Category Archives: Emergency Dental Appointments
Experiencing Tooth Pain? When it’s time to visit the dentist
Experiencing tooth pain is no small thing. In fact, tooth pain can ruin your day or put you in a bad mood. Sharp pain can make it difficult to concentrate at school or work, and extreme sensitivity can ruin mealtimes. What causes these frustrating tooth pains? Let’s take a closer look at the top five reasons for tooth pain and see when it’s time to visit your dentist!
Related Articles:
Top 5 Reasons for a Toothache
- Sensitivity: Has a certain tooth developed sensitivity to cold and/or hot temperatures? Tooth sensitivity can happen for a myriad of reasons and is often the indicator of an underlying symptom, so it’s important to let your dentist know if you’re experiencing extreme sensitivity. There are many treatments that can help, such as using a sensitive toothpaste.
- Related Article: “I Have Sensitive Teeth!!” How Can You Reduce Tooth Sensitivity
- Gum Disease: Gum disease is as worrisome as it sounds and affects many adults every year. Gum disease, or periodontitis, is when bacteria eat away at your gums. This is most often caused from bad dental hygiene and excess bacteria in the mouth. Gum disease can make your gums feel tender, or sometimes bleed, and cause tooth pain. The earlier you catch gum disease and begin treatment and better dental hygiene, the better. If you notice a toothache and swollen or red gums, come in and see your dentist quickly for an examination.
- Decay: Plaque and bacteria in the mouth do more than just bother your gums, they also begin to dissolve your enamel on your teeth. When your enamel gets broken down, your teeth aren’t as strong anymore and are more susceptible to weak spots and pain. When bacteria concentrate in an area, you can experience a cavity/holes in the teeth. When this happens, your teeth may feel sore and sensitive.
- Related Article: “Mask Mouth” is more than Stinky Breath: Gum Disease is on the Rise
- Dental Abscess: Also caused from an excess of bacteria, an abscess forms when bacteria builds up inside your tooth’s pulp. This causes an infection and leads to swelling and soreness, or a toothache. Pus can also develop around the tooth, so it’s important to visit your dentist right away if you see these symptoms. An x-ray can confirm the diagnosis and often antibiotics are used to fight the infection.
- Chipped Tooth: Although enamel is extremely tough and durable, sometimes we experience a chipped or broken tooth whether it be from an injury or whatnot. Try to not chew on ice, pens, open packages with your teeth, and so on to prevent any breakage. A crack in the tooth can cause extreme sensitivity and pain. Sometimes, a crack may not be clearly visible to you and may be in the back area of the tooth. If you think you may have a crack, visit your dentist right away. Treatment options often include crowns and root canals, depending on severity.
- Related Article: Root Canal Treatment: Root Canal Treatments Debunked
More reasons for a toothache: https://www.health.com/condition/pain/tooth-pain-causes
GPS Dental Can Get You OUT of Pain!!
If you’re experiencing a dental emergency, remember … Emergency Dental Appointments are Available at GPS Dental. Please give us a call at 210-633-3477 and let us know you are experiencing tooth pain.
Related Article: Toothache Causes: My Tooth is THROBBING!! What do I DO?
Dr. Gary P. Skrobanek’s experienced and friendly team at GPS Dental offers affordable dental care for all ages in San Antonio, TX area. Our Brooks City Base dentist office is conveniently located and offers early morning appointment times Monday through Friday to meet your needs. At GPS Dental, we promote dental health awareness to our patients and provide most dental services, from family and general dentistry to dental implants, sleep apnea, TMJ / TMD Treatment, cosmetic dentistry and much more. We accept most dental insurance plans and offer affordable financial solutions for any budget. Call us at 210-633-3477 to make an appointment
Toothache Causes: My tooth is throbbing! What do I do?
Toothaches are tricky — they can feel like a minor tinge or they can cause crippling pain. That’s why we want to share some common toothache causes, their symptoms and when you should seek help from your dentist.
What is the definition of a toothache?
Pain or inflammation in or around the tooth, often caused by tooth infection or decay.
What are common toothache causes?
A toothache can have causes that are not due to underlying disease. Toothache causes may include getting something stuck in between the teeth, flossing, biting into something hard, or braces. Remember, in children, tooth pain is a regular part of the developmental process.
