Unpredicted and unexpected, dental emergencies can significantly impact anyone. A chipped, cracked, or rotten tooth can cause pain, confusion, and anxiety. Objects stuck in the mouth can cause panic. Even a seemingly minor emergency, such as a toothache, can cause discomfort and annoyance. Though such emergencies are widespread and common, many people are at a loss about what to do when they arise. At Parkwood Dental in Bradenton, Florida, our expert dental staff and emergency dentists are here to help you successfully get through stressful oral emergencies.

What to Do in Case of a Dental Emergency

Many circumstances classify as dental emergencies and may require an emergency visit to the dentist. Knocked out and cracked permanent teeth, excessive oral bleeding, toothaches, and objects stuck in the mouth all fall under the category of a dental emergency.

What to do in the case of emergencies such as these depends on the specific emergency itself. It’s important to react accordingly when such events take place. An individual’s immediate response plays a significant role in the amount of overall damage to the mouth, and knowing how to respond by properly identifying the type and gravity of the oral emergency is also key to preserving your overall oral health.

Knocked-Out or Cracked Permanent Teeth

In the event of a knocked-out tooth, delicate handling and moisture are key. Try to re-insert the tooth into the socket without touching the root. If that isn’t possible, attempt to keep the tooth moist by keeping it in your mouth between your cheek and gums, in a glass of salt water, or in a glass of milk. Do not use tap water to preserve moisture as this can lead to deterioration of the tooth enamel. Immediately transport the tooth to an emergency dentist for professional treatment.

When dealing with a cracked permanent tooth, make sure to immediately clean the area by rinsing the mouth with warm water. If there is oral swelling as well, use a cold compress to help lessen the pain and ameliorate the situation. Then make sure to go to the dentist right away for medical help.

Excessive Oral Bleeding

In the event of an oral emergency, trauma to the mouth can cause excessive bleeding. The bleeding may come from or near a damaged or missing tooth. Apply a moistened cold compress to the area to ease bleeding while on the way to the emergency dentist.

Toothaches

Toothaches may seem to be minor emergencies or may seem to not even be emergencies at all. However, a toothache is often an indication of a more important oral problem. Toothaches also often cause mild to severe pain that interferes with day-to-day activities. Toothaches are thus classified as dental emergencies that require prompt attention.

In the event of a toothache, clean out the mouth by rinsing with warm water. Use dental floss to gently remove any food stuck between teeth. It is advised to see a dentist to medically address the symptoms and causes of a toothache. Do not put aspirin on aching teeth or gums.

Objects Stuck in the Mouth

If an object gets lodged or stuck in the mouth, attempt to remove it gently with floss. Do not use sharp or pointed objects such as knives, tweezers, or needles. If you cannot dislodge the object with floss, make an emergency dental visit to get professional help.

What to Expect When Seeing an Emergency Dentist 

After taking the necessary immediate actions in the event of a dental emergency, it’s vital to go to the dentist right away. Dentists and dental staff are the only qualified people who can accurately and adequately provide oral treatment during an emergency.

During an emergency appointment at the dentist, you can expect that the damaged or affected area will first be examined. The dental staff may also follow up with an x-ray in order to determine the appropriate treatment for your dental needs. Dental staff are equipped and qualified to help restore your oral health.

Avoiding Oral Injury

Taking simple precautions can go a long way in helping an individual avoid oral injuries and emergencies. Wear a mouthguard to protect teeth and gums, especially when engaging in activities that could endanger your teeth and gums, such as when playing contact sports.

Avoid chewing hard food that can crack teeth. Chewing food such as ice, popcorn kernels, pistachio shells, and hard candy can crack or damage permanent teeth. Always remember to use scissors, razors, or knives to cut objects, vegetables, and fruit. Never use your teeth!

Recognize the Importance of Your Oral Health

Do not underestimate the importance and significance of an oral emergency. When a tooth or teeth are knocked out, cracked, or aching, it is important to see a dental professional right away. If an object is stuck in your mouth or you’re experiencing excessive bleeding, this also classifies as a dental emergency needing specific and prompt medical attention.

Parkwood Dental in Bradenton, Florida recognizes and values the importance of your oral health. In the event of dental emergencies, our offices are here and open to help you. Don’t get caught by surprise during an oral emergency! If you experience such an emergency, make sure to immediately take the appropriate steps to mitigate any negative impacts. After responding accordingly, call Parkwood Dental in Bradenton, FL to schedule an emergency dental appointment right away.

