Compass Dental Blog

Having a front tooth knocked out is a genuine emergency. If you should be on the scene of such a traumatic situation it’s important to know what to do. If you can find the tooth it may be possible for the dentist to put it back in place. Only handle the tooth by its crown, avoid touching the root while you rinse any dirt away.

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The pain from a toothache can be life-altering. It may keep you from eating the foods that you need to stay healthy and from drinking the hot or cold beverages that you are used to enjoying. If the discomfort is extreme it may even prevent you from getting a good night’s sleep.

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You have no doubt heard that it’s possible to have too much of a good thing but would you ever have referenced that thought to your good oral health habits? Actually, it could apply. Brushing your teeth every day is the mainstay of a proper regimen for home dental care. Dentists recommend brushing twice a day for two minutes at a time using a soft bristle toothbrush and a fluoride toothpaste.

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No one can predict when an emergency or accident is going to occur. One way of thinking is not if but when it will happen and to be as prepared as you can be. A dental emergency can be painful for the victim and be frightening for family members or bystanders. As with many emergency situations, immediate attention is essential. With that in mind, dental professionals have come up with some guidelines about what kind of first aid equipment to keep on hand.

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More isn’t necessarily better but it may well be the case where dental office amenities are concerned. Most patients are a little nervous about going to the dentist in the first place, especially if they suspect that they may have a cavity or the beginnings of gum disease, for instance. They may have had to make changes in their workplace schedule or hurried across town to make it to their appointment on time. Pleasant surroundings and a friendly greeting will go a long way in putting patients at ease.

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There’s no reason to feel anxious about an upcoming dental appointment. Thanks to the decidedly developed technology in the field things like high speed radiology, oral cameras and sedation dentistry have taken the dread out of going to the dentist. Many procedures can now be done with little or no local anesthetic and the time you will actually spend in the chair has been minimized. However, if you are still experiencing some level of stress about the thought of having a dental procedure there are some simple ways to reduce your stress.

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X-ray technology is vital to the dental profession. It gives dentists the ability to detect a cavity in between two teeth, an abscess that may be festering under the gumline or any other issues hiding beneath the surface that can’t be seen during a routine exam. Radiology is also used to monitor the development of teeth that have not yet erupted.

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Oral dental sedation has made a huge difference in the field of modern dentistry. People who have neglected their oral health because of an overwhelming fear of having a painful experience or the prospect of having to go through a series of time consuming dental appointments can now put those issues to rest.

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An in-office fluoride treatment is commonly thought of as a procedure for a child who is particularly cavity prone but fluoride protects against tooth decay at any age. It also works to relieve acute tooth sensitivity. Tooth sensitivity increases when the protective coating of enamel starts to deteriorate or when gum tissue starts to separate from the teeth.

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The cause of your tooth sensitivity may be determined in part by the type of pain you are experiencing. Your dentist will ask you to describe your feelings so that he can use what is known as “differential diagnosis” to rule out the possible causes one by one. This process of elimination will lead to the source of your pain.

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