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General Dentistry

What to Do if You Have a Dental-Related Emergency

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A dental problem that requires immediate treatment to save a tooth, alleviate severe pain, or stop ongoing bleeding tissue is considered a dental emergency.

Dental-related emergencies are a common occurrence for many Americans. They can be caused by many different situations, such as dental trauma.

If you are suffering from a severe dental-related emergency, you must seek immediate dental care. Specific dental emergencies cannot wait for treatment, while others may not be as urgent, and you can wait to see your dentist during regular business hours.

Oral Pain

Do you have tooth or mouth pain? Experiencing a severe toothache can be one of the worst types of pain to endure. The first step in evaluating oral pain is to determine its origin. Dental sources are the most common. However, pain issuing from nondental sources such as migraine headache, maxillary sinusitis, myofascial inflammation, nasal tissues, and ears must be considered and excluded.

Some of the most common causes of dental pain include:

  • Cavities – Also known as dental caries, cavities are a bacterial disease of the teeth. They are permanently damaged areas in the teeth that develop into tiny holes. Tooth pain occurs when the nerve in the root of a tooth or surrounding the tooth is irritated.
  • Gingivitis – This is inflammation of the gums, or gingiva. Some of the symptoms include swollen, painful gums that bleed easily. If this persists, it’s important to make an appointment with your dentist. While gingivitis is a non-destructive type of periodontal disease, if left untreated, it can progress to periodontitis.
  • Periodontal disease – This is an infection of the tissues that hold your teeth in place. An acute gum infection can damage gums and can destroy the jawbone.
  • Tooth Abscess – A tooth abscess is a pocket of pus that is caused by a bacterial infection. It can occur in different regions of the tooth for various reasons. An abscess can be characterized by a painful, swollen lump that’s filled with pus. There may also be swelling of the face or cheek, or tender and swollen lymph nodes under the jaw.

Dental Trauma

Dental trauma is a prevalent problem. Children are especially affected, with 1/3 of 5-year-olds having suffered an injury to their primary teeth, and 1/4 of 12-year-olds having sustained an injury to their permanent teeth.

There are many different types of injuries and problems that can result in damage to your teeth and the structures around your teeth. If you experience some sort of dental trauma, you must speak to your dentist as soon as possible. In some cases, you may need to visit an emergency room.

Some of the common types of dental trauma include:

  • Tooth Fractures – A tooth fracture involves the chipping or cracking of a tooth. This may occur during blunt trauma to the mouth, such as in a car accident or sports injury. It may also involve accidentally biting a hard substance that compromises the enamel and dentin of a tooth. Treatment depends on the severity of the fractures, but generally, bonding, dental veneers, or dental crowns may be used to repair this dental trauma.
  • Loss of a Tooth – This often occurs in accidents and blunt trauma, like the ones mentioned above. In the majority of cases, the upper row of teeth is more prone to being knocked out than those on the bottom. If it’s possible, try to retain the knocked out tooth, rinse it with clean water or milk.
  • Displaced Tooth – This is a tooth that’s not entirely knocked out but is instead shifted out of position. This may make the tooth appear longer or shorter. Physical injury is typically responsible for this type of trauma.

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4 Mistakes To Avoid Making Before Dental Work

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The following are some of the most common mistakes patients make before getting dental work.

Many people get a lot of things wrong about dentistry. Some avoid going to the dentist because they are afraid of pain. Sure, some procedures might be uncomfortable, but we have the means to ease your pain and help you relax. A discussion with a St. Louis sedation dentist could help you understand better what most dental procedures entail. On the other hand, some patients postpone getting routine work on their teeth thinking that it’s too expensive.

The following are some of the most common mistakes patients make before getting dental work.

Avoiding the Dentist Because They Don’t Know What They Need

One of the most common reasons patients give us for postponing dental work is the idea that the treatment will take too long and they don’t have the time to accommodate it in their busy schedules. Yes, some procedures can take longer than others, but you can create a flexible plan with your dentist and a timeframe for each procedure so that you know what to expect.

