A dental emergency can be a scary experience. You might not know where to go or what to do. When faced with a dental emergency, it is important that you get the right care right away. Sylvan Heights Dental is here to help.Broken Fillings
Fillings are a common treatment used for cavities. They can be made of amalgam or composite resin. Amalgam fillings consist of metal suspended in mercury while composite fillings are made up of a mixture of plastic, fine glass, and other materials. While effective and long-lasting, fillings often do not last forever. Fillings can break, which then leaves the cavity open to new bacterial invasion. Without treatment, the treated cavity can begin to worsen, leaving you at risk for serious tooth damage and painful infections. If you notice that your filling has broken, it is important to schedule an appointment right away. We can remove the old filling and place a new one to provide your tooth with continued protection.
Broken and Chipped Teeth
Broken and chipped teeth can worsen without treatment. Depending upon the severity of the damage, your tooth may be at risk for breaking, shattering, or developing an infection. If you can, find the pieces of your broken tooth. In some situations, we can bond them back into place. If the damage is significant, we may need to place a crown, which will provide the tooth with protection as well as strength. In extreme cases, broken or chipped teeth may need to be extracted.
Dental Pain and Trauma
Your teeth can experience pain for many reasons. One of these reasons is trauma. Injuries such as a sports injury, a fall, or biting down on something too hard can cause significant pain. Pain can also be caused by decay, damaged dental work, and infections. If you are experiencing dental pain and nothing you are doing at home is helping, you may have an infection inside of a tooth. In this case, a root canal is required. This treatment involves removing the infected pulp, or soft tissue inside of the affected tooth, as well as the nerve. The canals inside of the tooth are shaped and cleaned, and a crown is placed over the tooth when the procedure is complete.
Dental Abscesses
A dental abscess can develop as the result of a bacterial infection. When there is an infection inside of your tooth, the bacteria continue to multiply. Eventually, they begin to travel out through the root of the affected tooth. A sac forms around the bacteria in an attempt to keep them contained, preventing their spread. This is the abscess. Without treatment, an abscess can continue to grow as bacteria multiply. Eventually, it may even burst open, which then allows bacteria to escape and travel into the bloodstream. If a dental abscess has formed, it must be drained to eliminate the decay. Once your abscess has been removed, we are then able to perform the necessary root canal to restore your oral health.
When a dental emergency arises, it is important to seek treatment right away. Immediate emergency care can help to restore the health of your mouth, allowing you to avoid serious consequences. Call Sylvan Heights Dental today at (503) 297-1471 to schedule your emergency appointment.
