Consequences of Neglecting Tooth Pain

As any dentist in Albuquerque will tell you…toothaches are serious and should be taken care of by a dentist immediately. The truth of this statement is supported by what happened recently to a man who experienced health consequences from complications connected to his painful toothache…

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Daniel Murtagh, 29, suffered months of weight loss, exhaustion and body aches – which doctors believed was HIV. But blood tests revealed a super-bug had traveled around his body and eaten away at a valve in his heart. Medics discovered the infection had come from bacteria on a mildly-inflamed wisdom tooth that was causing him slight pain. Doctors immediately pulled it out before performing a seven-hour operation on his heart to give him a prosthetic valve. But Mr Murtagh was told that if he had left his condition another week he would probably have died.

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As this incident makes clear, it is so important to take care of your teeth, keep them clean, see your dentist for cleanings and X-rays…and always see your dentist if you have any discomfort at all – even if you think its minor.

The moral of this story is that tooth pain ALWAYS indicates something needs attention. You do not want something in your mouth to cause a major infection in your body that could lead to significant problems, even death. So, if you are experiencing a toothache or any other type of dental emergency, call a dentist in Albuquerque right away.

Why You Should Never Ignore A Toothache

No matter how tough you consider yourself to be, ignoring a toothache, even a mild one, can be hazardous to your health. Rather than putting off a trip to the dentist, pay careful attention to your symptoms and be prepared to take action, sooner, rather than later.

What Are Your Symptoms?

Nearly anyone can recognize the symptoms of a toothache; however, it’s important to be able to relay to your dentist exactly what’s going on in your mouth. Look for and take note of the following:

1. Pain In The Tooth: You may have sharp, even agonizing pain in one particular tooth.
2. Surrounding A Tooth: There may be an area around a tooth causing you intense pain or discomfort.
3. Swelling Of The Gums: Redness and irritation of the gums can lead to pain and should be taken seriously.
4. Throbbing From The Teeth: A pulsing, throbbing pain can mean infection or something is lodged between teeth. This type of pain can lead to other complications for you.
5. Pain Radiating Through The Jaw: If your toothache involves a nerve, such a situation can leave your entire mouth hurting; this pain usually emanates from the affected tooth, radiating throughout the jaw and line of teeth.
6. Any Drainage From The Tooth: If you observe any type of discharge from a tooth, even if there’s no pain, this symptom should be immediately reported to a dentist.
7. Headache, Fever Or Dizziness: Toothaches can wreak havoc on different systems and other parts of the body, depending on their cause(s). Include any other symptoms in conversations with your dentist, as they may indicate severity, infection and other systemic causes for a toothache.

What’s Causing All That Pain?

There are quite a few reasons you have a toothache and while it could be something as simple as having a bit of corn stuck way back between your wisdom teeth, more nefarious reasons may very well be present, meaning you’re going to need a professional evaluation for such situations as:

1. Severe Tooth Decay: Cavities can cause extreme pain.
2. An Abscessed Tooth: When decay hits a nerve, the pain can be excruciating and this should be considered an emergency.
3. Abscessed Gums: Infections of the gum can penetrate deep below the surface, even to the bone; this pain may make you feel like you have a toothache, even though it’s a gum problem.
4. A Filling In Need Of Repair: Fillings can come loose or fall out, resulting in pain, especially if the lost filling exposes sensitive areas.
5. An Injury To A Tooth: Any type of force against your tooth can cause a fracture or breakage, even if it’s not visible to you.
6. Grinding: If you grind your teeth, they can become worn down and painful.

Why Is It So Important To See A Dentist Quickly?

Besides needing relief from the pain you’re in, toothaches are often symptomatic of serious conditions requiring immediate attention. You should see a professional:

1. For Severe Pain: Anything more than mild discomfort.
2. For Lasting Pain: If the pain persists for more than 48 hours, contact your dentist.
3. When You Have Other Symptoms: The presence of a fever with dental pain may indicate an infection; however, any other problems, such as headache, earache or pain when eating or brushing are indications you need to see your dentist right away.

