Patients often visit our office when something has gone wrong with their smiles. Dr. Brent Blaylock is happy to help you restore your smile following dental damage. The sooner you see a dentist regarding your dental emergency, the better the chances are that we can restore your smile using conservative measures. Here is how you should handle three common dental emergencies before heading straight to the dentist office to get an exam:
Knocked-Out Tooth
When a tooth becomes unexpectedly dislodged, try your best to locate the tooth. Pick it up by the crown, avoiding touching the tooth roots. Then, place the dislodged tooth in a cup of milk or water to keep it moisturized on your way to the dentist’s office. An experienced dentist in Durham, NC, Dr. Brent Blaylock provides complete dental care for the long-term maintenance of your smile in a caring environment. We will do our best to make sure you see Dr. Blaylock as soon as he is available. Dr. Blaylock may be able to reattach the knocked-out tooth depending on how long it has been since the tooth dislodged. However, if he is unable to reattach the tooth, he can also recommend restorative dentistry options to replace a lost tooth. We offer dental implants, dental bridges, and dentures as restorative options for tooth replacement. All three of these restorations replace missing teeth, however, a dental implant is the only one that replaces the actual root structure of a tooth.
Toothache
Toothaches can be caused by a number of different factors. If you have experienced facial trauma, a toothache could be the sign that one or more of your teeth is damaged. Dental damages like deep cracks or chips should be evaluated by a dental professional to ensure that you are not at risk of losing the entire tooth. We will do our best to repair your broken tooth using either dental bonding or a dental crown. Toothaches may also be a sign that your tooth is infected, or experiencing tooth decay. It’s important to see a dentist even if the pain subsides, as the underlying cause of your toothache is likely still there. To soothe a toothache, take over-the-counter pain medication to reduce discomfort and inflammation. You may also benefit from placing an ice pack over the portion of your jawbone that is experiencing pain. See your dentist as soon as possible for further evaluation.
Jaw Pain
Jaw pain is another very common dental concern that we treat in our office. While jaw pain isn’t necessarily an emergency, it can be incredibly uncomfortable and distracting. If you experience frequent jaw pain, tension headaches, or earaches, it is possible you are suffering from a TMJ disorder. Commonly called TMJ, a temporomandibular disorder is often the result of an imbalance in the bite which can lead to not only painful symptoms, but damage to the jaw joint(s), teeth, and/or gums. To reduce the frequency of your jaw pain, try practicing mindfulness throughout your day and keeping your jawbone and facial muscles as free from tension as you possibly can. Gentle jaw exercises can help you manage the amount of tension you are holding in that area. Dr. Blaylock, a trusted dentist in Durham NC, has extensive post-graduate training in the treatment of bite disorders and applies the Dawson Academy principles of complete dentistry when recommending and providing TMJ treatment in Durham. Schedule an appointment with him today if you experience any of the signs and symptoms of TMJ disorders, or if you are experiencing any other dental concern that needs attention.