usually removed to protect the developing permanent one and a luxated permanent tooth is returned to its official position and stabilized for a couple of days.

If you need to bring your child to an emergency dentist in the Rochester area please contact the dentist at emergencydentistrochesterny.com.

Do You Need To Get Your Tooth Pulled?

An emergency tooth extractionHow Do You Know If You Need An Emergency Tooth Extraction?

Some people wonder if they need an emergency tooth extraction, but if you are in enough pain or discomfort to wonder, odds are you do need to go right away to see the dentist.

In most cases, a tooth that is badly infected will be so painful that there will be no doubt that something needs to be done. This condition will leave little doubt that an emergency extraction needs to take place.

Many times when teeth are not cared for properly, the plaque that forms on the teeth will begin to erode down into the gum line and below, causing an open door for infection and inflammation. The infection can eventually get to the point where it can begin to dislodge the tooth as the soft tissue begins to give way to more instability. This causes the tooth to wobble and an abscess can begin to form, causing discomfort and pain.

When you get to your dentist he will be able to tell what must be done, and in most cases it will either be an extraction, root canal and a crown.

In most cases all of this can be avoided by proper dental care each and every day. This involves brushing very thoroughly after each meal and then flossing in order to loosen the plaque between the teeth as well as any tartar, which is hardened plaque.

By keeping the tooth surfaces free of plaque, bacteria has less of a chance to grow and cause cavities, and there will be less possibility of tartar getting into the gum line.

Of course there are instances where a tooth might have to be pulled due to an accident, disease or for the purpose of providing more room in the mouth for orthodontic care.

If you need to get your tooth pulled in Rochester, NY contact the dentists at www.emergencydentistrochesterny.com

Get Your Toothache Treated As Soon As Possible

A woman with a painful toothacheHave You Got A Toothache? Is That A Sign Of A Dental Emergency?

A toothache is often something that all of us have experienced at one point in our lives. With that being said, a toothache can sometimes be an indicator of a dental emergency.

We have had a lot of clients come in to our Rochester dental practice complaining of a toothache to find out that they were actually going through a dental emergency. Do you currently have a toothache? Continue reading this article to find out how to tell whether or not it is a dental emergency.

When it comes to dental emergencies, often times there are a large number of symptoms present. One of the most common symptoms in dental emergencies is a toothache, often accompanies by gum distress and bleeding. The reasons behind toothache are numerous, and it’s important that anyone who has a toothache go ahead and visit a qualified dental practice such as ours to properly get it evaluated. Going to a dental practice at the first signs of a toothache ensures that a dental emergency is either treated straight away or diverted before it happens in the first place.

The causes of a toothache and be as benign as simple sensitivity to cold foods and drinks. However, it can become much serious with the cause of the toothache being something such as decay. If a toothache is left for too long, it can turn into a dental emergency as things as decay spread further and further, causing such things as the death of tissue in the area. Such things as toothache caused by death of tissue (necrosis) are signs of a dental emergency that needs to be treated immediately in order to prevent serious complications later on down the line.

As you can see from this article, a toothache will often times be caused by something not very serious. However, on the off chance that it is caused by something that would be classified as a dental emergency, it’s important to seek treatment immediately.

Hence, if you are suffering from a toothache you should definitely go ahead and visit a renowned and professional Rochester dental clinic such as ours.