It’s important to note that many dental symptoms could be telling you that you have an infection, which, if left untreated, can spread throughout your body, possibly leading to very serious complications.

You can afford to put some things in life off, but a toothache should never be one of them. If you have pain, discomfort, swelling or any other oral complications, talk to a emergency dentist in Albuquerque right away. You just might be surprised at how threatening a “mere” toothache can be to your good health.

How A Dentist Can Help Repair Your Broken Tooth

Teeth can be damaged in various ways. Perhaps you were playing football without a mouth guard, crunching ice, or maybe you fell and cracked your tooth. Well, regardless of the cause, it is imperative to have the broken, chipped or cracked tooth fixed as soon as possible. For most people, it is the pain with a tooth injury that leads them to the dentist. However, a broken or cracked tooth does not always hurt. Regardless, if you’ve suffered an injury, a dental checkup is required. Even if you don’t experience pain, the crack tends to weaken the tooth structure, and this ultimately results in tooth decay. As you can’t determine whether treatment is necessary, as well as how to repair the broken tooth, visiting the dentist is the only viable option.

So, how can your dentist help repair your broken tooth? This article will cover some common procedures that the dentist can implement to save your cracked tooth depending on the severity of the damage.

1. Veneers

Veneers are simply covers for a tooth. There are many types of veneers, but most dentists use porcelain veneers as they give the most realistic and appealing results. A veneer is bond to the front of the tooth and therefore changing the appearance of the tooth. With proper care, veneers can last for years and so, you will not have to worry about regular replacement. Veneers can be placed on a single or multiple teeth, and it’s usually up to you to determine how you want the veneer to look. It is a cosmetic treatment, but an ideal solution for people with chipped or cracked teeth. However, veneers may not be recommended if you like to grind your teeth since they will get worn.

2. Dental Bonding

Bonding is another ideal way of treating damaged teeth, whether chipped, decayed, broken, cracked or discolored. Dental bonding can last up to ten years and so, you won’t need to undergo the process regularly. During the procedure, the dentist will roughen the damaged tooth and put a conditioning liquid. Putty will then be applied, molded to suit your requirements and then smoothed to give an appealing look. UV light is then utilized to harden the material, and when dried, the practitioner will polish the composite to match the rest of the tooth.

3. Dental Implants

If the damage happened to stretch below the gum line, then the dentist will not be able to treat the tooth. In such a case, they are going to extract the tooth and replace it with a dental implant. Dental implants simply take the place of the missing tooth, and they act as the tooth’s new root. If you do not have adequate bone for dental implants, the dentists will perform a bone graft procedure.

Other common procedures that can save your broken tooth are crowns and root canal therapy. Again, I advise you to seek immediate dental consultation if you suspect or know that your tooth is cracked or broken. This will save you from further damage and potential infections.

Dental 911: Are Your Swollen Gums An Emergency?

Your mouth is very sensitive and swollen gums could mean a number of different scenarios. If you notice redness, inflammation and are experiencing any pain, even mild, it’s best to act quickly, in order to rule out the possibility of a serious situation.

It Could Be An Abscess

A tooth abscess can evolve with alarming speed, going from slight pain and swelling to dangerous infection within a matter of days. There are two forms of abscess you need to be wary of if you have swollen gums:

A Periodontal Abscess: This is an abscess of an area of your gums, most often between teeth. You may have inadvertently left food particles between your teeth without realizing it and this can lead to irritated, swollen gums and possibly an abscess. Also, when bacteria remains on the gum surface, it can spread inward, eventually reaching the bone. If you have a gum abscess, you may notice swelling and redness and will also likely be in considerable pain, particularly when the area is touched.