Few things in life can be as distressing as not having confidence in your smile after losing a few teeth. It can affect every aspect of your life, from the way that you feel to the food that you eat. Without question, having missing teeth can be a very harrowing experience, but thankfully it doesn’t have to be a permanent situation. Schedule an appointment with the experts at Parkwood Dental in Bradenton, FL for an initial consultation, and let us guide you on the path towards a fully healthy smile.

What Are Dental Implants?

Dental implants are permanent fixtures that are placed inside your mouth in place of lost tooth roots. The implant is placed in the socket of your missing tooth, allowing the jaw to heal around it over the course of time and locking it into place.

There are numerous reasons to consider having a dental crown placed when you have a missing tooth. It can restore your smile, help with eating and chewing food, and help stabilize a weak or cracked tooth. There are several different types of dental crowns available at offices such as Parkwood Dental in Bradenton, Florida.

What Is a Dental Crown?

A crown, sometimes called a cap, is a small prosthesis that fits over your existing tooth or a dental implant. They can be made from several types of materials. No matter what type of dental crown you choose, they are all designed to protect compromised teeth or replace missing ones.

Crowns must be attached to a post, tooth, or bridge to stay in position. Many people will choose to have them glued directly onto a filed portion of an existing tooth or the abutment for a previously placed dental implant.

However, they can also be incorporated into a bridge or flipper device that can be removed for eating or cleaning. A bridge can be an affordable solution and may be your only option if there is no other way to structurally secure the crown. Some people might consider veneers as a type of crown, but they generally do not cover the entire tooth. These can be an excellent choice for cosmetic repairs or to cover small cracks.

What Types of Dental Crowns Are Available?

Like other types of prostheses, dental crowns are not a one-size-fits-all item. Dental offices will often have several types of dental crowns to choose from. While most dental crowns are permanent or long-term solutions, some of them are only temporary. These are often used as a short-term solution while you are waiting for a permanent crown to be manufactured. They are attached with an adhesive that can be easily removed so you can switch to the permanent crown once it is ready.

They can also be made of a variety of materials. Which one is right for your situation will depend on the size and location of your missing tooth, your dental habits, and your budget. Know your options so you can discuss them with your dentist.

Porcelain

This is the most common type of crown used at Parkwood Dental. It is made from a high-quality porcelain material that can be custom matched to your other teeth. The result is a completely natural appearance. Porcelain crowns are as durable as they are attractive, and their all-porcelain construction means they are highly biocompatible.

Metal

Some crowns, particularly those on back teeth, are made from metal: often gold. These types of dental crowns are very durable and can be a suitable choice for people who grind their teeth. However, their obvious appearance makes many people shy away from using them.

Porcelain Fused to Metal (PFM)

Some crowns are made with a layer of porcelain fused to a metal base. These PFM crowns are generally more affordable than all-porcelain models and provide a more natural appearance than all-metal models. However, the metal base may become visible over time, so they are best suited to back teeth such as molars.

Are You Ready to Learn More?

When you are ready to learn more about the types of dental crowns available and which one would be best for your situation, we can help. Contact Parkwood Dental in Bradenton, FL today to schedule a consultation. 

Do you want straighter teeth but don’t want to spend 18 months or more wearing braces? Braces can give your teeth proper alignment, but it can be a great commitment of time, especially when you are an adult. Fastbraces are a new orthodontic technology that can provide a drastically reduced treatment time with less discomfort.

What Are Fastbraces?

Fastbraces are a revolutionary new orthodontic technology that can provide straighter teeth only days after they are placed and can fix a variety of issues in only 100 days. The reduction in treatment time comes from turning the slow, two-step process of traditional braces into a single-step process. In a single day of treatment, these braces perform the root alignment that might take traditional braces a year to complete.

How Do They Work?

Fastbraces work by removing an entire year of treatment time. With traditional braces, the first year is spent pulling the teeth into position, and the second year is spent moving the roots into the proper position. Fastbraces addresses the issue by straightening the roots in a single day. Straightening the roots allows the alveolar bone to grow, which straightens teeth much faster than normal braces.

We also use only one wire throughout the treatment process. The growth of the alveolar bone can help you avoid unnecessary tooth extractions and orthodontic surgery. Alveolar bone growth can also speed up the fight against gingivitis caused by crooked teeth. The orthodontics can even be more comfortable than traditional braces.

What Conditions Can Be Addressed?

