When you think about how well you care for your smile, do you feel like you’re doing your best? Even if you’re careful about brushing and avoiding bad habits, accidents can still happen. Luckily, dentists know how to deal with many different dental emergencies. Some emergencies happen more often than others. Let’s explore six of the most common ones that dentists often treat.
#1: Dental Crown
Dental crowns are a common way that dentists fix badly damaged teeth. They’re caps shaped like teeth that go over the damaged tooth, making it work and look better. Crowns cover up the damaged part, so the tooth stays strong and doesn’t have to be taken out.
#2: Tooth Extraction
Dentists always try to save teeth, but sometimes they have to remove them. After the tooth is taken out, it’s important to discuss with your dentist about what to do next. This can help fix your bite and prevent problems later on.
#3: Dental Bonding
Dental bonding is a fast and easy way to fix small chips, cracks, or bits of broken enamel using a material called composite resin. It helps keep your teeth from feeling sensitive and protects them from harmful bacteria. This makes it a good choice for your pearly whites.
#4: Gum Disease Therapy
Gum disease happens when bacteria build up because of not cleaning your mouth well. In the beginning, it’s called gingivitis, and it’s easy to stop, treat, and turn back. But if it gets worse and becomes periodontitis, it can make you lose teeth and cause infections in other parts of your body.
Gum disease therapy focuses on treating swollen, painful, or bleeding gums. These treatments work to stop the infection from spreading and keep it from causing more serious problems.
#5: Root Canal Therapy
If you have really bad tooth pain because of a deep infection, your dentist might suggest root canal therapy. Even though many people think root canals don’t work well, they actually succeed about 95% of the time.
In this treatment, the dentist takes out the infected part inside the tooth to stop the pain, then fills it with a material called gutta-percha and covers it with a crown or filling. A root canal helps you keep the tooth and keep your bite feeling normal.
#6: Tooth Reimplantation
If one of your permanent teeth gets knocked out, call your dentist right away. If you can see them within an hour, they might be able to put the tooth back in. To keep it safe until then, don’t touch the roots of the tooth. You can also keep it in saliva, milk, or between your cheek and gums.
While you can’t always avoid dental emergencies, you can reduce the chance of them happening. Take good care of your teeth at home and see your dentist regularly, ideally twice a year. This helps keep your mouth healthy and lowers the likelihood of needing emergency dental treatment.
About the Practice
Altenbach Dentistry is the place to go for top-notch oral health services that will keep your smile bright and healthy. We’re dedicated to helping you keep your smile looking great and handling any unexpected dental problems with skill and care. Our team works hard to make sure your smile looks and works its best. Whether you have an emergency or just want to learn more about dental care, you can reach out to Altenbach Dentistry by calling (904) 448-0441 or visiting their website.