An Abscessed Tooth: This type of abscess is called periapical by dental professionals and it can be very serious. It’s the result of rotting in the tooth, which has extended to the nerve; it can also delve deeper, right into the bone. While the gums surrounding an abscessed tooth may be red and swollen, you might also only see damage on the tooth itself; however, an abscessed tooth is most frequently accompanied by pain.
Either type of abscess should be considered a significant health threat, as the infection can seep into the bloodstream. In rare cases, there may be no pain associated with the abscess, but it’s still crucial to seek treatment. Such an infection will continue indefinitely, without ever healing on its own.

You May Have Gingivitis

Gingivitis is unfortunately very common, with approximately 75 % of all adults afflicted. Frequently, it’s a result of improper brushing and you can see it develop as gums become swollen and red, followed by bleeding. Inflammation is simply the act of your body attempting to ward off the bacteria as it builds up in your mouth.

The good news is that many people can cure their own gingivitis, simply by brushing better, flossing and rinsing; however, since swollen gums can be caused by other, more serious conditions, it’s best to get an official diagnosis from your dentist before moving forward.

If you do have gingivitis, symptoms should subside within a week or so. Wait too long with this condition, though, and it could evolve into the more serious situation of preiodontitis, where you may even lose teeth completely.

Other Causes Of Swollen Gums

Since there can be so many reasons for gum swelling, redness and sensitivity, it’s important to involve your dentist in the investigation. Here are other possible causes you’re having these issues:

A Vitamin Deficiency: Just like other body parts and systems, your oral health depends on proper nutrition; you may be lacking in some important vitamin, such as C, as indicated by swollen gums.

Medication You’re Taking: If you’ve recently started taking a new medicine and noticed swelling of the gums simultaneously, the two may be linked. Check the label on the prescription or give your physician a call.

Sensitivity To Oral Care Products: Some ingredients are harsher than others, such as sodium laurel sulfate. These chemicals may instigate a reaction, including, but not limited, to sensitive or swollen gums. Any new product you’re using could be culpable.

Underlying Health Conditions: Poor gum health may be a reflection of a more serious underlying condition you’re facing. Diabetes, for example, may affect gums when not under control and heart disease may be present in people with gum problems.

Swollen gums can mean many things, from the very serious to the benign; however; it’s wise to begin your investigation at the dentist’s office, rather than try and figure out the cause yourself. Hopefully, it’s nothing major, but if it is, you need to address it as early as possible.

If you have swollen gums this could be the sign of a dental abscess which should be examined as soon as possible. Make an appointment with an Albuquerque dentist as soon as your gums become swollen to find out if you do, in fact, have an infection.

Same Day Denture Repair When Dentures Break

Dentures can be useful items but they can be very frail and need to be treated with care if they are to be effective. Ideally, we would not require any dental assistance after receiving our dentures; however, as humans, we tend to have accidents and the chance of dentures breaking is high.

Due to the delicacy of dentures, it is essential that dental technicians repair the item when it is damaged irrespective of the extent of damage. For many, this may be tiresome as severe damage can take time to repair; however, it is possible to have same day repair. This article will discuss dentures, repairs and same day repairs.

What Is A Denture?

Dentures are items created by dental laboratories to replace individual or all missing teeth for individuals who are suffering from tooth loss. This replacement measure is removable and is typically made of acrylic plastic, but was originally created using porcelain and metal materials. While some individuals continue to use porcelain materials, this substance is very fragile and can be easily damaged.

Dentures are available in both partial and complete formats. A partial denture is used to replace individual missing teeth in separate areas of the mouth. This will assist in filling to holes and prevent the adjacent teeth from shifting in the gum. The complete denture is used primarily by older adults who have lost or are in the process of losing the full set of teeth; however, they are also beneficial for individuals who have experienced accidents and require a new set of teeth.

How Do Dentures Become Damaged?

The most common way a denture can become damaged is by dropping it onto a hard surface, such as a tiled or wooden floor. The impact of a fragile denture to a hard surface can cause a break or crack in the mold making it impossible to wear comfortably.

