broken tooth

When a tooth has a deep cavity or receives trauma, the nerve tissue deep inside the tooth may be injured beyond recovery. The typical repair procedure of a dental filling or crown may not be sufficient to treat the inflamed or infected nerve. A root canal is then the procedure necessary to treat and save the tooth.

The most common reason for a root canal is tooth decay – a cavity that has spread to the inner pulp tissue of a tooth. This inner pulp tissue contains the small nerve, artery and vein in a tiny canal in the center of a tooth. Sometimes there is no decay but the tooth has a history of deep fillings, has received a traumatic blow or has been worn down from years of grinding your teeth (bruxism).

The most common symptoms that indicate that you may need a root canal are: dental pain from hot or cold temperatures, pressure or swelling in the tissue around the tooth. There may be a bump or abscess on the gum that drains infection. Sometimes the tooth gets darker than the other teeth. Occasionally, none of these signs and symptoms is present, but an infection is noticed on your routine yearly dental x-rays.

During a root canal, a small opening is made in the tooth and slender instruments are inserted into the canals to remove the infected or inflamed pulp. Patients are given local anesthesia for the procedure. The area surrounding the tooth is completely numb and the patient does not feel discomfort during the root canal procedure. Typically, antibiotics and pain medications are prescribed to ensure a comfortable recovery after the Novocain wears off.

Some teeth have one canal in the root, some two, three or even four canals. This accounts for the difference in time and cost associated with root canals on different teeth. When all of the pulp contents of the canals are removed, the canals are disinfected and sealed. After the root canal, a permanent filling and usually a crown are needed to keep the tooth strong. Root canals are usually covered by dental insurance.

Root canals are usually painless procedures but like teenagers, “you only hear about the bad ones.” The dental pain associated with a root canal is caused by the infection. The procedure removes the infected root and the source of the pain. Occasionally, a root canal will need additional visits to control the infection.

Root canal therapy is the treatment of pain and infection that allows dental patients to keep their teeth. All treatment prescribed by dentists at McCarl Dental Group in our Millersville, and Greenbelt Maryland dental offices is recommended to help maintain optimum tooth health and structure.

The dentists at McCarl Dental Group spend time explaining dental treatments and options to our patients. We want each of our patients to understand their dental needs and why we suggest certain types of treatments over others. The primary goal of McCarl Dental Group is to help our patients have a beautiful, healthy smile that will last a lifetime. Call us in Millersville, MD (410) 987-8000 or Greenbelt, MD (301) 474-4144 or visit our website www.McCarl Dental.com

The dentists at McCarl Dental Group strive to provide same day emergency dental care. Our dentists want to ensure the comfort and safety of each and every patient and encourage you to call should you have a dental emergency. Our dental offices in Greenbelt and Millersville Maryland are centrally located and convenient to Severna Park, Annapolis, Crofton, Crownsville, College Park, Bowie,  and Laurel.

Many times people just aren’t sure whether or not they should come see us or wait it out. Here are some examples of some very common dental emergencies:

Broken Tooth
If you have sustained trauma to the mouth from an accident, sport, or other injury that resulted in a loose or broken tooth, call us immediately. If the tooth is broken off or has been knocked out, do not try to clean it off, but rather place the tooth in a cup of milk and contact a dentist at McCarl Dental Group immediately.

Toothache
Sometimes toothaches come on very suddenly and can cause severe discomfort. Other times dental pain may be slow and gradual. In either case, the thing to remember with toothaches is that they don’t go away on their own. If your tooth hurts, call our dental office and schedule an appointment so that our dentists can help make you comfortable.

Loose Dental Crown
When a tooth with a crown has recurrent decay around it, or the cement simply loosens, your crown may come off. This exposes the surface of the tooth below the crown and unless it is uncomfortable, you may not need an emergency dental appointment. Please schedule an appointment as soon as possible for a dental exam to determine why the crown came off, and what treatment is necessary. Left uncovered, the underlying tooth can easily decay. If the crown on a front tooth or a tooth that is visible when you smile comes off, even if you are not experiencing dental pain, we are happy to fit you into our schedule or come to the dental office to see you as quickly as possible. To keep the crown on temporarily you can use some denture adhesive, or toothpaste. Please do not use any type of glue to try to re-cement the crown!

Broken Dental Fillings
One of the most common dental emergencies is a broken filling. This may be because the filling is very old or there is new decay around the filling. Depending on the size of the filling, the tooth could be at an increased risk of breaking, infecting the nerve, or developing food traps that leads to problems. Teeth that lose fillings have lost some of the stability that is needed to withstand the pressure of chewing. Do not chew on these teeth until the filling has been replaced and make an appointment to see your dentist as soon as possible.

Gum Swelling or Infection
If swelling of your gums, mouth or the surrounding area occurs, you should call us immediately. A small swollen area may be caused by a dental abscess that requires antibiotics and treatment. Infections are not to be taken lightly, they can lead to very serious health risks. Always remember to brush and floss your teeth daily and follow home care instructions after dental treatments to help prevent infections.

No matter what day it is, if you find yourself faced with a dental emergency, the first thing we’ll ask you when you call our Greenbelt, MD or Millersville, MD dental office is “How soon can you get here?” Even cosmetic procedures can become an emergency. We’ve had instances where one patient broke a tooth, and had to be in a wedding the next day. No matter what your dental emergency is, McCarl Dental Group is here to help. You can reach our Millersville, MD dental office at (410) 987-8800 or call our Greenbelt, MD location at (301) 474-4144.  For additional information about McCarl Dental Group, please visit our website at www.McCarlDental.com.