This treatment can address misaligned teeth faster than traditional braces and be used to make dental work easier for hygienists and dentists. Progress begins to show from day one, as the alveolar bone grows and teeth are moved into place. The following alignment issues can be treated with these orthodontics:

• Crowding
• Crooked teeth
• Malocclusions
• Overbites
• Underbites
• Crossbites
• Spacing
• Open bites

Who Is an Ideal Candidate?

Any patient looking to fix their teeth with traditional braces will probably benefit from the faster treatment time. Orthodontic patients of all ages can enjoy these new braces offered in adult and child sizes. Less time wearing braces means you don’t need to follow strict care instructions for as long and can enjoy less time on a restricted diet.

Most patients do not like the appearance of braces, and since the treatment time is reduced, this means patients will need to spend less time wearing braces. This can be helpful for adults and teens that can feel negative social pressure when wearing braces. The wire can even be made to match your tooth color, so the braces are less noticeable. Patients also enjoy minimal need for a retainer and a comfortable treatment with less pain.

Ready to Straighten Your Teeth?

If you think these new braces may be right for you and want straighter teeth in less time, visit Parkwood Dental in Bradenton, FL for an initial consultation. We can straighten your teeth with this safe and comfortable orthodontic technology.

Root canals are an effective way to remove a damaged nerve while still saving the tooth. At Parkwood Dental in Bradenton, FL, we receive a lot of questions about root canals, such as how much does a root canal cost? We’ll answer this and provide additional information to some commonly asked questions about root canals.

How Much Does a Root Canal Cost?

If you’ve been told that you need a root canal, this may be one of the first questions you think of, and the answer, of course, depends upon the tooth in question.

Following are some general estimates on the average price of root canal therapy:

• Front tooth: From $762 to $929
• Bicuspid: From $879 to $1,054
• Molar: From $1,111 to $1,300

Obviously, root canals can be expensive, but going without one when you need it can create an additional risk to the tooth that will involve more extensive treatment later if not corrected now.

Why a Root Canal

Sometimes, decay penetrates the tooth so deeply that it affects and damages the nerve. It’s then necessary to remove the nerve while, at the same time, saving the tooth.

Saving the Tooth

Any time you have a missing tooth, it can cause your bite to be misaligned. As a result, it becomes more difficult to care for your teeth and you’re more prone to conditions such as gum disease.

If you hesitate when you wonder how much does a root canal cost, just remember that root canals save teeth and can help safeguard your oral health, which can save you many thousands in remedial dental work in years to come.

How It Works

During this procedure, the infected pulp inside your tooth is removed. The tooth is then cleaned and sterilized. Afterward, it’s filled with a rubber-like material and a crown is placed on it to provide additional protection and support.

The crown is sometimes an additional cost, so that is something to consider when you are asking how much does a root canal cost.

Dental Anatomy

To really understand the importance of a root canal, it’s good to get an overview of how your teeth are constructed. The enamel is the part of the tooth that you can see. While it has hard enamel on the outside, on the inside, it has a soft layer of pulp in addition to roots and nerves. When these become irritated or infected, it causes pain and discomfort.

Does a Root Canal Hurt?

Root canals have a bad reputation that they don’t deserve. You are numb during the procedure and everything is done to make you as comfortable as possible.

Most people say that getting a root canal is, in many ways, similar to having a cavity filled. In fact, often a root canal alleviates the pain that the infection was causing. This is something to keep in mind when you are asking yourself how much does a root canal cost.

Root Canal Services in Bradenton, FL

If you are having dental pain, contact the experts at Parkwood Dental in Bradenton, FL to receive a complete evaluation.

The first signs of gingivitis are irritated gums that bleed, especially when brushing your teeth or biting into something hard, such as an apple. Tender and bleeding gums need prompt attention. Parkwood Denta in Bradenton, Florida provides state-of-the-art treatment for gingivitis.

With regular dental cleanings and good oral hygiene habits at home, gingivitis can often be reversed. However, if allowed to progress, gingivitis can advance into periodontal disease. When periodontal disease strikes, the gums recede from the teeth. As a result, teeth migrate out of place and eventually fall out.

What Is the Treatment for Gingivitis?

Thankfully, gingivitis is treatable. As a progressive condition, early treatment for gingivitis is the least expensive and most painless way to cure the disease. Once it reaches advanced stages, expensive dental restorations may be necessary to regain a normal-looking smile and functionality of the teeth.

Professional Dental Cleanings

Once gingivitis symptoms become apparent, it’s important to schedule a professional cleaning at the first opportunity. This is the time where fixing gingivitis is inexpensive and may require no more than a good cleaning and follow-up home care. Your dentist will remove all traces of plaque, tartar and the bacteria which cause gingivitis.

