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Posts for tag: dental emergencies

People always wonder when it is appropriate to contact their dentist. To answer this, we have put together the following list to provide some guidelines for you and your family. However, your calls are always welcome! Our goal is simply to give you some clear scenarios that illustrate when you should give us a call or come in to our office.
For Bite Related Problems
- Early or late loss of baby teeth.
- Difficulty in chewing or biting.
- Mouth breathing.
- Finger sucking or other oral habits.
- Crowding, misplaced, crooked or even missing teeth.
- Jaws that shift, jaw joints that “pop” or “click” or are uncomfortable.
- Any change causing speech difficulty.
- Cheek or tongue biting.
- Protruding teeth — large overbite.
- Teeth that meet in an abnormal way or don't meet at all.
- Facial imbalance or asymmetry.
- Grinding or clenching of teeth.
For Injuries And Immediate Care
- Knocked out permanent tooth: Call us immediately. You need to take action within 5 minutes of the injury for best results.
- Injuries to lips, cheeks, tongue or gums that appear to require stitches: Call us for instructions as soon as possible.
- Tooth injury — if a tooth has shifted from its original position: Call us to tell us you are on your way to our office and see us within 6 hours of the injury.
- Chipped or broken tooth that is still in its original position: See us within 12 hours of the injury.
- A knocked out baby tooth: Call us as soon as possible.
- Bleeding without any significant tears in tissue that could require stitches: Call us for instructions.
What To Do Now
If any of the above describe you or another member of your family, then contact us today to discuss your questions or to schedule a consultation. You can also learn more about treating dental injuries by reading the Dear Doctor article, “The Field-Side Guide To Dental Injuries.”

No one participates in sports or recreational activities with the goal of oral or facial injury. However, the facts reveal two things: sports injuries are the number one cause, impacting thousands of adults and children annually and many of them can be prevented or at least minimized with education and the use of a properly fitted professional mouthguard.
In addition to the obvious negative of the physical injury to the mouth and face, oral-facial injuries can also be both emotional and psychological. And while these injuries can occur due to a multitude of reasons, a recent study found that approximately 25% occur while playing sports. The following poignant facts should raise your awareness of dental injuries.
Did you know…?
- On average, 22,000 dental injuries occur annually in children under the age of 18.
- Outdoor activities and products are associated with the largest number of dental injuries to baby (primary) teeth in children aged 7 to 12 with 50% of these incidents related to bicycle accidents.
- Outdoor activities and products are also associated with the largest number of dental injuries to permanent teeth in adolescents aged 13 to 17.
- Of all sports, baseball and basketball consistently produce the largest number of dental injuries each year.
- Over 80% of all dental injuries involve the upper front teeth.
- Age, gender, condition and position of the teeth, as well as the type of sport being played are all key risk factors associated with the likelihood of experiencing a sports injury.
- Studies show that teenage boys involved in contact sports, collision sports, and high-velocity non-contact sports are at the highest risks for dental injuries.
- Young girls are starting to participate in many of these same sports, and thus their risks for injuries are climbing.
- Home furniture is the main culprit in over 50% of the dental injuries in children under the age of 7.
We encourage you to take a moment to assess your own as well as your family's risk of dental injury and to think about how you can treat and prevent them. To learn more, read the Dear Doctor article, “An Introduction To Sports Injuries & Dentistry.” Or, feel free to contact us to discuss your questions or to schedule a consultation.