Thinking That They Can’t Afford the Cost of Treatment

A lot of people avoid routine checks thinking that dental care is too expensive for them to afford it. But, think about it this way: if you postpone treating a small cavity and it turns into an abscess, then you will have to pay more for that procedure if you would have fixed the problem the moment you noticed it.

Routine checks and regular maintenance will not only help you keep your teeth healthy but also reduce the cost of treatment.

Avoiding the Dentist after a Bad Experience

Maybe you had a bad experience that determined your fear of the dentist or maybe you’ve heard about someone’s traumatic day in the dentist’s chair and now you are afraid that the same thing will happen to you. Regardless of the reason, know that the tools and options available today can make your visit as comfortable as possible. Talk with your St. Louis sedation dentist about your fear and learn how he can ease your anxiety and help you get the treatment you need.

Exaggerating the Risks of Dental Treatment

Some procedures come with a few risks, such as respiratory distress. However, if you were to weigh the risks versus the benefits these dental procedures entail, then you would see that avoiding treatment is unnecessary. Even if things go wrong, the medical staff is ready to intervene and take proper care of you. Make sure to discuss the benefits, risks, and implications of dental treatment with your dentist and make an educated decision.

St. Louis Dentistry

Not very many people would say they are comfortable in the dentist’s chair. However, being informed and understanding how the procedure will unfold might help you feel a bit in controlling and easing your anxiety. Make an appointment today to learn more about what you can expect. Give us a call at (314) 862-7844

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5 Dental Emergencies and How to Manage Them

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Dealing with a dental emergency may be unpleasant, but it is the best way to minimize the pain you are going through and address the problem.

Tooth pain or discomfort should generally prompt you to make an appointment with your dentist. Ignoring dental problems can lead to a variety of problems, from prolonged pain and difficulties eating to heart disease. When it comes to dental trauma or infection, these emergencies don’t allow any postponing.

st. louis with a severe toothache

If you are not sure whether your pain qualifies as a dental emergency and you want to know what you can do about it, here is a list of the most common dental emergencies.

Toothaches

Whether it signals a cavity, tooth decay, gum disease or some other problem, the dreaded toothache may be a sign of trouble. It can be a very debilitating pain which radiates and pulsates. When you experience such pain, you need to see your dentist for a diagnose. However, until you get to the dentist’s office, you may consider taking an over the counter anti-inflammatory, as reducing the swelling will help ease the pain. If you are postponing your visit because you are afraid of the procedure, our St. Louis sedation dentist can make the entire process comfortable for you.

Broken or Chipped Tooth

If you get a crack in a tooth or you chip off a piece of it, chances are it is not really an emergency. The dentist can schedule you right away for a consultation, just to see what steps he will need to take next time. If you are in pain, though, he will likely act right away.

Depending on the depth of the crack or the size of the chipped piece, you can experience discomfort at tooth level, especially if the dentin is exposed. You can also hurt your tongue or cheeks in sharp edges, so try to chew on the other side to protect them as much as you can.

Swollen Face

If other conditions are more or less urgent and could wait a day or two if you’re not in great pain, a swollen face likely requires a trip to the emergency room ASAP. It is a symptom that you need to address as soon as possible, as it may indicate an infection. It could be a tooth, your gums or even your bone, and it can spread to your throat or ear.

Abscess

A tooth or gum abscess is usually annoying and painful enough to send you to the dentist the next day. Sensitivity to hot and cold food and beverages, pain on contact, starting to swell are all signs that you might need a root canal.

Bleeding from the Mouth

Any type of bleeding from your mouth is not normal, so schedule an appointment with your dentist as soon as you can. In certain cases, it can indicate a chronic gum disease that needs to be addressed before your gums start receding and you lose your teeth. If your bleeding is caused by a dental procedure or an injury and it won’t stop, speak with your dentist ASAP.

