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Archives for December 2017

In Need of Emergency Dentist because of Lord Aragorn

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Apparently, I was an Orc. I didn’t realize that until a young Lord Aragorn came at me with his sword. I happened to turn just as the sword arced and hit me straight in the mouth. I thought it was fine, but last night it started feeling loose. I thought I was just imagining it but this morning I can definitely wiggle it. I think this may be considered a dental emergency. Is there anything that can be done or am I doomed to lose the tooth?

Maureen L.

Dear Maureen,

Woman in pain who needs to see an affordable dentist

The first thing you’ll want to do is stop wiggling it. That’s making it more likely to come out. Part of the protection for our teeth are ligaments attached to them. These ligaments can stretch and become loose, but mess with them enough and they can completely snap, leaving your tooth with less protection.

Your first order of business is to see your dentist. You’re right that it is a dental emergency and be certain to let them know when you call. If your dentist doesn’t leave room for dental emergencies, go ahead and call an emergency dentist.

The dentist needs to stabilize the tooth. There are several methods in which this can be accomplished including bonding it to its adjacent teeth or using a splint.

What Can Trauma to Do to a Tooth?

Hopefully, just splinting the tooth will give it time to heal. But, there is a chance the pulp has been damaged. If that’s the case, you’ll need a root canal treatment. Most root canal treatments end up needing a dental crown to protect the tooth which becomes brittle after a root canal treatment.

If for some reason your tooth falls out before it can be healed, there is still hope. First, only pick it up by the crown. Never touch the root, not even to clean it. You’ll want to keep it moist though. If you have access to milk, carefully place it in a glass of milk. Ideally, you’ll want to get the dentist within thirty minutes.

Make sure you call them and let them know to expect you and why so they can get to you immediately and have everything prepared. The faster the tooth is re-implanted, the better chance you have of saving the tooth.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Raymond Bolt.

Do Breastfed Babies Need a Pediatric Dentist?

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I’m expecting my first baby. I’m very excited but nervous at the same time. I didn’t have any younger brothers and sisters so I don’t know anything about babies. I’ve been doing quite a bit of reading. But, to be honest, every book I read contradicts another one. The only thing they do seem to agree on is that breastfeeding is best. So, I’m determined to make that work. One of the things they said is the breastfed babies don’t need the dentist early on. Is that true? My neighbor breastfed for a while, but she told me that her baby still had cavities. Is that because she also bottle-fed? I didn’t want to mention that because she’s sensitive about the fact that I’m staying home to raise my baby and she’s not. I didn’t want to add feelings to the guilt she’s already feeling. But, I don’t want to make a mistake with my baby either.

Kestral

Dear Kestral,

A baby breastfeeding

I’m not surprised you’re confused. There’s been conflicting information about child-rearing since the dawn of time. Part of the reason for that is no two children are alike. One thing you’ll learn to trust is your mother’s instinct. You’ll know your child better than anyone, especially since you’ll be home with them all the time. It’s an admirable thing your doing.

As to your question, there are definite advantages to breastfeeding and dental health.

  • The chemical make-up is better. While formula comes close, there are quite a few things we haven’t been able to copy with our man-made formula that you’ll find in breastmilk. One is some type of inoculation that protects baby’s health. Another is a chemical that helps their brain development.
  • The mechanics are better. When a baby is bottle-fed, it tends to pool in the baby’s mouth, which leads to decay. Due to the mechanics of breastfeeding, the milk is is pulled to the back of the tongue which stimulates their swallowing reflex. This prevents pooling for the most part.

Why Take Breastfed Babies to the Pediatric Dentist?

There are still good reasons to take a breastfed baby to the dentist, but use your own judgment. If it happens that your baby falls asleep while breastfeeding, there’s still a chance that it will pool. That can lead to decay.

Genetics also play a big factor in the dental health of adults and children alike. Two people can care for their teeth the exact same way and one will not have any cavities and the other will. The only difference is their genetics.

The ideal situation is to bring your child to the dentist when they first develop their teeth. That way the pediatric dentist can check that everything is developing normally. Early detection and treatment is the ideal way to deal with anything that comes up unexpectedly.

Too many parents don’t bother taking young children to the dentist and their first experience is an emergency dental appointment, instead of a fun visit.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Raymond Bolt.