Belton
561 North Scott Ave. Suite A
Belton, MO 64012
(816) 331-4333
fax: (816) 318-8178
Adrian
20 E. Main St.
Adrian, MO 64720
(816) 297-2297
Archive:
- 2019
- January (6)
- Stay Hydrated in Winter for Better Year-Round Oral Hygiene
- Want to Keep Enjoying Winter Sports? Wear a Mouthguard!
- Protecting Primary Teeth from Decay Helps Ensure Future Dental Health
- Implant-Supported Dentures Could Boost Your Jawbone Health
- How a New Approach to Treating Decay Could Benefit You
- Topical Fluoride is a Safe Way to Protect Your Child's Teeth from Decay
- 2018
- December (6)
- Inflammation is a Key Element in Both Oral and Systemic Diseases
- Practice Daily Oral Hygiene to Prevent Calcified Plaque Formation
- Dental Visits are Key to Detecting Early Developing Tooth Decay
- 3 Things You Might Notice with Your Child's Teeth That Need a Dentist
- Managing Diabetes and Gum Disease Together will Lessen the Effect of Both
- Support Your Child's Dental Development with Preventive Care
- November (6)
- Moderate Your Child's Juice Drinking to Lower Tooth Decay Risk
- Diabetes and Oral Health: True or False?
- TMD and Fibromyalgia Could Share Links in Chronic Pain
- The Connection Between GERD and Oral Health
- Gum Surgery Can Improve Your Smile and Save Your Teeth
- A Stainless Steel Crown Could Help a Struggling Primary Molar Last Longer
- October (6)
- Keep up Regular Dental Care While You're Pregnant
- Don't Stress Over Your Child's Teeth Grinding Habit Unless it Persists
- New Dental Advances Promise Better Outcomes for Treating Decay
- What You Should Know About a Home Teeth Whitening Kit
- Be Sure to Have a Dental Exam Before Whitening Your Teeth
- Although a Challenge, Chronically Ill Children Need Tooth Decay Prevention
- September (6)
- 4 Reasons You Should Begin Your Child's Dental Visits by Age One
- Office Fluoride Treatments Can Add Extra Protection to Your Child's Teeth
- Effective Oral Hygiene is Key to Disease Prevention While Wearing Braces
- Treating Gum Disease around Tooth Roots is Hard - but Not Impossible
- See Your Dentist if You're Having one of These 3 Dental Problems
- Seek Immediate Treatment for this Advanced Form of Gingivitis
- August (6)
- Have Your Loose Tooth Examined as Soon as Possible
- Advances in Dental Health that may be Waiting for us Just around the Corner
- Treating a Child's Tooth Injury May Require Special Consideration
- Sleep Apnea Might be Robbing you of More than a Good Night's Sleep
- Veneers may Offer a Less Invasive Way to Transform Your Smile
- 5 Causes of Bad Breath and What You Can Do About It!
- July (7)
- Some Patients Might Need Antibiotics Before Routine Dental Work
- A Second Root Canal Treatment May Help Save an Endangered Tooth
- Tooth-Colored Fillings Provide a Viable Alternative to Dental Amalgam
- What Happens in a Root Canal Treatment and How it Can Save Your Tooth
- Porcelain Veneers Could Change Your Appearance for the Better
- Need an Effective but Affordable Tooth Replacement? Look at a Flexible RPD
- Your Gum Tissue 'Biotype' Could Determine How Gum Disease Affects You
- June (6)
- Increase Bone Mass for Dental Implants through Grafting
- Saving a Diseased Primary Tooth Could Mean Better Oral Health Later in Life
- Gum Disease is Still a Threat to Your Dental Implants
- Watch What Carbs You Eat to Reduce Your Risk of Further Gum Disease
- Bone Grafting Might be Necessary Before You Obtain an Implant
- The Risk for Gum Disease Increases While Wearing Braces
- March (5)
- Periodontal Surgery may be Needed to Halt Gum Disease and Encourage Healing
- Prompt Treatment for Gum Disease Could Ultimately Save Your Teeth
- Provisional Restorations let you Try out Your New Smile First
- 3 Fluoride Sources You Should Monitor for Your Family's Dental Health
- Topical Fluoride can Enhance Your Child's Dental Care
- 2017
- December (5)
- The Perils of a Loose Permanent Tooth - and What to do About it
- Cosmetic Questions to Ask to Get You on the Right Path to a Better Smile
- Your Age Won't Necessarily Decide Against Straightening Your Smile
- Give Yourself the Gift of a New Smile
- Look at Your Options for Saving a Tooth First Before Replacing it
- September (5)
- A Teen with a Missing Tooth May Need to Wait on a Dental Implant
- Waiting to Afford Implants? Consider a Flexible RPD in the Meantime
- Risk Factors for Gum Disease
- Sedation Can Help Create a More Positive Dental Experience for a Child
- Stay Vigilant with Oral Hygiene to Avoid Another Bout of Gum Disease
- June (5)
- Loose Adult Teeth Require Immediate Attention and Treatment
- We may Need to Remove one or More Teeth Before Applying Braces
- A Smile Makeover Depends on Balancing Technique with Beauty
- Take Care of Your Dental Appliance to Extend its Longevity
- No- or Minimal-Prep Veneers Reduce Permanent Alterations to Your Teeth
- 2016
- October (5)
- Extracting Certain Teeth can Boost Orthodontic Effectiveness
- Ease Your Child's Discomfort During Teething
- Keeping up Good Hygiene Still a Necessity with Dental Implants
- An Infected or Injured Primary Tooth Can Be Saved - but it's Complicated
- Make Efforts to Protect Your Teeth from Disease While Wearing Braces
- August (5)
- Antibiotics Could Help Ensure your Implant Surgery is Successful
- Root Planing Cleans Plaque from Tooth Roots Without Surgery
- See Your new Look Before Dental Work with a 'Trial Smile'
- Proper Brushing and Flossing Removes Disease-Causing Plaque
- Local Anesthesia Eliminates Pain Completely During Dental Work
- June (5)
- Replacing a Tooth or Saving it - Which Should you do?
- Getting the Full Picture of Your Decay Risk Leads to Better Prevention Strategies
- That Small Mouth Sore is Likely Nothing - but Still Have it Checked
- Home Whitening Kits are Safe and Effective, if Used the Right Way
- 4 Things You Should be Doing to Maintain a Healthy Mouth
- March (5)
- Implant-Supported Dentures - a Better Fit with Excessive Bone Loss
- Know the Kind of Smile You Want Before Cosmetic Dental Treatment
- 3 Tips for Minimizing Enamel Erosion from Sports Drinks
- Regular Screenings Could Help With Early Oral Cancer Detection
- Though not Always Seen, it's Still Important to Replace a Missing Back Tooth
- 2015
- December (5)
- Implant-based Overdentures may be a Better Long-Term Fit Option
- Treating Dry Mouth is Important for Maintaining Good Oral Health
- Your Dentist can Help Guide you in the Best Treatment Option for Sleep Apnea
- Limit Acidic Beverages to Protect Your Child's Tooth Enamel from Erosion
- Three Considerations for Working with Your Dentist on Your Smile Makeover
- October (5)
- Your Veneers Have 'Staying Power' - if Cared for Properly
- A Root Canal Treatment may be Your Best Chance to Save a Tooth
- Keeping Fluoride to Just the Right Amount Protects Your Family's Smiles
- FAQs: Keeping Your Mouth Healthy After Gum Disease Treatment
- You May Need Surgery to Repair the Damage of Gum Recession
- 2014
- 2013
- 2012
- August (7)
- Maintenance Manual for Your Teeth and Gums
- Lasers, An Important Dental Diagnosis Tool
- A Smile Makeover Can Help Boost Self-Confidence
- “Prepless” Porcelain Veneers: Are They Right For You?
- Bleaching — An Excellent Tool For Whitening Stained Teeth
- The Elements of a Beautiful Smile
- Is It Time For A Smile Makeover?
- 2011
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