Another method whereby dentures can be damaged is through continued use, which is why dentures should reviewed regularly. Continuous use can cause weakening of the item and potential breakage. Furthermore, shrinkage of the gums can cause a weakening of the denture. Gum shrinking can cause a change in the mouth shape which leads to a poor fit of the denture and potential damage.

How Are Dentures Repaired?

Damage to dentures can range from small chips to full fractures. Many individuals feel that smaller damage can be repaired independently using super glue; however, this is untrue and can be highly detrimental to the item and one’s mouth. Irrespective of the severity of the damage, it is essential that the denture be reviewed by a dental professional and repaired by a dental technician. The repairs, fractures and cracks will be repaired using different tools and pieces of equipment.

Can Dentures Be Repaired On The Same Day?

Yes, it is possible to repair dentures immediately. Many people choose to repair dentures independently to avoid the wait for repair; however, it is possible to complete a repair on the same day if the damage is not severe. The majority of dental professionals now operate onsite laboratories where they are able to create and repair different types of dental products. In the case of damaged dentures, it is possible to repair small cracks, fractures, and even dislodged teeth at these onsite laboratories; however, this does depend on the availability of equipment, staff and the time of day.

You can get same day denture repair in Albuquerque if you get your dentures to the dental office first thing in the morning. If you do then you will most likely get your repaired dentures back in the late afternoon on the same day.

5 Dental Conditions That Qualify As Dental Emergencies

A dental emergency can be defined as a condition that requires urgent dental care and attention – although it may not be life-threatening. This is unlike a medical emergency where the patient’s life, vision, health may be in danger. While routine dental appointments may take some time, finding an emergency dentist shouldn’t be hard. Determining what counts as a dental emergency, however, remains a mystery for many people.

Some of the dental conditions that qualify as a dental emergency include:

1. Extruded tooth: This condition may be caused by impact on the head or mouth, where a tooth is knocked out of place hence left hanging. Although the tooth may be hanging from its normal position, it can be saved, but only if the patient gets to a dentist fast. Although seeing your dentist could seem like the best option, it would be advisable to seek the services of an emergency dentist providing 24-hour dental services. The tooth can be restored if handled in time.

2. Broken tooth: Should your tooth chip or break after biting something hard, leaving a sharp edge, you should then treat this as a dental emergency. One of the reasons for this is that the broken tooth exposes pulp and nerve endings, which could lead to lots of excruciating pain and toothache. Aside from this, the sharp edge poses the risk of injuring your tongue and gums, hence should be examined by a dentist immediately.

3. Avulsed teeth: This condition is almost similar to extruded teeth, only that the tooth has been knocked out completely. Although the tooth may have been knocked out, you can still save it. You however need to retrieve the tooth/teeth then get help from an emergency dentist. Experts recommend seeing a dentist within an hour to be able to save the teeth, failure to which you could lose them permanently.

4. Excessive dental bleeding: Severe dental bleeding (more than 3 minutes) needs urgent dental attention, hence should be treated as a dental emergency. Such conditions occur a few days after a tooth extraction, and can lead to other serious complications. Nonetheless, requesting an urgent assessment of the same can help manage the condition, and possibly prevent an infection or further tooth loss.

5. Abscess: A tooth abscess is characterized by swelling behind the affected tooth. The abscess is caused by a bacterial infection that starts to eat away the tooth and gum, and can cause a toothache, headache, pain while chewing food, or even flu-like symptoms. Although the swelling develops slowly, the condition gets worse with time, hence should be addressed in time. If severely infected, the dentist may have to extract the tooth, though a simple RCT may help solve the problem.

Should you experience any of the above mentioned dental conditions, you should then seek help immediately. Waiting for too long could lead to tooth loss and several oral infections. While an emergency dentist in Albuquerque may be able to assist, you should make it a habit of seeing your dentist regularly for proper dental care.

Message to Albuquerque Employers: Employee Dental Health Will Increase Profits

Employers in Albuquerque should take note of a recent article at smallbiztrends.com by Annie Pilon that discusses the benefits to employers of providing employee dental health plans so their employees can take better care of their oral hygiene and prevent dental emergencies.

