Nothing will absolutely consume your time and attention quite like a tooth problem. Seriously, try going to work, eating meals, or even sleeping with a really bad toothache. Even the most minor of tooth pains is enough to drive a zen master to distraction.
When it comes to taking care of tooth problems, speed is the name of the game. The longer you have to wait for help, the longer you go without getting anything done. Luckily, good dentists get that, which is why we’ve become very good at fixing common tooth problems fast. ImmediaDent’s 9-to-9, seven days a week hours and walk-in availability make us your go-to emergency dental service. Next time you have an emergency dental issue, stop by sooner rather than later. ImmediaDent can fix you up fast and right, so you can get back to your life.
Chipped Teeth
It’s tough not to freak out when you chip a tooth. Not only is the injury itself traumatic and often painful, but it can also feel like you’ll never look like yourself again. Don’t panic! Chipped teeth happen all the time, to all kinds of people, for all kinds of reasons. They don’t necessarily mean you’re taking “bad” care of your teeth or you’re a careless or clumsy person. They’re also not something you have to live with.
Dentists fix chipped teeth in a couple ways, depending on the severity of the damage. Whether you’ve only damaged the enamel of the tooth or have chipped a larger or highly visible area, dentists can use a procedure often called “bonding” to repair the tooth. Bonding is a quick, relatively simple procedure where the dentist fuses a natural-looking composite resin into the chipped area. After the dentist hardens and polishes the composite, it’s indistinguishable from the rest of the tooth. Small to medium sized chips usually only need a bonded composite filling. For larger chips or breaks, your dentist may recommend a crown or veneer.
Cavities
Cavities are an extremely common dental problem. They occur when the acids produced by bacteria present in built-up tartar break down the enamel of a tooth, creating a cavity. That cavity exposes your inner tooth to bacteria it can’t defend against, leading to the need to see your dentist. Cavities cause toothaches, temperature sensitivity, and, eventually, more serious mouth and gum infections. To treat a cavity, dentists have to remove the bacteria inside the tooth and then fill the hole.
You’re probably all-too aware of how cavity filling works. What you might not know, however, is how modern dentistry makes it relatively quick and painless! No, really. First, the dentist numbs the tooth with local anesthetic. Then, they use specialized tools to get inside the cavity itself and remove the diseased part of the tooth. When the inner tooth is bacteria-free, they’ll fill the opening with a filling. Modern cavity treatment is quick, painless, and convenient.
Sensitive Teeth
If sensitive teeth sound way less serious than the other problems listed here, it’s because you’ve never had them. Most of us sip coffee or rinse our mouths out under the sink without even thinking about it. For people with sensitive teeth, however, these routine behaviors become harrowing, even traumatic experiences. Sensitive teeth happen for several reasons. They can be a precursor to or symptom of any of the problems here, or they can happen separately.
Sensitive teeth happen when the outer enamel layer on your teeth wears down enough that the inner tooth (dentin) is exposed. It can also occur when the gums covering the roots of the teeth wear away. Without the enamel or gum tissue covering, the nerves in the dentin beneath can be overstimulated by hot or cold temperatures. Dentists can help your sensitive teeth in a couple ways. First, they’ll try prescribing desensitizing toothpaste, which will block off sensations from traveling to the nerves beneath your dentin. If that doesn’t work, dentists may also apply fluoride gel or desensitizing agent treatments directly to the teeth.
Gingivitis
Gingivitis is a very common, mild gum disease. It causes swelling, redness, and irritation of the area of the gum line just beneath the teeth. Gums infected with gingivitis also tend to bleed very easily. Gingivitis happens when the same bacteria that causes cavities accumulates into “plaque” and irritates your gums. Gums react to a buildup of plaque by becoming inflamed. Like cavities, gingivitis starts out as an easy-to-treat issue but can lead to very serious problems.
The trick to treating gingivitis is catching it early. The minute you think you have it, you should call your dentist! Usually, your dentist can help reverse the inflammation caused by gingivitis simply by thoroughly cleaning your teeth. Better oral hygiene at home is the other key. After the dentist cleans off the plaque (and you keep brushing and flossing), the gums regain their usual resilience. If a cleaning doesn’t clear up your gingivitis, your dentist may recommend additional cleanings or look for another cause of the problem.
When you have a tooth or mouth problem, you won’t want to wait to get it taken care of. Not only will visiting a dentist solve your problem sooner, it’ll help prevent that problem from turning into something much worse.
ImmediaDent believes the best dental service prevents emergency dental problems from happening in the first place, instead of just treating them. That’s why we designed our services to be quick, effective, and available whenever you need them. All ImmediaDent locations are open seven days a week, from 9 am to 9 pm, we accept a wide variety of insurance plans, and walk-ins are welcome! Next time you have an urgent dental problem you need fixed right away, don’t hesitate to give us a call.
