Having a Dental Emergency? Call Us at (732) 556-9600
Like other health issues, the sooner you see a dentist for tooth pain, the better the outcome is likely. However, many people put off getting dental care when they need it. That can lead to more serious dental problems, including the need for extractions. While only a dentist can determine whether or not a tooth needs to be extracted, here are some warning signs you should know.
Pain is the number one sign you might need a tooth extraction. Many tooth issues are painful, and since the root extends into the jawbone, you may feel this pain deep down. However, severe pain in your gums or jaws can be a warning sign that you need an extraction. Pain is a sign that something is wrong, even if you do not. If you are experiencing any type of dental pain, you should make an appointment to see a dentist as soon as possible. The longer you delay, the more likely you will need significant work.
Are you experiencing bleeding or swelling in your mouth? If so, you could need a tooth extracted. Just like pain, bleeding, and swelling are never expected. You want to get a dentist to examine you as soon as possible to help determine the cause of the problem.
A sign many people do not know is bad breath. If you have unexplained bad breath, it could be due to a tooth infection. If brushing and flossing are not enough to remedy your bad breath, a visit to the dentist is in order.
Are you experiencing pain in your neck or unexplained headaches? Those can also be caused by infected teeth that need to be extracted. Deciding whether to start with a doctor or a dentist can be challenging when experiencing unknown head or neck pain. We suggest starting with a dentist. A dentist can examine your teeth and either rule in or eliminate your teeth as the cause of that pain.
Have you noticed that any of your teeth are loose? Your teeth should not be loose. Your jaw and gum tissue should hold the teeth firmly in your mouth. So, if your teeth feel loose, you should visit the dentist. It could signal the need for an extraction or another intervention to help you prevent gum and bone loss.
Finally, breaking a tooth can mean you need an extraction. Many broken teeth can be repaired. However, you may need an extraction if the break extends below the gum line or to the roots. Those teeth are difficult to repair, so many dentists will recommend extraction and replacement.
If you are experiencing any of the symptoms above, call us at Comprehensive Dentistry. We can schedule a consultation and exam and help you get to the root of your problem.
Cosmetic dentistry can work wonders, not just for your smile but also for your self-esteem. However, it is not cheap. It takes time and money to make your smile look gorgeous. So, it is vital to take steps when caring for your smile to preserve that work. That is true whether you have had a simple teeth whitening procedure or a more in-depth cosmetic treatment.
The first step is to maintain good oral hygiene. Many people assume you must have had lousy hygiene if you needed cosmetic dentistry. That is only sometimes the case. In fact, bad teeth are often linked to a lack of financial resources to get routine dental care. Whether your brushing and flossing habits were great before your procedure, they must be great afterward. You want to brush and floss your teeth. You should brush for at least two minutes twice daily or more. You want to floss at least once per day. In addition, you should also get professional cleanings and exams at least every six months.
Do you eat or drink things that can stain your teeth? Coffee, tea, red wine, and berries are some of the common culprits. If so, you want to brush your teeth after eating or drinking. That can help prevent stains. Sometimes brushing may not be possible. No problem. Rinse with mouthwash if you can. If not, try drinking a glass of water after having something that can stain your teeth. It can help prevent staining.
Remember that any “fake” surfaces are not as strong as your natural teeth. You can crack or break crowns, veneers, and bonded teeth. After you get your cosmetic dentistry, your dentist will give you a list of foods to avoid eating. Please pay attention to that list. If you do not, you may end up with a damaged smile, undoing your hard work. If you are a tooth grinder, use a nightguard at night to protect your teeth. Plus, keep in mind that teeth are not tools. The only thing your teeth should be doing is chewing food.
If whitening was part of your cosmetic procedure, you can make it last longer by using whitening toothpaste at home. Your dentist may also provide bleach trays and a stronger bleach for touch-ups between visits. The more you keep up with your dentists’ recommendations, the longer your smile will last.
Ready to get started on your new smile journey? Give Comprehensive Dentistry a call.
Getting kids to brush properly can be a little like bathing a cat. Combine that with some of the sugary treats they get from time-to-time and it is a recipe for disaster. So, how is a parent supposed to assist with preventing childhood cavities? It can be tricky, but we have a few helpful tips that can help keep your children’s mouths healthy.
