Dental Emergency Over the Weekend

Dental Emergency Over the Weekend

by | Sep 14, 2016 | Blog, Cracked Teeth, Endodontics

Scottsdale_endodontistTooth pain is almost always a signal that something is wrong inside your mouth and that you need to see a dentist immediately. The last thing you want to worry about in this situation is what day of the week it is.

Specialists with the Phoenix Endodontic Group, like many other Scottsdale endodontists, are able to see emergency cases on the weekend. However, what if you’re in pain, but not sure if it’s bad enough for you to see your Scottsdale endodontist? Here is a quick guide for assessing your weekend dental emergency and determining the best course of action to resolve it.

Weekend Dental Emergency Guide

  1. When to call 911. Some conditions mandate immediate medical care, including jaw fractures, jaw dislocations, lacerations of the soft tissues of the mouth and face, or an abscessed or infected tooth that is severely swollen and/or impacting one’s breathing or swallowing. The emergency room staff can stabilize your condition, so that your Scottsdale endodontist can then safely provide treatment to preserve your teeth.
  2. When to call your Scottsdale endodontist. If you’re not experiencing symptoms that are life-threatening, it’s appropriate to call your dentist or endodontist and request to be seen immediately. Cases of cracked and knocked-out teeth fall in this category. If you have badly decaying teeth and are experiencing symptoms of dental infection, you may need an emergency root canal treatment. Don’t hesitate to ask for weekend treatment – in these cases, you will be preventing a potential trip to the ER, not to mention reducing your pain.
  3. When to practice self-care at home. If your dental pain is very mild, you may choose to apply some self-care techniques over the weekend and call your Scottsdale endodontist on Monday. Avoid extremely hot or cold foods and beverages, take over-the-counter pain relievers for your toothache and gargle with warm salt water to keep the area clean. If your symptoms get worse, don’t hesitate to make a weekend appointment to address the situation.

“Your treatment for your dental emergency should be predicated on what symptoms you have, not the date on the calendar, says Dr. Allen of the Phoenix Endodontic Group. “Our practice, or that of any Scottsdale endodontist, will be happy to see you get care during a weekend dental emergency situation.”

Common Foods That Cause Cracked Teeth

Common Foods That Cause Cracked Teeth

by | Apr 22, 2015 | Blog, Cracked Teeth, Endodontics, Phoenix Endodontic Group

Cracked_TeethCracked teeth are a common malady in the endodontic world. Dr. Allen of Phoenix Endodontic Group treats this problem frequently and notes some common causes, often food-related. Here’s what you should know about foods that commonly cause tooth breakage and what to do if you experience the issue.

One of the leading food-related culprits that cause cracked teeth is ice. The impact of the tooth striking the very hard surface of the ice as you chew places excessive stress on the tooth’s enamel. The tooth may crack instantly or over time may incur many microscopic fractures until the tooth eventually breaks apart. The result can be quite painful and require major work to fix.

In addition to ice, other frequent fracture-causing foods are hard candy and smaller nuts, says Dr. Allen. Holidays tend to generate lots of patients with cracked teeth since such treats are more easily accessible. Though candy in any form is not good for your teeth, if you choose to eat hard candy it should be sucked on rather than chewed to prevent dental fractures. Be cautious when eating hard nuts and don’t nibble them with your front teeth.

Cracked teeth can also result from random eating incidents. One patient cracked a tooth on a pebble in her salad, and in another unusual circumstance , A patient was chewing the marrow out of a bone and accidentally bit the bone, Dr. Allen describes. These types of occurrences may not be avoidable, unfortunately. Even if you do not notice any visible damage from accidentally biting something very hard, it’s best to have your tooth checked out after the incident.

Should you experience cracked teeth from eating or from any other incident, talk to your endodontist right away. Generally the milder the damage, the less extensive the work needed to repair it. If the damage is ignored the chances of the tooth being eventually lost will increase exponentially.

Dr. Allen and her colleagues at Phoenix Endodontic Group are experts at handling cracked teeth and more, giving you the best odds of keeping your natural teeth. Don’t hesitate to reach out right away for best results!