Our Emergency Dentist Office Can Keep You Out of the ER

Contacting an emergency dentist is really not a hard thing. Making sure you have a relationship with one so that you are comfortable when you do need urgent care, and know the people and doctors, takes a little more effort. The reality is that most Americans do not give much thought to their teeth at all. In fact, over 40% do not even visit the dentist with the frequency that they should to maintain optimum health. When you start to consider that most people do not believe or think about, the fact that they might one day need urgent medical attention, it becomes apparent why most people do not have an emergency dentist in their contacts. A toothache, however, can appear at any time and usually, it would seem, tends to do so at the most inconvenient times and locations. Not having an emergency dentist you can call means you will be scrambling at two o'clock in the morning to google the name of someone who can take away your discomfort, or will mean jumping in the car for a trip down to your local emergency room. Taking the precaution to have emergency contacts for dental and medical emergencies is a small but potentially important step that can help you to plan ahead.  As such, we recommend putting our office number in your cell phone.

An Emergency Dentist vs. an ER Doctor
An emergency dentist is trained as a dentist and offers services outside of regular business hours as well. As one, we are similar to the doctors in an ER, given our ability to treat you immediately, but there are notable differences. Over the last several years, there has been an uptick in the number of people visiting the emergency room of their local hospital for dental issues or emergencies connected to their teeth. In a three-year study, that encompassed 24 states, the Federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality found that the number of dental patients visiting the ER had increased by 16%. This means that there are literally thousands of patients getting dental attention from doctors that are not trained to be emergency dentists. Unfortunately, skilled as they are, these emergency room physicians are not trained to diagnose and treat the dental illnesses that may be causing your discomfort. As a result, they can treat the symptoms but will not be able to treat the actual cause of the symptoms and chances are you will need to return to the ER or go see an emergency dentist sooner rather than later. The same study found that over 20% of the people seeking dental help in the ER were actually returning patients, coming back with the same symptoms.  If they had visited an emergency dentist, the issue causing the discomfort would have been addressed in the first place.
The most common reason why people seek out emergency care for their teeth is a toothache. A toothache is also a perfect example of why you should be treated by an emergency dentist, not just a regular doctor. A toothache can be just that, a simple tooth pain, or it can be a symptom of a much deeper problem like an infection or gum diseases that need treatment by a dentist.  When you visit our emergency dentist office, we can address any oral health problem you are facing and do so quickly so that you don't need to visit the ER.

Family Dentist  >  Dentist

Dental Restorations Will Preserve Your Natural Teeth

In our office, we use dental restorations to preserve teeth that would otherwise have to be pulled.  It is incredibly important to keep your natural teeth in place for as long as possible.  Most people think of their teeth and consider their smile or how they need teeth to chew.  Both are true and good reasons to keep your smile in excellent health.  Still, there is an even greater reason – your jawbone.  If your tooth falls out and isn't replaced, with something like an implant, you could experience significant bone loss that eventually changes the appearance of your face.  Considering how everything in the body works together, our job is to restore teeth so that they can continue performing their critical functions.

There are several ways that we can do so, and the recommended treatment plan will depend on the extent of the damage.  If, for example, you simply have cavities, we will remove the decayed portion of your tooth and use a dental filling to restore it.  This can be done with a tooth-colored filling that looks entirely natural. If the damage is more extensive like a crack, chip or the enamel has worn away, we will need to consider other cosmetic solutions. Dental restorations like veneers and crowns are often preferred for adults while youths may prefer dental bonding.  A bonding procedure can be completed in one session as a tooth-colored material is applied to the tooth, shaped, then hardened using a dental light.  Even chipped teeth can be restored using this method.

A dental veneer and dental crown work to restore the more significant damage and both operate in a similar fashion.  The main difference is that a veneer is a thin shell that is placed on top of the natural tooth where a dental crown surrounds the tooth.  In order to prepare a damaged tooth for either of these procedures, enamel must be removed from the surface of the tooth so that the restorative material will lay flat once placed.  This is done in the first visit where an impression is also taken of the teeth.  In order to protect the damaged and exposed tooth, a temporary veneer or crown will be placed on it that can be worn until the dental lab is done creating the permanent one.

Once the permanent veneer or crown is ready, patients return to our office to have it bonded into place.  First, we will make any last minute adjustments and ensure that it is a perfect match.  In the case of a dental crown, we also need to check the bite to ensure that it fits correctly with the surrounding teeth.  If it does, we can complete the procedure.  Both of these dental restorations are designed to match your natural teeth so they will look perfect once in place.  Our restorations will allow you to eat like normal and bite down without discomfort.  Most importantly, your smile will remain healthy and intact.  To get started, call and schedule a dental exam.