Preventing cavities starts with good hygiene. Just like adults, children need to brush twice a day. They should brush before going to bed at night and when they get up in the morning. People disagree about whether you should brush before or after breakfast in the morning, but we think whenever you can get your children to brush is the right time. Your children should also be flossing at least once a day. We recommend flossing at night. The reason flossing at night is important is because mouths get drier at night, which creates a good breeding ground for germs and plaque. If there is food trapped between your child’s teeth, it will attract those germs and help promote tooth decay.
Another important thing is to avoid feeding your kids sugary, starchy foods. The more sugars in your food, including carbohydrates, the greater the risk of cavities. The problem is that so many childhood foods have lots of sugar in them. We are not opposed to your child getting treats. However, you want their normal snacks to be composed of healthier choices. Think of things like vegetables, grains, lean proteins, and dairy. People think about fruit as sugary, but the fruits in sugars are less likely than processed sugar to cause tooth decay. In addition, offer water with snacks and meals, because water helps rinse bacteria out of the mouth.
Take your children to the dentist twice a year. The dentist can check for any decay. They also provide professional cleanings, which can help keep the teeth free from tooth decay. In addition, consider the twice a year cleanings a minimum. Some children may require more frequent professional cleanings. For example, if your children have braces, they may need more frequent dental cleanings. In addition, if you struggle to get your child to brush twice a day you may want to schedule more frequent professional cleanings.
When your dentist offers you special treatments, it is not just to upsell you. In the office, we can offer two treatments that can help prevent decay: fluoride treatments and dental sealants. Fluoride treatments can strengthen your teeth, making them less susceptible to decay. Dental sealants are a thin plastic coating that can help keep food from getting trapped in the natural grooves of the teeth. Both of these can help reduce the likelihood of tooth decay.
You know that porcelain veneers are an affordable way to give you a perfect-looking smile. However, if you are like most people, you wonder how durable veneers are. After all, what good is a perfect looking smile if they are fragile and do not act like real teeth?
Fortunately, veneers are a durable alternative for cosmetic dentistry. We use high-quality porcelain to construct these veneers. The porcelain is almost as durable as your natural tooth enamel. That makes them very resistant to everyday wear-and-tear, stains, and even fractures. Of course, just like your real teeth, veneers are not indestructible. You can break them if you put them under excessive force. You need to follow the general rule that “teeth aren’t tools,” and not use your veneers to do things other than eating food. In addition, be careful when eating hard foods like nuts or kernels. If you are a teeth clencher or grind your teeth at night, you want to get a night guard.
However, if you follow those rules, your veneers can give you a lifelong beautiful smile. Veneers can help deal with a variety of cosmetic dental issues. They can fix discoloration, chips, and gaps. While they may not give you a perfect smile, since they are based on your natural teeth, they can give you a dazzling and unique gorgeous smile.
Once you have your veneers, you need to do some upkeep. However, do not worry, the upkeep is the same you should already be doing for dental hygiene. You should brush and floss twice a day and have regular dental cleanings and checkups. It is still possible to get cavities under the veneer, so it is essential to maintain those regular dental appointments to keep your teeth in great shape.
Are you ready to find out more about veneers? Contact us today. You can come in for a consultation, where we look at the condition of your teeth. We assess them and tell you whether veneers are an option. Keep in mind that if you have underlying dental issues, like cavities or tooth decay, we will need to take care of those issues before placing veneers in your mouth. You want to start with a healthy mouth before placing the veneers. However, when you follow up those steps, you can get a gorgeous smile that lasts for decades.
Are you ashamed of your smile? Broken, missing, discolored, and crooked teeth cause millions of people to hide their smiles. You do not have to live that way. Dental implants can restore your smile, improving your appearance and returning functionality to your mouth.
There are two main types of dental implants: single implants and whole-mouth implants. A single dental implant replaces a single tooth. We prep the jaw to prepare it for the implant. Depending on the state of your mouth, this process can involve several steps. First, we remove the existing tooth. Next, depending on the condition of your jaw, we may suggest adding bone tissue to the area so that the implant will be more successful. After that has healed, we install a screw into your jaw. The screw is the anchor for the new implanted tooth. The implant also serves an important medical purpose. Once it is firmly established in your jaw, it becomes a placeholder for an actual tooth. That helps reduce bone loss in the area, which can help preserve your nearby teeth.
If you need several teeth in a row, or even an entire upper or lower jaw full of teeth, we handle the implant in a different manner. Instead of installing an entire mouthful of individual teeth, we handle the implants as a group. We use anchor screws to hold the teeth to the gums, but this process requires fewer screws, and thus fewer pieces of invasive hardware in your mouth. Like with individual implants, we may need to do a bone graft to strengthen your jaw. In fact, if you have a significant periodontal disease or extreme bone loss, we may have to do additional grafts before the implants to improve your likelihood of success. The process can be time-consuming for some individuals, but for other people it is possible to leave the office with new teeth on the same day!