Dealing with a dental emergency may be unpleasant, but it is the best way to minimize the pain you are going through and avoid improvised treatments that don’t really address the problem. Leave it to the professionals to take the best course of action and remember it’s always better to be safe than sorry. Give The Dental Anesthesia Center a call today at (314) 862-7844.

How Long Will the Effects of Novocaine Last?

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Novocaine is a local anesthetic that is generally used in dental treatments or small surgeries.

It is ideal for this type of procedures because it has a short-lived effect and can be concentrated in small areas. It’s effect will typically last between 30 and 90 minutes, depending on how the practitioner uses it.

how long novocain lasts

If you are about to have a procedure with Novocaine here is what to expect.

What is Novocaine?

Novocaine is a brand of the local anesthetic procaine, usually used for uncomplicated procedures. It numbs a small localized area, allowing the doctor to perform surgery.

The types of procedures that require the use of Novocaine vary from dental care to small surgery, such as dermatology, ophthalmology, etc. Your doctor will most probably administer this anesthetic when treating a cavity, removing a wart or collecting tissue for biopsy.

A Short History of Novocaine

Novocaine has revolutionized the medical world at the beginning of the 20th century, becoming the first synthetic local anesthetic to be used in the United States. It has allowed doctors to perfect their procedures and increase the quality of treatment received by the patients.

Novocaine replaced cocaine as the local anesthetic, and it had fewer side effects than the drug. In the last decade, with new synthetic anesthesia being introduced, Novocaine lost its popularity, but plenty of dentists and doctors continue to use it.

How Long Do the Effects of Novocaine Last?

If you are worried that Novocaine will not numb you throughout your procedure, it is important to note that while it might be the shortest acting local anesthetic nowadays, your dentist can make it to last longer by administering it together with epinephrine (adrenaline).

The dentist will increase the dosage if needed, or switch to a different drug in case Novocaine is no longer helping.

Novocaine by itself will typically last about 30 minutes while paired with epinephrine it can last up to 90 minutes. Its effects begin 9-10 minutes after being administered through an injection in the tissue.

What Factors Could Influence How Long Novocaine Lasts?

The main factor that dictates how long the drug’s effect will last is the dosage. Your sedation dentist will calculate it for the size of the area that needs to be numbed, how many nerves are present in that area and whether they will use epinephrine or not.

If the Novocaine injection doesn’t seem to work, the dosage will be increased, or the injection will be made in a different area. The doctor might also choose to use something else.

The bottom line is this: Novocaine is a widely used local anesthetic because it is generally stable and safe for patients. Its prolonged effects, when paired with epinephrine, allow it to be used for a broad range of treatments while having minimal side effects.

If you have additional question, don’t hesitate to give us a call at (314) 862-7844.

7 Vitamins That Are Great for Your Teeth

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These seven vitamins will contribute greatly to you or your child’s oral health.

In the dental industry, we talk a lot about what foods you shouldn’t eat. The reason is that most oral health issues stem from the combination of improper eating and lack of cleaning. What we discuss less are the foods that improve your oral health. Well, we are changing that today by presenting 7 mouth-friendly vitamins and minerals, plus the foods your children should eat to get them. You can find an explanation for each of them in the following passages.

buying broccoli

Calcium

The most well known of the bunch is calcium, which plays an integral role in teeth and bone health. You can obtain this mineral through foods like milk, yogurt, certain vegetables, and some types of fish. Please note that you may have trouble getting enough if you have dairy issues. In that case, a nutritional supplement might be your best option. This should be discussed with your doctor.

Vitamin D

The interesting thing about Vitamin D is that it does not have a direct effect on your oral health. Instead, it helps you absorb calcium, which we’ve already covered. The best way to get Vitamin D is through sun exposure, as very few foods have it. If you’re looking into supplements, many companies combine calcium and Vitamin D in the same pill.

