1. Fractured Teeth

A blow to the face can easily fracture a tooth; however, the severity of the damage may not always be visible to an untrained eye. Besides large cracks, craze lines can also occur. They are superficial and don’t pose an immediate threat to your oral health. However, serious cracks or splits can lead to the loss of your tooth without immediate dental attention. 

2. Fractured Roots

Fractures can also occur below the surface of the gums. Impact to the mouth from a certain angle can cause a crack to run from the crown to the root. In some situations, the crack can only run along the root. An emergency dentist can save your tooth from extraction if you don’t delay scheduling an appointment. 

3. Knocked-Out Tooth

Knocked-out or dislodged teeth are common among athletes. Contrary to common misconceptions, not all knocked-out teeth are gone for good. If you get to a dentist within 30 to 40 minutes, they may be able to save your tooth. However, if it is too badly damaged or treatment is delayed, you’ll need a replacement option, like a dental implant. 

Protect Your Smile with an Athletic Mouthguard

The American Dental Association (ADA) reports that 15 million Americans have sports-related dental situations every year. Furthermore, 10% of athletes will end up with a facial or dental injury during any given season. Your smile doesn’t have to become a victim of your favorite activity. 82% to 93% of athletes can avoid dental injuries with an athletic mouthguard.

You’ll find several mouthguards OTC, which appear convenient and affordable. However, they are not custom-fit and are made of poor-quality materials. As a result, they can do more harm than good if there’s any trauma to your mouth.

Instead, it’s best to turn to a professional. Your dentist can craft a high-quality mouthguard to fit your smile like a glove. It will provide maximum protection for your teeth, gums, jaw, and other oral tissues. Research has also shown it may lower your risk of concussion.

Don’t place your smile at risk of irreversible damage. Ask your dentist about adding the protection of an athletic mouthguard to your prevention plan.

About Dr. David Earnest

Dr. Earnest earned his dental degree at the University of Texas before continuing his education in general dentistry and dental implants. He has the qualifications and experience to treat the most complex oral health issues, including dental emergencies. Contact our office today to request an appointment.

1. Comfortable Amenities

Dental emergencies can be painful. Your dentist will work quickly to stop any discomfort. They can provide pain medications or use a local sedative before moving forward with any treatment. If you need extra help to relax in the dental chair or require a complex procedure, sedation dentistry can be used to keep you comfortable.

2. Diagnostic Examination

Your dentist will examine your mouth to assess the situation. They may take X-rays to have a complete picture of your smile. They’ll pinpoint the problem and learn more about your situation to establish a personalized treatment plan.

3. Create Your Treatment Plan

Every dental emergency differs, so there isn’t a one-size-fits-all treatment. Your dentist will recommend one or more procedures to repair your smile. They’ll suggest an option that will meet your needs and budget. Although every situation is unique, common treatments include:

• Tooth extractions
• Dental crowns
• Root canal therapy
• Gum disease treatment
• TMJ therapy

4. Review View Your Payment Options

If you need urgent dental attention, the last thing you should be worried about is how you are going to pay the bill. Your financial situation doesn’t have to stand in the way of getting the care you need. Most dental insurances can be used to offset the cost of emergency services to lower the amount you need to pay out-of-pocket. Your dentist may offer multiple payment options for any remaining balance, like third-party financing. You don’t have to risk your oral health, even if money is tight.

5. Restore Your Beautiful Smile

After your dentist has reviewed your treatment plan and explained your payment options, they’ll restore your smile. Depending on your situation, they may treat your tooth the same day, or schedule you for another appointment. 

Safeguard Your Smile

You can’t always stop a dental emergency from occurring, but there are many things you can do to lessen your risk of one. Many issues result from an untreated dental problem, like a cavity. You can avoid an unplanned trip to the dentist by following a solid oral hygiene routine at home. Don’t forget to visit your dentist twice a year for a cleaning and checkup. 

If you have a dental emergency, don’t wait. Contact your dentist right away to save your smile.

About Dr. David EarnestDr. Earnest earned his dental degree at the University of Texas and has completed extensive continuing education in many specialties, including dental implants and restorative dentistry. If you need an emergency dentist, he can provide the prompt, personalized care you need. Contact our office today to schedule an appointment.

Every morning, you brew a fresh cup of coffee to start your day out on a good note. One morning when taking the first sip, you experience a jolt of pain. You didn’t do anything differently when making your favorite morning beverage, so what could be causing this sudden discomfort? Read on to learn about a few common causes of tooth sensitivity as well as whether it warrants an emergency visit to the dentist.

WE KNOW, WE KNOW… We ask you about flossing every time you come visit us! It is an integral part of your oral hygiene routine and essential for healthy gums and teeth. But did you know there’s more to floss than cleaning between your teeth? Dental floss can actually be used for a lot of other things!

Eight Useful Dental Floss Hacks

Have some extra floss lying around? Don’t have the right equipment and need to get a job done in a pinch? Try these cool dental floss hacks.

1. Use floss for perfectly sliced cake. Ever slice a cake and the knife comes up with half of the cake on it? Use flavorless dental floss to make the perfect slice by stretching it taut and gently pressing through the cake. Pull it out when you reach the bottom and voila!
2. Don’t have any kitchen twine? Floss will do. Some foods like meat and bacon need to be bound when cooked. Usually kitchen twine takes care of this but what if you run out? Floss (again, flavorless) has got you covered!
3. Floss can help you start a campfire. Believe it or not, waxed dental floss burns well! Wrap dental floss around a match or a dry piece of wood to increase burn time.
4. Floss can clean out those hard-to-reach spots in your furniture. You know those small cracks and crevices in your wooden furniture that you can never manage to clean? Well, dental floss is meant to get into nooks and crannies! Try it on your wooden furniture. You’ll thank us later.
5. Floss is great for sewing. Whether you’re out of thread or in need of something more durable, floss works well for sewing on buttons and patching up holes on the fly.
6. Are your freshly-baked cookies stuck to the baking sheet? Floss ‘em!Dental floss can unstick your cookies without leaving anything behind.
7. Dental floss can even help in the garden. If you’re training a vine to grow a certain direction, floss can help! Use it to attach the vine loosely to the structure you want the vine to climb.
8. Floss makes for an easy DIY clothesline. If you’re camping, in a hotel, or simply don’t have room in the dryer, floss can be used to create your own clothesline. Yes, it’s that strong!

Let’s Be Honest, Floss Is Awesome

Whether you’re using floss to patch something up or slice your birthday cake, always remember to use it for what it was made for, to clean in between your teeth! Daily flossing protects your beautiful smile from periodontal disease and tooth loss, so yeah, we’d say it’s pretty awesome!

Know some more flossing hacks? Post them in the comments below or on our Facebook page! We’d love to hear from you!

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