How do you find out what your process will involve? It all starts with a consultation. Contact us today to schedule yours. During a consultation, our dentists and dental professionals will examine your teeth, take x-rays, and develop a treatment plan. They will thoroughly explain the process, including explaining why steps may be necessary. They will also outline the full costs for any treatment you choose- no surprises here! Our goal is to provide you with a beautiful smile and the type of patient care that gives you a reason to show off that smile!
If you are having a dental emergency, you may not know what to do. Emergency medical facilities do not treat most dental emergencies. However, dental emergencies can cause more pain than most other injuries. They can also lead to serious or severe consequences, including infection, blood loss, or other ongoing injury. So, you want to get immediate medical attention from a qualified medical professional.
The first thing you need to do is figure out whether it is a dental emergency. Your dentist should have a number you can call for dental emergencies. The dispatcher at that number should be able to help you decide whether you are having an emergency. Some examples of dental emergencies include uncontrolled bleeding in the mouth; swelling in the gums, neck, or face; severe toothaches; abscesses; infections accompanied by high fevers; and injuries such as broken or lost teeth. If your injury or condition is life-threatening, it is an emergency. It is urgent if the condition is not life-threatening, but you need immediate care to alleviate severe pain. Other conditions may be serious, but not urgent or emergent.
Many people put off getting emergency dental care. That is a bad idea. First, getting emergency care can help you save your teeth. More importantly, people can die from dental infections. Think about how close your teeth are to your brain. If you have an infection in your mouth, it can easily spread to other body parts. So, get emergency treatment when you need it.
At Comprehensive Dentistry, we are happy to provide emergency dental care for our patients. If you are experiencing a dental emergency during office hours, contact us so that we can get you in for treatment. Outside of office hours, you can contact our office. We will have an on-call dentist, who may be affiliated with our office or a dental provider partner, who is available for emergency calls.
What happens if you cannot get a hold of a dentist? While we strive to provide 24/7 access to dentists for emergencies, it is always possible that our on-call dentist may be treating another emergency. In those instances, you may want to seek treatment at the ER. Contact our dispatcher and they can advise you about whether you should seek treatment in the ER or at an Urgent Care facility until the dentist is available. They may suggest that if you need someone to stop uncontrolled bleeding, administer IV antibiotics, or provide emergency pain relief.
One of the top questions we get is whether teeth can heal themselves. It is a good question because there is a lot of misinformation out there. You can find people online saying that they have natural ways to heal cavities, cracks, and other damage to your teeth. Are these people onto something or is it too good to be true?
Cavities are tooth decay. You can help prevent them by eating right, making sure you get enough minerals, maintaining the right pH in your mouth, and practicing good oral hygiene. Those steps can also help prevent a cavity from getting worse. However, they will not reverse a cavity. So, no, cavities will not heal naturally. However, if a cavity is not bothering you, the dentist may take a watch and wait approach instead of doing an invasive treatment. If the cavity does not get any bigger, it may not need immediate treatment. However, your dentist may want you to come in for more frequent checkups.
Cracked teeth, even hairline cracks, can not heal themselves, either. Many people think that since teeth are essentially bones, they should heal like bones. However, tooth enamel cannot get fresh oxygen or nutrients, so it cannot heal itself. But, like cavities, they do not always require treatment. If they are not painful, we may watch and wait. However, since cracks also increase your chance of tooth decay, they will probably eventually need treatment. Fortunately, treatments for small cracks can be simple, non-invasive, and more affordable than you think.
Larger chips, breaks, and cracks are not going to heal themselves, either. However, unlike some cavities or hairline fractures, they almost always require immediate care. Leaving them increases your risk of developing tooth decay. It can also lead to other problems in your mouth. So, you want to get those problems treated as quickly as possible.
If you are experiencing a problem with your teeth, Comprehensive Dentistry can help. In addition to routine dental care, we provide emergency dental care. So, contact us if you need help with your teeth.
Everyone should see a dentist twice a year. These appointments, spaced six months apart, not only let you get your teeth professionally cleaned, but also let your dentist check for problems. For many people, a regular dental appointment is enough to keep them out of the dentist chair. However, there are some issues that should bring you to the dentist between those appointments.
