Category: Blog

At some point in their life everyone is bound to be the victim of a dental emergency. In that case, what on earth are you supposed to do? First off keep calm, and second off think about the incident you have had occur to you. That often tells you how to respond most appropriately.

If you have knocked out a permanent adult tooth due to trauma what you do next can decide if you are going to keep the tooth or not. If possible place the tooth loosely back into its socket. If you cannot do that, keep the tooth most by sucking on it, putting it in milk, or using a tooth preservation product recommended by the American Dental Association (ADA). Get to your dentist’s office soon as possible to provide a permanent fix to the situation.

For a cracked tooth, immediately rinse the mouth with warm water to clean the area. Put cold compresses on your face to keep swelling from increasing.

If your tongue is bit, clean the area gently and apply cold compresses.

For toothaches, rinse the mouth with warm water to clean the cavity out. Gently use dental floss to remove any food stuck in and around the tooth. Do not put medications, especially aspirin on the tooth to keep the pain down. This is not good for the tooth or aching gum tissue.

If an object gets stuck in your mouth, then try to remove it with a toothbrush or dental floss. If that fails, do not use sharp objects to remove the object. Instead, contact your dentist or local emergency room. They will be able to remove the object more safely than you can, with less risk of permanent damage that may be caused.

Avoid these various dental mishaps by following the common-sense rules that you were always told. Wear a mouth guard when playing contact or recreational sports. Avoid chewing on things that may cause teeth to crack like jawbreakers, ice, or popcorn kernels. Always use scissors to cut objects into the pieces you need, and NOT your teeth. Always know you can visit your dentist if an emergency arises. Call the office and request to have an immediate appointment scheduled. Most dentists have someone built in at the office each day that has time in their schedule for emergencies just like these described here.

If you have any questions regarding this article contact us or call 909-465-1016.

The Ramona Dentistry Team

“Where Family Comes First”

A root canal is not the seriously “painful” procedure it once was.  Millions of teeth are treated and saved each year with root canals, or endodontic treatment. Roots canals today are known for relieving more pain rather than causing it.

Root canals are needed when the inside of the tooth, under the white enamel and a hard layer called the dentin, the soft tissue called “pulp” comes infected. The pulp includes blood vessels, nerves, and connective tissues so infections to this tissue can be very painful if left untreated. In a fully developed tooth, the tooth will survive without the pulp of the tooth if it were to become infected. The tooth will just be nourished by the tissue surrounding it.

Modern endodontic treatment is similar to having any other filling done to the teeth.  It is usually completed in one appointment, sometimes it may take a second depending on the condition of the tooth and the personal circumstances surrounding it (i.e. timetables, pain tolerance, personal preferences, etc.). You can expect to be comfortable during your procedure.

Saving the natural tooth through a root canal has many advantages to the customer including the ability to chew more efficiently and naturally, the ability to have a normal biting force and sensation, natural appearances of the smile, and protection from excessive wear/stains.

To do a root canal the inside pulp of the tooth that is inflamed or infected becomes that way because of any of a number of reasons including deep decay, repeated dental procedures on the tooth, faulty crowns, or cracks/chips in the tooth. The root canal drills out the infected pulp, and replaces the soft tissue with a material called “gutta-percha”. Afterwards, the tooth is restored and capped with a crown to keep the filling from being exposed again.

Endodontic treatment helps maintain one’s natural smile. It allows the individual to continue to eat the foods they love, and limits the need to go in multiple times for ongoing dental work. With proper care, most teeth that have root canals performed on them can last the rest of the person’s lifetime.

If you have any questions regarding this article contact us or call 909-465-1016.

The Ramona Dentistry Team

“Where Family Comes First”

If you are informed of major dental problems that need fixed, but you are not necessarily ready to undergo a massive amount of dental work or are not sure whether the work even needs done or not, what are you to do? The best option in that case is usually to get a second opinion before making major health decisions. In that case, go with your gut that is probably correct as to doing what is best for you.

Remember that seeking a second opinion is never wrong. Even the American Dental Association (ADA) recommends it if you feel unsure. There is no one rule for which exact procedures should get a second opinion, or which ones shouldn’t. While you really don’t need an opinion for every tiny little cavity you come across, for bigger procedures that are more invasive and costly it is usually a good idea.

Some situations in which it is likely appropriate to get a second opinion include when your dentist diagnoses a major problem like oral cancer. If the problem is that massive, or life-altering, a second opinion is wide. When past dental work seems to have failed, and more work is going to need to be done. You want to find out why that work failed, and what will be different this time. Seek a second opinion if you are not sure about the diagnosis that you have been given, or you are not sure if your current dentist is not qualified to perform the procedure they are recommending you receive. If you have poor rapport with your dentist, a second opinion may be vital to finding someone you trust to carry out the procedure could be vital to having the procedure done properly.

The benefits of all second opinions include the fact that different dentists are trained in different backgrounds. You may find alternate treatments available. A second opinion can also confirm if you need to see a specialist to have a procedure or not. Moreover, other dentists may have more experience with the condition you have been diagnosed with, and they may be able to provide the best insight to the diagnosis and treatment you need. Finding the next person to give that second opinion is the next challenge.

If you are looking for someone to provide a second opinion there are several ways to go about this. If you have a good relationship with your current dentist, you can always ask for trusted colleague of theirs to seek a second opinion from. Ask others to know about what qualified dentists they use and what their contact information is so you can reach out for a second opinion of your own. Call a local dental society to have names and contact information for highly-recommended dentists in your area provided to you. If you leave near a dental school(s) or training facility they may able to recommend someone as well.

Be sure to always call your insurance company to ensure any dentist you want to visit for a second opinion will be covered by your dental insurance. There may be steps you and your current dentist must take to ensure the second opinion visit will be covered. Understand what these steps are, and make sure to cover all your bases before seeing another dentist for a second opinion. Otherwise, you may have the potential for a very expensive second opinion on your hands.

If you find someone’s second opinion, then be sure to ask the key questions to ensure you choose the best option for you. These questions include if the original diagnosis your dentist provided is correct. You also want to know what the treatment options are that will be available to you given the condition you have. You want to know how much each option will cost how long the results will be expected to last as well as how many treatments it will take to complete the job. You want to know how it will improve your dental health as well. 

If you’d like a free second opinion from us simply contact us or call 909-465-1016 and we’ll give you a risk-free honest assessment.

The Ramona Dentistry Team

“Where Family Comes First”