Potassium

Potassium plays two roles in oral health. They are increasing tooth density and reducing calcium leaching. Foods that contain this mineral include bananas, tomatoes, some beans, all kinds of potatoes, and avocados.

Phosphorus

Calcium is the primary bone builder in your body, but it requires a team of vitamins and minerals to help it function. One of them is phosphorus, which plays a supporting role. You can find it in many types of seafood, other meats, and lentils.

Vitamin K

This vitamin helps block harmful substances from degrading your teeth and assists in strengthening every bone in your body. The best foods to get it from are leafy greens like kale and spinach, though many other vegetables have it too.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C helps protect against gum disease, which frequently affects children. Oranges have famously high levels of it, but so do leafy greens and other vegetables. The latter might be preferable due to their lack of sugar.

Vitamin A

One of the things people often don’t know about oral health is how important saliva is. When you don’t have it, your mouth becomes dry, and you are at heightened risk of many diseases. Fortunately, Vitamin A is in a variety of foods. The most popular of them are fish, kale, spinach, eggs, and carrots.

One thing to note is that you can obtain many of these vitamins through nutritional supplements. Some of them even have everything you need for healthy teeth, as they are specifically constructed to do so. Though we are not nutritionists, the general wisdom on this subject is that getting your vitamins from food is more effective than supplements. Of course, you may consider doing both. This should be discussed with your doctor.

One thing you can be sure of is that taking care of all 7 points on this list should lead to a healthier mouth. To schedule an appointment with a pediatric dentist at The Dental Anesthesia Center give us a call at (314) 862-7844.

Why Putting Off Going to the Dentist Will Cost You in the Long Run

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Those with dental anxiety and similar issues often choose to not go to the dentist at all.

Though they usually know that getting oral care is a smart idea, they decide to stay away. What frequently happens next is those people developing severe dental issues that require more cost and attention than regular maintenance would have. Here’s why employing this strategy will cost you in the long run.

ST. Louis man with toothache

Oral Health Maintenance

When you visit a dental office, the staff takes a look at your mouth and then goes to work. One of the crucial things they do is scrape plaque off of your teeth, but they conduct a variety of other maintenance tasks too. What these do is make your mouth healthier and more resistant to gum disease, tooth decay, and many other diseases. This treatment could save you from more pain and monetary costs later on.

Early Identification of Issues

One of the best things a dentist can do for you is to identify an issue that is developing. Whether that is a cavity coming in, sensitive gums, or any other complication, catching it right away is crucial. The reason is that you can then change your habits to stop the issue from becoming severe. Painful, expensive, and time-consuming treatments are the last thing you want, and getting a regular checkup can help you avoid them.

Dental Care Goes Beyond the Teeth and Gums

One thing that patients often don’t know about oral health is that it is linked to systemic issues like heart and lung disease. While the causal link between these problems is not apparent, the correlation between them is. Developing health complications in the heart or lungs can be disastrous, so you’ll want to do everything you can to avoid that.

Preventative Versus Reactive Care

What we’ve explained in the sections above actually has a financial concept behind it. It is the cost analysis between preventative and reactive care. The former refers to treatment you receive while healthy, and the latter describes care you get after you develop an issue. The preventative strategy comes out on top in every financial analysis out there.  

Long Visits and Procedures

The irony of people avoiding the dentist due to anxiety and other issues is that in the end, they often spend more time getting dental work than if they had gone to regular appointments. The reason is that severe complications take many hours of work to resolve, while cleanings and checkups are much quicker.

No matter how severe your issues are with going to the dentist, finding a way to make it happen will almost certainly be better for you. Not only will you have a healthier mouth, but you will likely save money and frustration in the long run. One way that people make dental visits easier is with dental sedation. In short, this process allows patients to be partially conscious and resistant to pain during their treatment. If you’re interested in this option, don’t hesitate to give our office a call and set up an appointment. Call (314) 862-7844.