Emergency Dentistry

Broken Teeth

Dental fractures can occur for several reasons but the most common include:

• Age
• Sports or physical injury
• Chewing hard foods
• Teeth grinding
• Large fillings that weaken tooth integrity

The severity of the cracked tooth will determine the treatment that is needed. If the fracture is minor, your dentist may be able to utilize dental bonding which will fill in the crack to make it appear and function as normal. If the damage is more severe, and possibly has affected the pulp of the tooth your dental team may recommend a root canal which removes the pulp and can save the tooth from having to be extracted. Crowns are another treatment option that covers the damaged tooth with a porcelain cap. In the most extreme cases, tooth extraction may be the best option if the structure of the tooth including the nerves and roots are damaged beyond repair or if it compromises the integrity of your other teeth. Implants are a great treatment option to permanently replace missing teeth, in some situations they can be placed at the same time that the tooth is extracted. Your dentist will look at all options before resorting to dental extraction.

Chipped or cracked teeth are not uncommon and can be easily treated if you seek out emergency dental services as soon as possible. The sooner you receive treatment, the less likely it will be to get a tooth infection or have a further crack that would require more extensive treatment.

Teeth grinding is a very prevalent issue these days which can lead to fractures of teeth. In most situations, your Dentist can have a custom fabricated guard made for your mouth to help minimize further damage to the teeth.

Tooth Extractions

Tooth extractions are safe procedures that can be combined with local, general, or intravenous anesthesia to ensure that the treatment process is as comfortable as possible. Tooth extraction is broken down into either a surgical or simple extraction.

Simple tooth extractions involve patients receiving a local anesthetic to numb the area. Patients will experience pressure, but no pain during the procedure.

During a surgical extraction, some incisions need to be made and as a result patients may undergo general or IV (intravenous) anesthesia. This form of sedation will often put the patient to sleep where they will experience no pain whatsoever. Very often patients don’t have any recollection of the procedure altogether.

Risks from tooth extraction are minimal and uncommon. As with any procedure, infection is also a risk but uncommon provided you follow the recovery guidelines from your dentist or oral surgeon.

Same-Day Denture Repair

As part of emergency dental services, each of our Beacon Dental Health offices is equipped with the tools needed to provide same day denture repair. The dental teams at each of our Massachusetts and Rhode Island dental offices uses acrylic materials and unique adhesives that are made specifically for denture repair allowing them to fix or correct any issues you may have with your dentures. Same day denture repair services restore your dentures to be as good as new and they can be worn immediately.

Typically, dentures can break as a result of impact damage or an improper fit which happens naturally over time. A set of broken dentures can make things uncomfortable for wearers causing biting or chewing problems and in turn may lead to digestion issues. The dentures are made exactly to the specifications that they were before and, in some cases, may be returned stronger after being reinforced with the acrylic mixture.

It is crucial for patients to get their dentures fixed quickly. Not wearing dentures when you need them may result in bone loss that will lead to changes in the face and can compromise your jawbone or any remaining teeth. With our office’s same day denture repairs, you no longer have to worry about the inconvenience of being without your dentures for too long.

Dental Abscesses

A dental abscess can form wherever there is decay, cracks, chips, or injuries to a tooth. When the enamel is left weakened and openings appear, bacteria is able to reach the center of the tooth and can spread to other areas of the mouth.

Toothache caused by pressure and swelling around the tooth may be one of the clearest signs of a dental abscess, however it is possible that the pressure can be relieved naturally, and as a result you may not feel any symptoms. For this reason, it is important to check with your dentist as soon as possible otherwise the infection can spread and cause more severe issues.

Other symptoms may include:

• Bad breath
• Pain when biting down
• Swollen glands in the neck
• Swollen area around the upper or lower jaw

Leaving a tooth abscess untreated can lead to life threatening complications and warrants an emergency dentistry visit at the first signs of discomfort.