Despite your best efforts to prevent oral health problems, dental emergencies can still occur. Fortunately, you can reduce your chances of needing emergency dental care by practicing good oral hygiene and using a mouthguard when playing sports that can cause teeth trauma.
Any issue that causes extreme pain, swelling or bleeding should be treated as a dental emergency. Whether you have a cracked tooth or gum damage, you should visit this urgent 24 Hour Dentist of Tulsa OK as soon as possible.
Root Canal
When a tooth’s pulp becomes severely infected, root canal treatment is required. This is done to save the tooth and prevent future infections. Infection can occur from dental cavities, large fillings, cracks in the teeth, trauma to the face, and poor oral hygiene.
The procedure begins with the 24 Hour Dentist of Tulsa OK administering a local anesthetic to the area in need. A rubber sheet is then placed over the tooth to keep it isolated and dry. Next, an opening is made in the crown of the tooth and the infected tissue is removed along with any bacteria present. The tooth is then cleaned and sealed.
Following the procedure, it is normal to experience some discomfort for one or more days due to inflammation in the tooth and surrounding tissues. However, this can be managed with over-the-counter pain relievers. To avoid complications, it is important to avoid chewing on the side of the treated tooth. This could damage the temporary filling and lead to further infection.
Dentures that are Broken
Tooth loss has a devastating effect on your smile, and over time can lead to additional problems with your oral health like bone degeneration & bite misalignment. However, there are several options available for tooth replacement, including full & partial dentures.
Dentures are an effective & affordable tooth replacement treatment that can restore your smile, allowing you to chew & speak normally again. They can also help prevent further dental issues & even improve your overall health.
Traditional dentures rest directly on the gums & are composed of a plastic acrylic that is molded to look like your natural gum tissue. They may be complete, covering a full arch of missing teeth, or partial, focusing on filling in gaps where other teeth remain. They are a popular option for patients who have lost all or most of their teeth. In some cases, a patient can receive immediate dentures right after their teeth are extracted to reduce bleeding & protect the remaining mouth tissues.
Gums that are Bleeding
The mouth is host to millions of bacteria, some good, some bad. A change in hormones, poor oral hygiene or other factors can throw off this balance and give harmful bacteria optimal conditions to attack gum tissue, causing an infection known as periodontal disease. Left untreated, gum disease deteriorates gum tissue and the bone that supports teeth. Symptoms include bleeding gums, swollen gums, persistent toothaches and a bad taste in the mouth. It’s also linked to serious systemic diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Detecting and treating the early stages of gum disease, gingivitis, is important. It’s the only time this condition can be reversed. Left untreated, gingivitis progresses to periodontitis, when bacteria infect the tissue and bone that support your teeth. The early stage of this progressive disease is characterized by bright red, swollen gums that bleed easily when brushed or flossed. Treatment includes scaling and root planing, which is a deep cleaning that removes plaque above and below the gum line.
Knocked Out Tooth
A knocked out tooth is a dental emergency that requires immediate attention. The sooner a patient sees an emergency dentist, the better their chances of saving the tooth.
The best way to prevent dental trauma is by wearing mouthguards when playing sports or using good oral hygiene to minimize grinding of the teeth at night. Regardless of these efforts, accidents still happen and prompt treatment is essential to alleviate pain and preserve the tooth.
For a knocked out permanent tooth, the most important thing is to keep it moist. Rinse the tooth gently and make sure not to scrub or remove any attached tissue. If possible, place the tooth back in its socket. If this is not possible, place the tooth in milk or water with salt. Applying firm pressure will stop any bleeding. A patient should also rinse their mouth and use a cold compress to minimize swelling after the injury. Keeping the tooth moist helps to maintain the best chance of it being saved by a dentist.