A crown fits over and restores a decayed, broken, or weak tooth and becomes the tooth’s new outer surface. Crowns may be made of all porcelain, all metal, or a metal base covered with a thin layer of porcelain. The shade or color selected may match the neighboring teeth to blend in, or a different shade may be chosen to brighten your smile.

Reasons you may need a crown:
•    Repair teeth that have broken or decayed so much that your dentist cannot fix them with a filling.
•    Cover a tooth that is so severely damaged that most of the top layer had to be removed.
•    Replace a worn or cracked filling.
•    Improve the appearance of a tooth.
•    Strengthen a tooth after root canal treatment to seal the tooth and prevent it from breaking.
•    Crowns sometimes come loose over time, and you may need to get them re-cemented or replaced.  With proper care a crown can last for many years and will function the same as any healthy tooth.

At the Greenbelt and Millersville dental offices of McCarl Dental Group we recommend all-porcelain crowns for front teeth because they look and function like natural teeth. The use of all-porcelain crowns eliminates gum irritation associated with metal allergies and is healthier for gums because it is not necessary to place the crown deep under the gum line to hide the metal. All-porcelain restorations used for cosmetic dentistry require very sophisticated design software and pressing ovens used only by the highest quality dental laboratories.

There are many ways to make a crown. Porcelain can be added as one color only, all at once, and fired in the furnace, or can be added in layers with a variety of colors to more closely mimic natural teeth. The labor time and skill level for fabricating porcelain crowns are considerably higher in the highest quality crowns. High end Dental Technicians are artists, using their color palette of wet porcelains to copy the shade and shape chosen by the dental patient and dentist. They use a technique called “layering” in which they bake the porcelain in the shape of the tooth and then “cut it back” and layer in different shades of porcelain which adds vitality to the crown. The highest quality porcelains have the finest grain size, which creates a more aesthetic and natural looking crown. The high end, fine grain porcelains also prevent wearing away of the enamel of the opposing teeth, a problem that may occur with lower cost porcelains.

You will typically need two visits to your dentist to restore your tooth with the highest quality crown. During your first visit, your dentist will make sure you are comfortable by using any of the many local anesthetic techniques available. The dentist will remove any decay or unsound tooth structure and prepare the tooth for a crown by shaping it with his/her headpiece (drill). If you received an injection, your lips and gums may remain numb for a few hours until the anesthetic wears off and you should be careful to avoid biting your numb lip or cheek.

An impression of your teeth or a digitally scanned image will be used to create a model for construction of the crown. While the dental laboratory is making your permanent crown, your tooth will be covered with a temporary crown. On your second visit, your dentist will remove the temporary crown, try in the permanent crown, check the fit and bite, make any minor adjustments necessary and cement your permanent crown.

We have had photographs taken of more than 20 McCarl dental patients who have porcelain crowns or veneers and have volunteered to share their beautiful smiles.  The dentists at McCarl Dental Group always explain treatment options and get input from dental patients during the planning process so that they can meet and exceed dental treatment goals.

Broken teeth needing emergency dental care by Greenbelt dentist

Emergency repair of broken teeth by Greenbelt dentist

At McCarl Dental Group, we treat patients who need emergency dental treatment every day. When a dental emergency is causing pain or prevents you from going out in public, we ask, “How soon can you get to our dental office?”

Pain, swelling, broken teeth and a lost crown are the most common dental emergencies. Sometimes dental emergencies happen when you are traveling or when you just can’t get to a dental office.

Here are some short term remedies you can try before you see your dentist.

Tips for Lost Crown, Veneer or Permanent Bridge – If your crown, veneer or bridge has come loose, the primary short term goal is to NOT swallow or lose it!

If there is any risk of swallowing or losing your crown, veneer or bridge, keep it out of your mouth, store it in a safe place and make an appointment as soon as possible!
Hint: a clear sandwich bag or medicine vial is much safer than wrapping it in a tissue or paper towel – they are often accidently thrown away or simply disappear.

•    Sometimes a patient can re-seat a crown and have it “snap” into place.

•    Another temporary solution is to use Vaseline or an FDA approved denture adhesive as a temporary glue. DO NOT     use super glue or any other type of permanent glue to hold your crown, veneer or permanent bridge into place!

Emergency Dental Care for a Broken Tooth – Does cold air or water cause pain? If so, you should schedule a visit with your dentist as soon as possible. Do not eat on that tooth – a crack can spread and cause major damage.

What to do when a Permanent Tooth is Knocked Out
Gently pick up the tooth by the chewing surface being careful to not touch the root of the tooth. If dirty, gently rinse the tooth in water or milk. Do not use soap, scrub the tooth or wrap it in a tissue. Try to reposition the tooth in its socket immediately – do not use excessive force. The sooner the tooth is replaced the greater the likelihood it will survive. If you cannot get the tooth back into its socket, keep it moist either by carrying the tooth in cool milk or in the mouth – do not swallow the tooth!

Make an appointment with your Greenbelt dentist or Millersville dentist  at McCarl Dental Group as soon as possible and ideally within 30 minutes. You may also apply a cold compress to the mouth and gums to decrease pain and bleeding.