Dental Implants  >  Dental Veneers

Watch Adventure Time With a Family Dentist in Franklin, TN

As a family dentist in Franklin, TN, we are always looking for fun tips that can make our younger patients excited about brushing their teeth.  The American Dental Association has as well, and their solution was to have kids watch two minute cartoons while brushing.  Some of these are geared for younger kids while others are for teens.  Whether they like Adventure Time or a funny song by Hot Peas and Butter, these videos will help your kids to get excited about brushing their teeth.

This solves two issues that many parents face at bedtime: getting their kids to brush their teeth and to stop playing.  Watching a short cartoon while brushing is a simple solution for you; while making your kids feel like they got a win.  That works! All you need to watch these videos is your computer, tablet, or a smartphone.  Simultaneously, if they watch these videos on a regular basis, they will get used to what two minutes looks like and start to judge how long they have been brushing even when it isn’t on.  That’s the ultimate goal – teaching your kids good oral hygiene habits that they can keep as they age.

If you aren’t interested in playing the videos, try listening to their favorite song.  Whether you have girls, that can’t stop singing “Let it Go” from Frozen or a tween into the latest Bruno Mars video, playing it for them can make brushing teeth a lot more enjoyable.  This can especially be helpful in the morning when kids have a difficult time getting up and getting ready for school.  Sometimes all it takes is a little bit of music to set a positive and energized tone for the day. As a family dentist in Franklin, TN, we like these ideas because they help kids to associate oral hygiene with having fun.

Our goal is to help your child to enjoy having clean and healthy teeth.  We know that the better job they do of brushing their teeth now, the more likely they are to stay cavity and gum disease free.  Additionally, this will instill habits that they can carry throughout their lifetime.  Since no one wants to have a cavity or a toothache, these healthy habits are necessary for a lifetime of good oral health. We also want to remind you that teenagers are notorious for not brushing their teeth, and since most of them attend to their own hygiene, parents will often miss it.  The cavities won’t, however, so even your teenager may need to be reminded to keep brushing.

The reward for instilling these habits now is a teen that turns into an adult with good oral health.  Things like gum disease, after all, can lead to bone and tooth loss – something that no one is immune from.  The best way to prevent this condition is through regular brushing and flossing along with visiting the dentist twice a year for regular teeth cleanings.  Together, these habits work to prevent oral health problems like infections, gum disease, and even a dental abscess.  When you put videos on for your child or teen, remember that as silly as it may seem, you are helping them to stay healthy for years to come. Next, be sure to take them to see a family dentist in Franklin, TN twice a year for regular teeth cleanings.

Procedures Performed by a Cosmetic Dentist for Your Gum Health

As a cosmetic dentist, there is a fundamental focus that drives our practice. Our attention is squarely focused on the appearance of the teeth and gums.  As such, our craft has been honed in such a manner that we have a reputation for creating beautiful smiles. When you decide that you want whiter teeth, you come see us for teeth whitening. Lose a tooth? We can provide you with dental implants, a dental crown, or a bridge to replace the lost tooth or teeth. Other procedures we do on a daily basis are contouring or reshaping of the teeth, installing dental veneers, and using Invisalign® to help straighten your teeth. While all of these are well known, there are also some procedures that are not so well known, among the populous, but are still regular features that are used to improve oral health. Two of these, described below, were actually founded in the medical aspects of dentistry. Today, they are still being used to cure medical issues, but have also found a cosmetic application and as such we use these procedures in our cosmetic dentist office to help make your gums look better.

One procedure a cosmetic dentist does, which is often overlooked, is known as a gingivectomy. This procedure is still used to make sure a person does not lose their teeth, and so there is significant crossover in function and esthetics. Traditionally people who have a gingivectomy are suffering from a gum disease like periodontitis. The disease causes the gums to become separated from the teeth. This in turn creates deep pockets in the gums which are a great breeding ground for infections and bacteria. Plaque, which is normally hard to remove, becomes even harder to brush away when it can hide in these deep pockets. In order to protect the underlying bone, which supports the teeth, we may suggest that you to have this procedure done. These deep pockets also create an ugly smile, which is where the cross over into cosmetic dentistry takes place.

The surgery is performed using local anesthesia which is injected into the gums around the site of the pockets. Following this, we will trim away the excess or loose gum tissue, effectively removing the pockets and restoring the gums to their healthy and beautiful form. After the surgery, we may cover the gums with putty to offer a level of protection while they are healing completely. While we are working to remove the pockets, as a cosmetic dentist, we will also make sure to contour your gums, which change frequently during this process, to a pleasing shape.

The other procedure that we do quite frequently is known as tissue sculpting or gum reshaping. People who suffer from conditions like gum recession frequently find that they need their gums to be reshaped so that they properly cover the teeth. Done in the clinic, tissue sculpting is performed under a local anesthesia using laser, radiosurgery, or a traditional scalpel to sculpt the gums into the proper shape. These are only two of the procedures we perform that can help your gums to be healthier and look more pleasing.  