He or she may also recommend mouth rinses and toothpastes that specifically combat gingivitis. Most likely, your dentist will recommend flossing regularly and thoroughly. Flossing is the best way to remove food waste products that turn into plaque and tartar, making it an effective treatment for gingivitis.

Scaling and Root Planing

For more advanced gingivitis cases, scaling and root planing may be necessary. Scaling removes tartar not just from your teeth, but also from beneath the gums. In cases of gingivitis, tartar has often lodged within the gums, which ultimately causes them to recede, resulting in lost teeth. Root planing removes bacteria from the gums.

In addition, root planing smooths root surfaces to prevent further tartar and bacterial buildup so the gums have time to heal. The procedure is performed with ultrasonic lasers and provides an effective treatment for gingivitis that saves teeth.

Dental Restoration

When gum disease reaches advanced stages, patients may suffer from misaligned teeth. Dental restoration places these teeth back into their natural locations. In addition, if the patient has crowns, bridges or other dental fittings, they may irritate gums affected by gingivitis. If this is the case, your dentist can fix these restorations so they cease irritating the gums.

Ongoing Care

Gingivitis usually reverses after a professional cleaning or scaling and root planning work. However, gingivitis is likely to return if you don’t practice healthy oral hygiene at home and continue to receive regular professional cleanings. Your dentist will recommend a program for home tooth and gum care and schedule follow-up visits to keep tabs on any redeveloping gingivitis.

Gingivitis is a scary disease. It sets in motion the process of tooth decay and eventual tooth loss. Periodontal disease causes the loss of multiple teeth, misshapen gums and ruined smiles. Thankfully, with modern dentistry, gingivitis is preventable and reversible. In many cases, good oral hygiene can prevent it from ever occurring.

If you or a loved one are suffering from tender, bleeding gums and fear the disease may be progressing, make an appointment with Parkwood Dental in Bradenton, Florida today.

If you are missing one or more of your teeth or planning to have them removed in the future, you have probably heard about dental implants. They offer a long-term or permanent replacement option that can also help preserve the integrity of your bone and gums. You may be wondering, however, about the procedure that is involved with getting you that updated smile. Keep reading to learn about the dental implant procedure steps necessary when you visit Parkwood Dental in Bradenton, FL.

Dental Implant Procedure Steps to a Winning Smile

When getting your new implant, you may experience some or all of these dental implant procedure steps. Keep in mind that the actual steps you experience may be slightly different depending on your specific situation.

Bone Grafts

Without a tooth in its place, your jawbone loses some of its mass. If it has been a long time since you had a tooth in place, you may need to have the bone built up before an implant can be placed. This is done through grafting extra bone to yours and allowing it to heal. Keep in mind that not everyone will need to take this dental implant procedure step.

The Implant Is Placed

Once your bone is strong enough to support the implant, your dentist will carefully drill a hole and put the titanium implant post in it. This will form the artificial root for your new tooth and is the actual implant. Your jaw will need about 12 weeks to heal after this is done. During that time, your jawbone will grow around the post to secure it and give your dentist a strong attachment point for your crown.

An Abutment Is Attached

An abutment is a small piece that acts as a bridge between the implant and the crown. It offers an appropriate surface to allow the crown to be securely attached later on. Some surgeons will use a one-piece implant that already includes this portion, so you may not have to undergo another procedure. If you do, you’ll want to be sure that your jaw has had time to heal before having another surgery to place the abutment.

A Crown Is Added

Once the actual implant is firmly established in your jaw and the abutment is attached to it, you are ready for a crown. Your dentist or surgeon will take a mold or impression of your mouth and have a crown made to resemble a natural tooth.

You’ll want to decide on the best material for your situation. Some options include porcelain, composite resin, and metal. Porcelain is the most natural-looking, and also the most expensive. It can be a good choice for a front or highly visible tooth. You might want to leave the metal crowns for molars that won’t be visible when you smile or speak.

Your Smile Is Renewed

Once your crown is attached, you are ready to go. You can eat, drink, and chew as if your teeth were natural. Proper hygiene is crucial to making sure your implant lasts a long time, so be sure to keep brushing and flossing regularly.

If you are ready to talk to someone about getting an implant, or if you just have questions about the dental implant procedure steps, contact the professional staff at Parkwood Dental in Bradenton, FL to schedule a consultation. We can help you design a customized treatment plan so you can experience a completely renewed smile.