Bleeding gums are not normal. Instead, bleeding when you floss, or brush is a sign of gum disease. So is random bleeding. If you notice bleeding when you brush or floss, you should see your dentist. It may be that you got lazy with your hygiene and regular hygiene can clear it up. However, it can also signal a bigger problem.
Can you see cavities, pus, or other signs of decay or infection? If so, you need to get to the dentist. Even if you are not experiencing pain, those are serious issues. You want to have your dentist look and give you a plan for tackling the problem.
Pain is the biggest reason to get to the dentist. Dental pain is not normal. Even dull pain can escalate quickly, leaving you in debilitating pain. Plus, dental pain indicates a problem is present, often an infection or decay. Ignoring it can lead to serious issues, which can not only impact your teeth but even lead to systemic infections.
If you have bad breath that will not go away, it can indicate a problem with your mouth. Have your dentist inspect your teeth. If they do not find a dental cause for the issue, they may send you to your regular doctor to see if there is another medical reason for the bad breath.
If you notice that your tooth seems loose, go to the dentist. You could be at risk of losing it. A dentist may be able to help you save it.
If you need a dentist, contact Comprehensive Dentistry. We are here for all of your dental needs, from emergencies to routine care.
Do you have bad breath? Most people want to say no. However, we often do not know when our breath stinks. To find out the answer, ask a trusted person who will be honest with you if your breath smells. If they say yes, ask them if it is a problem that they notice frequently. If they say yes, you may have a problem with bad breath. Here are some common causes of bad breath and how to fix them.
If you have more than occasional bad breath, it could be a medical problem. Both doctors and dentists may be able to help you, depending on what is causing the breath. So, you can address the problem with either of those medical professionals. Just do not be surprised if your doctor tells you to see your dentist or vice versa.
Dentists can handle many of the causes of bad breath. Dentists can address cavities, gum disease, and dry mouth. They can identify many of these issues during their routine dental exams and cleanings. They can also identify any issues you may have with hygiene. Something as simple as failing to floss correctly can lead to bad breath.
Sometimes bad breath is a sign of an underlying medical issue. Sinus issues or postnasal drip can cause bad breath. Gastrointestinal problems, especially heartburn or acid reflux, can cause bad breath, as well. If your doctor cannot identify the cause of your bad breath, they may ask you about your diet. Some foods are known to cause bad breath. If you frequently eat stinky foods, you may need to change your brushing and flossing routine to get rid of those foods.
Identifying the cause of your bad breath is the first step towards treating it. However, proper dental hygiene is always a good place to start. Get twice a year cleanings to remove tartar and plaque and reduce your chance of gum disease. Brush your teeth twice a day, flossing at least once per day.
If diet is the cause of your bad breath, try brushing your teeth after eating smelly foods. When that is not an option, consider chewing some sugar free gum. Chewing gum promotes saliva production, which can help eliminate bad breath.
If you need to get a tooth pulled, you may be scared about the process. You know that you will have pain medications during the procedure, but may worry about what happens after the tooth extraction. Will it be painful afterward? Learning what to expect can help you prepare for an extraction.
Tooth extraction is a last resort option. When possible, dentists want to preserve your natural teeth. However, if your tooth is so damaged that it cannot be repaired, your dentist will recommend extraction. You may also need an extraction if you have an infected tooth and there is a possibility of the infection spreading.
Pulling a tooth can be painful. Your dentist can manage the pain through local anesthetics. However, it can be difficult for some people to handle the procedure. Dentists may also use general anesthesia to keep the patient out during the extraction. Talk to your dentist about your wishes for pain management. They should work with you to keep you comfortable.
Immediately after the extraction, you will probably feel fine. The anesthesia may last for several hours after the extraction. It is important to take any recommended pain medicine during that time period, so it is working when the anesthesia wears off. You may continue to bleed until the site develops a blood clot. Your dentist may instruct you to bite on gauze to stop the bleeding.
Your dentist will give you a special diet. Usually, the first day or two, you are instructed to only eat cool or cold liquids and soft foods. After that, you should maintain a soft or liquid diet for about a week.
You can brush and floss your teeth. However, avoid brushing and flossing near the site where the tooth was removed. Rinse with saltwater to keep the area clean.
It can take two weeks to recover after you get a tooth extracted. It is very important to follow your dentist’s rules during that period. It is equally important to notify your dentist if you are experiencing any complications.
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Our Services
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3350 Route 138 W
Bldg 2, Ste 127
Wall Township, NJ 07719
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