Common Toothache Causes:
- Tooth decay
- Inflammation of tooth pulp
- Tooth fracture or broken tooth
- Sensitive Teeth
- Damaged filling
- Abscessed tooth
- Infected gums or gum disease
- Impacted tooth
- Repetitive motions, such as grinding teeth or chewing gum
- Sinus congestion or infection (non-dental related issues)
Related Articles:
- “I have Sensitive Teeth!” How can You Reduce Tooth Sensitivity?
- Gum Disease: Can a Simple Cavity turn into Gum Disease?
- Are You Experiencing Jaw Pain? You Could Have TMJ
Common Symptoms of a Toothache:
- Tooth pain that may be constant, throbbing, or sharp
- Tooth pain while chewing
- Pain results only when pressure is applied to the tooth, for some people
- Foul-tasting drainage from the tooth infection
- Cold or hot sensitivity when eating or drinking
- Swelling in your jaw or around the tooth
- Bleeding or discharge from around a tooth or gums
- Headache or fever
- Trauma or injury to the area
When do I need to see a Dentist About my Toothache?
We recommend seeing your dentist as soon as possible about your toothache if:
- Your toothache is severe
- You have consistent tooth pain that lasts longer than 1 or 2 days
- Inflammation increases
- Swelling occurs around your jaw or face
- Redness occurs around the gums or your gums are bleeding
- You have an earache or fever
- If you notice that a tooth is cracked, broken, or chipped
- You experience pain upon opening your mouth wide
- Dull, persistent pain can be a sign of something that will get worse if not treated
- You’ve suffered a recent trauma to your face or mouth
How do I stop my tooth from throbbing?
Try these self-care tips for some temporary relief, while you’re waiting to see your dentist:
- Rinse your mouth with warm salt water
- Floss gently to remove built up plaque or food in between teeth
- Apply a cold compress to your cheek or jaw
- Take an over-the-counter pain medication, like ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), acetaminophen (Tylenol), and aspirin can relieve minor pain
- Numbing gels or pastes, such as benzocaine, can help to dull the pain
When I Go to the Dentist for a Toothache, what happens?
Your dentist will conduct a dental exam first. He or she will ask you questions about the pain, such as:
- when the pain started
- how severe it is
- where the pain is located
- what makes the pain worse and what makes it better
- does the pain wake you up in the middle of the night
Your dentist will examine:
- your mouth, teeth and gums
- tongue, jaws and throat
- sinuses, nose, ears and neck
X-rays may be taken as well as other tests, depending on what your dentist suspects is causing your toothache.
What Treatments Are Available for a Toothache?
Treatment for a toothache depends on the cause or source of pain. If a cavity is causing the toothache, your dentist will remove the decay or infection, fill the cavity or possibly extract the tooth (only if there is no way to save the tooth).
A root canal may be necessary if the cause of the toothache is from an infection of the tooth’s nerve. Bacteria that have worked their way into the inner areas of the tooth cause that type of infection. Your dentist may prescribe an antibiotic, if there is swelling or fever in the jaw to get rid of the infection.
Related Articles:
Root Canal Treatment: Root Canal Myths Debunked
Tooth Extraction: Reasons for Pulling Teeth
How Can Toothaches Be Prevented?
Tooth decay causes most toothaches, so following a good oral hygiene routine can prevent most toothaches.
Practices of good oral hygiene consist of:
- brush teeth twice daily with a fluoride toothpaste
- floss daily
- rinse once or twice each day with an antiseptic mouthwash
- see your dentist twice a year for professional exam and cleaning
Gently brushing your teeth with a soft-bristle brush and fluoride toothpaste will remove the bacteria and plaque that are toothache causes to begin with. In addition to these practices, ask your dentist about fluoride treatments and sealant applications and make healthy snack, food, and beverage choices that are low in sugar.
Related Articles:
Why is it important to schedule your Dental Exam Twice Each Year?
Dental Health Services for Your Children
Dr. Gary P. Skrobanek and his experienced, friendly team at GPS Dental offer affordable family dentistry and gentle dental care in the San Antonio, TX area. Our office is conveniently located and offers early morning appointment times Monday through Friday to meet your needs. At GPS Dental, we provide most dental services, from family and general dentistry to dental implants, sleep apnea, TMJ / TMD Treatment, cosmetic dentistry and much more. We accept most dental insurance plans and offer affordable financial solutions for any budget. Call us at (210) 633-3477 to make an appointment.
