• Periodontal (Gum) Disease
• Diabetes Related to Oral Health
• Heart Disease Related to Oral Health
• Sterilization
• Dental Emergencies
• Jaw Pain
• Cavities
• Root Canal Therapy (Endodontics)
• Sensitive Teeth
• Bad Breath
• Do You See Children at Your Office?
• What are Sealants?
• What is Fluoride?
• What is Nitrous Oxide?

For further information on dental topics, you may visit the website of the American Dental Association: http://www.ada.org/

1. Tooth Avulsion - (tooth knocked out, but still in one piece)
   • Place your tooth in a glass of milk or keep tooth under your tongue.
   • Call or have someone call our office for emergency contact information immediately.
2. Extreme pain and/or swelling.
   • Either from a broken tooth, cracked tooth or infected area.
   • It is important to keep swelling to a minimum so if swelling is present, call our office immediately.

• Jaw Popping/Clicking upon opening and closing your mouth may be a predecessor to TMD (temporomandibular joint disorder). This should be evaluated by your dentist. In some cases a TMD specialist may be recommended.
• Grinding (bruxism) - a frequent cause of headaches and tooth pain, grinding your teeth may lead to TMD and excessive tooth wear. Many patients grind their teeth at night and are not aware they do so. Patterns of grinding and wear on teeth can be identified by your dentist. To treat this, a night guard may be recommended and an evaluation from your dentist is needed.

• Dental cavities (decay) are caused by acid-producing bacteria that collect on teeth. If acid producing bacteria is not removed from the teeth (by brushing properly and flossing regularly), the bacteria sticks and multiplies, causing a cavity. Regular cleanings and good oral care at home can help prevent cavities from developing. For many patients, from children to young adults, sealants and fluoride treatments are important to prevent decay.
• Depending on the extent of decay, teeth may be restored (filled) with a white (composite), silver (amalgam) filling, or a crown. If the cavity is too large, in some cases the tooth may need to be extracted.
• It is important to remove the cavity and restore the tooth to proper function as soon as possible so as not to allow the cavity to continue to grow.

• Each of your teeth have root canals within them that house the tooth's nerve. When a tooth nerve becomes diseased, it is necessary to remove the nerve from the canal and meticulously clean, shape and fill the canal so that bacteria and infection may not re-enter.
• When nerves of teeth are diseased, constant pain and swelling may be present. Extreme or lingering sensitivity to hot, cold, or biting may also occur. At times a "pimple" may form on the gum or the patient may get a bad taste in their mouth. It is important if you are experiencing any of these symptoms to call our office for an appointment to evaluate the area.
• During root canal treatment a rubber dam is used to isolate the tooth during the procedure and keep the area sterile.
• After a root canal treatment, a crown (cap) may be needed to protect the tooth. The nerve of the tooth is about 90% water. When the nerve is removed, most water within the tooth is removed making the tooth very brittle and more subject to fracture. A crown will surround the brittle tooth and protect it from fracture. This is especially important on back teeth as they are essential to chewing.

• Gum recession - gum tissue may recede over time due to brushing too hard, tooth reaction to orthodontic movement, or, for many adults, simply a result of the normal aging process. When gums recede they expose part of the tooth that is actually the root of the tooth. The root of the tooth is much more sensitive in the mouth and may react to cold with a quick sensation. Sensitivity due to root exposure tends to come and go in phases. To reduce sensitivity, patients may want to try Sensodyne^TM toothpaste for a short period of time (2-3 weeks) to see if this helps. If sensitivity continues or the tooth begins to ache, it is advised that the patient make an appointment to evaluate the affected area. In some cases a fluoride treatment or a filling may be appropriate to treat the sensitivity, but proper evaluation is necessary.
• Bleaching - Sensitivity is the most common side effect of bleaching. This sensitivity is temporary and will subside after bleaching is stopped. If needed, adjust the frequency of bleaching to help decrease sensitivity. For example - for NiteWhite^TM - bleach every other night or every 3rd night to help decrease sensitivity, For Day White^TM - bleach once a day or once every other day to help decrease sensitivity.
• Cracked tooth or filling - Many times cracks cannot be seen visibly in affected teeth. If a tooth is cracked, the first symptom noticed by the patient may be sensitivity to cold and/or chewing. It is important for our office evaluate the sensitive area with an exam to ensure proper treatment. It is recommended an appointment be made to do so.
• Tooth sensitivity that does not subside over time or "lingers" long after cold is removed may be indicative of pulpal (nerve of the tooth) involvement. An appointment is recommended to evaluate the area for a possible root canal treatment.
• It is important to distinguish between slight cold sensitivity that does not linger and extreme cold sensitivity that causes a lingering throbbing sensation after the cold is removed. If you are experiencing a lingering throbbing sensation to cold, hot or chewing, it is advised to schedule an evaluation of the affected area. Please call our office to do so.

• What you eat - certain foods like garlic and onions may contribute to bad breath.
• If you don't brush/floss regularly - Small particles of food will remain in and between your teeth and on your tongue that will cause bad breath. This is a good reason to brush and floss regularly
• Dry mouth - Lack of saliva to help clean food off teeth can lead to xerostomia (dry mouth) and contribute to bad breath. Some medications may cause dry mouth. Over the counter options are available. Ask our office about it.
• Tobacco products - Lets face it, tobacco products are not good for your health, your mouth, or your breath. If you are thinking of quitting, now is a great time! Oral cancer information related to tobacco use is available on the American Dental Association website: http://www.ada.org/3016.aspx?currentTab=1