“According to the National Association of Dental Plans (NADP), people without employee dental health benefits insurance reported higher incidences of a variety of other illnesses. For example, periodontal disease has been shown to make other health conditions like diabetes worse.

In addition, people who have access to dental coverage are more likely to practice good preventive care, which can help keep them healthier overall. Take a look at a shocking correlation – those without employee dental benefits were:

67 percent more likely to have heart disease.
50 percent more likely to have osteoporosis.
29 percent more likely to have diabetes.

So if you decide against offering employee dental benefits insurance, you’re not only decreasing your team’s odds of having good dental health, but also their chances of having good physical health overall.

And that doesn’t just mean negatives for your employees, but also for your business.”

Read the entire article here…

You already know how important it is to practice good oral hygiene, right? Well, now it looks like employers are understanding this lesson as well.

Do You Need an Emergency Tooth Extraction?

Dental emergencies can show up in a couple of different forms. We understand that sometimes accidents happen suddenly and you have a dental emergency that may even require some oral surgery if you need a tooth extracted. There are other times where a mild pain can be easily ignored (even though you should never ignore tooth pain) and then suddenly the pain and swelling flares up, creating an emergency.

While the truth is that you can never be 100% sure if you need a tooth removed because of infection, accident, or because of long neglect, there are several signs to look for that can give you a hint and might be time to take out that problem tooth.

Tooth Extraction Due to Wisdom Teeth Coming In

One of the first potential signs is if you have wisdom teeth growing in. The majority of people will not only have wisdom teeth, but will need them removed because they come in and crowd other teeth or damage the root system. We’ve seen plenty of cases where one wisdom tooth could have a negative domino affect on multiple teeth on that side of your mouth. Getting wisdom teeth removed is never a bad idea.

Tooth Extraction Due to Severe Toothache

Another obvious sign is severe pain, especially if there is swelling or blood around the gums and surrounding tissue area. This could be a sign of damaged roots, severe tooth damage that’s too bad to fix, or even the severe infection. All of these things are an indication that you need dental work, but depending on the severity the damage you may need an emergency tooth extraction.

While we understand the nervousness that many people have when going to the dentist, we strongly encourage you to come in at the first sign of damage or problem. While you might be nervous about the news, ignoring it will only make things much worse and if you have a tooth that needs to be removed because of infection you need to know that in severe circumstances that can become fatal if left untreated.

Find a dentist in Albuquerque to help you get an emergency tooth extraction in ABQ.

Finding a Walk In Dental Emergency Clinic Service in Albuquerque

A walk in dental emergency clinic service can be a life saver in your time of need. A few years ago my kid was playing baseball and he was hit in the mouth with the ball, this loosened a few of his teeth and one was just barely hanging in. We could have taken him to the emergency room where he would have had to wait at least 4 hours in agony before getting treatment but we decided on using a walk in dental emergency clinic to help him with his problem with his teeth.

The walk in dental emergency clinic in Albuquerque was able to immediately see him and they immediately started to treat his awful pain. He had blood everywhere and he was in so much pain. They were able to calm him down so that they could begin treatment on his teeth. I remember the dentist telling us how we made the right choice to take him to the emergency dental clinic rather than the emergency room because of the wait and the lack of dental specialist at our local hospital. we knew this was the right place to take him for care.

When they started treatment on my son, he was no longer in great pain. Sure he has some bruising and swelling but he was not in agony like he was when he showed up to the dental emergency clinic. It’s also good that it’s a walk in clinic and not a by appointment only place. You can come in any time you need emergency dental care. As I said, they gave him immediately care that helped save his teeth. Quite a while later and his teeth are still in great shape and you can not tell that he has had any dental work.

As you can now see, when you need emergency dental care you should not go to the emergency room, that is if you have a dental emergency clinic, you should go there instead for treatment. The walk in dental emergency clinic offers better treatment and less of a wait time than your local emergency does. Also, the dental clinic will have dentist who specialize in emergency treatment, while most emergency rooms do not have many dental specialist.