Emergency Dental Appointments Available at GPS Dental
We’re only three months into 2020 and finding ourselves facing a serious situation as the pandemic known as COVID – 19 sweeps across the globe. It is extremely important to take the necessary preventative measures (such as washing your hands, limiting physical contact with each other and social distancing) and to stay on top of recent developments regarding this health crisis.
However, for those in need of dental care during this time, please be assured that GPS Dental will remain open and accepting emergency dental appointments.
As we are following the recommendations of the American Dental Association (ADA) during the COVID-19 outbreak, it is recommended that dentists across the country postpone all non-essential dental services until further notice.
Emergency Dental Appointments: Essential vs. Non-Essential Treatments
If you have visited our website or read any previous blog entries, you will know that there are three different types of dental services that we provide including, preventative, restorative, and cosmetic based procedures. While there is a certain degree of overlap between some of the procedures, to reduce any unnecessary health risks for both our patients and staff, we will only be offering essential treatments until further updates from the ADA.
Who will you call when you need an emergency dental appointment?
At GPS Dental we are prepared to assist our patients when a dental emergency occurs. When patients call in this type of scenario, we always do our best to accommodate same day emergency appointments.
Treatment and Prevention for a Dental Emergency
While we can’t prevent every tooth-related issue, knowing some prevention methods for dental emergencies can be very helpful. To help prevent injury:
- Never use your teeth to open packages or cut items – use scissors instead
- Avoid chewing extremely hard food items, such as candy, popcorn kernels, and ice
- When playing sports, wear a mouth guard
In-depth information on the types of dental emergencies and injuries according to the American Academy of Family Physicians.
Signs of a Dental Emergency
Our goal is to fix any dental emergency as soon as possible and get you back on your feet and out of pain. Accidents can happen, and quick action and knowledge of dental emergencies can easily save a tooth! Make sure to give us a call at GPS Dental as soon as you experience the signs of a dental emergency.
Learn more from this Dental Emergency FAQ.
Other Reasons for needing emergency dental care:
- Knocked Out Tooth
- Chipped or Broken Tooth
- Partially Dislodged Tooth
- Abscess
- Toothache
- Lost Filling
- Lost Crown
Related Article from WebMD: Handling Dental Emergencies
You may not be able to anticipate when a dental emergency will happen; however, you can rest assured that you will receive swift expert emergency care when you call our office.
While these signs are often correlated to a dental emergency, there are other signs and symptoms to also be aware of that aren’t as sudden or apparent. Symptoms such as prolonged pain, or a swollen jaw are major indicators that something isn’t right, even if they do seem more subtle.
- Prolonged toothache
- Jaw pain or swelling
- Sore gums
- Metal taste in the mouth
- Canker sore that will not heal
- Numb tooth
- Constant headaches
- Extreme tiredness
Related Articles:
Tooth Extractions: Reasons for Pulling Teeth
Colds, Flus, and Cavities: Is Your Medicine Hurting Your Teeth?
We’re All in This Together!
Although we will be temporarily suspending certain services, please remember that if you require any emergency dental procedures, you will be able to receive the care you need at our office. It is important that you receive the necessary care as oral health problems will worsen if left untreated.
You may not be able to anticipate when a dental emergency will happen; however, you can rest assured that you will receive swift expert emergency care when you call our office.
From all of us at GPS Dental, we would like to thank you all for your patience and understanding during this unprecedented situation. We will be keeping a close eye on the situation as it progresses.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact our office.
Dr. Gary P. Skrobanek and his experienced, friendly team at GPS Dental offer affordable family dentistry and gentle dental care in the San Antonio, TX area. Our office is conveniently located and offers early morning appointment times Monday through Friday to meet your needs. At GPS Dental, we provide most dental services, from family and general dentistry to dental implants, sleep apnea, TMJ / TMD Treatment, cosmetic dentistry and much more. We accept most dental insurance plans and offer affordable financial solutions for any budget. Call us at (210) 633-3477 to make an appointment.
