Ameriplan Dental in the 60045 Area Near You

Emergency Dental Care: Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What are some examples of dental care emergencies?

A. Some examples of dentistry emergencies are avulsed teeth, extruded teeth, broken teeth, a bitten tongue or lip, objects that are caught between teeth, toothaches, and possible broken jaw.

Q. What are avulsed teeth?

A. Avulsed teeth are teeth that are knocked out.

Q. What should you do if your tooth is knocked out?

A. If your tooth is knocked out you should carefully rinse the tooth with water. You should attempt to place the tooth back in its socket and secure it with a wet wrap. If you can not place the tooth back in its socket, put it in a glass with either saliva or milk. Then you should contact your dentist immediately.

Q. What are extruded teeth?

A. Extruded teeth are teeth that are forced out of position.

Q. What should you do if your tooth is pushed out of position?

A. If your tooth is pushed out of place you should reposition it to its normal alignment using very light finger pressure. You should hold the tooth in place with a moist gauze or tissue. Make sure that a dentist sees you within a half an hour.

Q. What do you do when you have a toothache?

A. When you have a toothache, you should clean your mouth by rinsing with warm water and remove any food that is trapped between teeth by flossing. Do not apply aspirin on the aching tooth or gum tissues. See your dentist as soon as possible.

Q. What do you do if you have something caught between your teeth

A. If you have an object caught between your teeth you should try to remove it with dental floss gently. Sometimes it helps to double up the floss. Do not attempt to remove the object with a sharp or pointed device. If you can not still can not remove the object, see your dentist.

Q. How would you treat a bitten tongue or lip?

A. To treat a bitten tongue or lip you should gently clean the area with a cloth and apply cold compresses to reduce swelling. If the bleeding continues, go to the hospital emergency room.

Q. Why do we brush our teeth?

A. We brush our teeth to remove bacteria and left over food particles from the mouth.

Q. How long should you brush your teeth?

A. You should brush your teeth twice a day for at least two to three minutes (until they are clean!).

Q. What can you do to slow down acid production when you ca't brush your teeth?

A. If you ca't brush your teeth you can rinse your mouth with water after a meal or snack to reduce acid reproduction by 30%. Wiping your teeth with a napkin is also a temporary measure until you can brush your teeth. Chewing sugar free gum helps, too.

Q. What is tooth bleaching?

A. Tooth bleaching or whitening is the process of lightening stains or discoloration of your teeth.

Q. What is involved in tooth bleaching?

A. Your dentist will determine which bleaching method is right for you. They will either use an in-office bleaching system or laser bleaching during your dental visit. But, most patients choose dentist-at-home-supervised bleaching. This method involves a custom-made mouth guard for the patient along with bleaching materials. You will be given instructions on how to wear the mouth guard and this type of method generally required ten to fourteen days to complete.

Q. How does tooth bleaching work?

A. Tooth bleaching whitens the teeth when the active whitening agent, carbamide peroxide, contacts water and hydrogen peroxide is released.

Q. Is tooth bleaching safe?

A. Studies have proven bleaching to be safe and effective. Bleaching does not soften, demineralize, or weaken the teeth.

Q. What are digitized X-rays?

A. A digitized X-ray is a computerized technology that allows a small sensor placed inside the patient's mouth to take the X-ray and instantly display it on a computer screen for the dentist to review.

Toothache - Why Won't My Tooth Pain Go Away?

Technology in dentistry now offers attractive options in dental fillings for cavity restorations in dental care. Called composites, these new tooth-colored dental fillings are excellent choices for front teeth and other repairs that might be visible. Composites duplicate the natural appearance of a tooth in restoring decayed teeth or repairing a defect and giving you a more attractive mouth.

What Dental Care Material Is Used in the Composite Filling?

Dental fillings composites are made from a mixture of microscopic plastic and ceramic resin particles. Another type of tooth-colored dental fillings used in dental care are called a resin ionomer, which releases fluoride useful for preventing tooth decay.

Besides Their Cosmetic Value, What Other Benefits Do Composites Provide in dental care

The bonding process used in restoration provides strength to the tooth, making it more structurally sound. It also seals the tooth, decreasing the chance of sensitivity to hot and cold. Some composites made with materials releasing fluoride are ideal for treating root decay, a condition when gums recede, exposing tooth roots to more cavity-causing plaque. These fluoride-releasing materials also are useful dental fillings for decayed baby teeth.

What Is the Process for Dental Care Treatment?

Following removal of the decayed area, a mild acid solution is used to prepare the tooth's surface for bonding and dental fillings. A bonding agent is then brushed over the surface. Several layers of the composite are applied during the next dental care process. For a natural appearance, the dentist matches the color of the dental fillings composite to the tooth.

Then, it is chemically hardened or cured with a special light and finally polished for a natural-looking finishing touch.

How Durable Are these Dental Fillings?

In a five-year clinical study of dental care, some of the resin materials demonstrated 100% effectiveness for adhesion and retention. Like other types of dental fillings, they may require periodic replacement. While the material is very durable, they may not perform quite as long as silver fillings or amalgams for their resistance to the rigors of grinding and chewing.

Scheduling dental care on a regular basis is an important part of good oral hygiene. Your dentist will check your fillings each time to ensure their performance.

By Brian J. Gray, DDS, MAGD, FICO

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