The choice is clear, for the absolute best service, you should go to a walk in dental emergency clinic in Albuquerque..

Around the Clock Dental Care in Albuquerque

Because dental emergencies don’t always have the courtesy to wait until your dentist clocks in for the day, you may one day unfortunately find yourself needing care in the middle of the night or the wee hours of the morning. Fortunately, our office is available to take your call any time at all so you don’t have to endure pain any longer than necessary. Our on-call staff welcomes residents of Albuquerque, NM and those living in surrounding areas.

If you are experiencing an after-hours emergency and need our help, all you have to do is call us for 24-hour care in ABQ. We can handle everything from chipped teeth to severe gum infections and all things in between. If you happen to suffer an accidental injury, we can help with that too, so so not put off until tomorrow what we can handle tonight. We accept all major credit cards and most types of insurance, so paying for services is very convenient.

Delaying urgent care can cause further damage to your teeth or gums. Some issues require immediate care so that this does not happen. Additionally, waiting to be treated can lead to the need for more costly treatments down the road.

You should be able to see the need for 24/7 dental care by now. It’s just a fact that most dentists are not on call and will not be able to assist you should something occur beyond their 9-5 hours. It’s a good thing you landed on this website, as you now know where to turn if a dental issue requiring immediate attention arises.

We handle all kinds of emergency dental issues. If you are in pain due to an unrelenting toothache, we can help. If you are suffering hemorrhaging of the gums for any reason, we are here for you. It does not matter what is going on. We are the office to call if you require after-hours dental care. Here are just some of the things that we treat:

• Toothaches due to any reason
• Facial pain due to dental issues
• Accidental cracking or breaking of teeth
• Sudden dislocation of a tooth, accidental or otherwise
• Mouth swelling
• Post-extraction mouth bleeding
• Deteriorating or loose braces, wires, brackets, or bands
• Dislodged crowns
• Lost or loose fillings
• Broken and worn dentures
• Broken or cracked dental implants

As stated, we are ready and waiting to assist you whenever the need arises. Please be ready to provide us with the following information when you call us…

• The nature of your dental emergency
• When it started happening
• How severe your pain is on a scale of one to ten
• How much swelling there is, if any
• If you are on any medication
• Whether or not your teeth are sensitive to hot and cold temperatures
• When your last dental visit was
• What type of dental insurance you have, if any
• Whether or not your treatment is urgent

The following tips will be of help to you if you inadvertently break, chip or knock out any teeth:

Breaking or chipping a tooth:
• Rinse your mouth using warm water
• Apply a cold compress – this will help reduce swelling
• Call an urgent care dentist
• If possible, bring broken-off parts with you to your dental care visit

Knocked-out tooth:
• Handle your tooth by the root only
• Do not rinse it – leave all tissue intact
• Reinsert it into its socket if you can, and hold it there if possible
• Alternatively, store the tooth in saline or milk so it doesn’t become dry. If necessary, keep it between your gums and cheek to keep it moist.
• Call a 24/7 emergency dentist immediately

Refrain from taking aspirin if your injury is causing you pain. Aspirin can spawn additional bleeding. Take Ibuprofen instead, being careful not to apply it or any other pain killer to your gums near your hurt tooth. That can cause painful burning, which will only add to your trauma. Also, recognize that even though pain killers may make your symptoms temporarily subside, they do nothing to treat the real problem. You need an urgent care dentist who will be able to determine the exact nature of your problem as well as the appropriate treatment for it.

Dental issues are intrusive. Waking up in the middle of the night or early in the morning with a dental issue and feeling like you have nowhere to turn can be very frustrating, but you do not have to go through it alone. We are here for you with around the clock dental care in Albuquerque.

Do not hesitate to call our office when the need arises, day or night. We will relieve your pain and treat your issue as compassionately and quickly as possible so that you can get on with your life.