When You Have Bad Breath – Visit a General Dentist

In our general dentist office, we can help you with a variety of oral health issues, including bad breath.  This is thought to be a fairly minor condition, and most people don’t seek help for it, using gum and breath mints instead.  While we understand that this may seem easier, you could be covering up an underlying health issue that needs to be addressed.  With that in mind, if you find that your breath is smelling worse than it used to, or it still stinks after you brush your teeth, give us a call.

During your dental exam, we will begin by cleaning your teeth and in some people, this is all that is required.   Food and plaque can easily become stuck on and in between teeth.  While brushing at home, can help to remove it, this is often not enough, making a professional teeth cleaning important.  We recommend having your teeth cleaned twice a year, which will help with your breath and your health.

After your teeth have been cleaned, we will look for any infections.  As a general dentist, we find that many people will unknowingly live with a tooth infection and not seek treatment until it becomes too uncomfortable to eat.  Persistent bad breath is a sign of an infection, and if you come in right away, we can treat the condition before it causes you discomfort, or it is allowed to spread.  This is better for your health and your comfort.  Once the infected area is removed, we will restore the tooth structure and use a dental crown as necessary for preserving it.

If you don’t have a tooth infection, you may have gum disease that is causing your breath to stink.  Gum disease is incredibly common and, like a tooth infection, many people don’t realize they have it until the disease has progressed.  If you can catch it early, this is best for your health.  Plaque becoming stuck under the gums is often the cause of gum disease so by performing a deep cleaning we can treat the condition.  This, however, does require an early diagnosis.  When gum disease is left untreated, the gums may start to recede and pull away from the tooth structure.  As it does so, pockets are created in the gum tissue, a prime spot for bacteria and plaque to gather.  This can lead to bone and tooth loss as the bacteria create acid to attack the teeth.  If, however, you come in due to bad breath, or because you notice that your gums are red, we can treat the condition before any of these additional problems arise.

In our general dentist office, we can also provide you with ideas for how to treat bad breath at home.  Some you already know like brushing your teeth after meals and flossing once a day.  However, a lot of our patients have never heard of a tongue scraper, and this simple tool can remove bacteria that causes bad breath.  To try it out, go to your local drug store and incorporate it into your nightly teeth brushing routine.

The Wonders of Modern Dentistry

Sponsor Spotlight
Dr. Allen Blourchian - New Image Dentistry
155 Covey Drive, Suite 300
Franklin, TN 37067
(615) 591-4490
www.SmilesNashville.com

We live in exciting times. It is true that there are challenges that are new and unique to our era, like privacy issues, texting and driving, sensory overload, etc. But we also benefit from advances in science and technology.

Dentistry has come a long way in the last couple of decades. It is a lot more than a healing art. Today's dentistry offers options for people that were only dreamed of few years ago.

Take cosmetic dentistry for example. It is a routine procedure these days. People, who are interested in improving their appearance (and maybe self-confidence, I may add) can predictably and in few visits achieve dramatic results with smile makeovers that will last for decades, if not a lifetime. The materials and science of cosmetic dentistry have advanced considerably. Beautiful is also durable.

Or consider dental implants. Not long ago, dental implants were the best kept secret in dentistry. People did not know about them. Not having the option of implant dentistry available would lead to less than optimum treatment options for missing teeth.

Losing a tooth starts a cascade of problems. Bone loss is one of them. If you have ever seen a picture of an elderly with no teeth and shrunken lower face, you know what I am talking about. It is not the age causing this, but loss of teeth. Loss of all teeth in one arch leads to loss of bone in the entire arch and collapse of vertical dimension of the lower face.

Of course one can restore the facial appearance with dentures, but that is not the same as having your own teeth: chewing is limited and as time passes, the bone loss continues, making the denture loose.

With the new “All on Four” procedure, one can regain the chewing function and also a beautiful smile. It is a procedure that allows placing dental implants and teeth the same day. It reduces the time from several months to just one day, avoids complicated bone grafts and fixes the teeth to the jaw.

Dental implants are also a better option than a dental bridge, partial, etc. They feel and act like one's own teeth, while preserving bone. With the use of CT-scans and digital imaging, implant placement is predictable and has great chance of success.

Another exciting advance in dentistry is the use of lasers. Periodontal (gum) disease afflicts majority of population in varying degrees. This disease is a painless, silent disease that if untreated, could have systemic ramification. It has been shown that there is strong correlation between coronary artery disease and periodontal disease.

LANAP is a laser procedure that treats periodontal disease. It is approved by FDA to regenerate lost bone and periodontal ligaments. It is an alternate (and much more comfortable) procedure in place of traditional gum surgery.

By the way, if getting a dental appointment is not something you are looking for you may want to ask about dental sedation. Taking a few pills before the appointment will help you “take a nap” while undergoing dental treatment with little or no memory afterwards. Years of neglect can be reversed within one or two “nap” appointments.

 As we move forward, more and more advances are in the horizon. It is truly an exciting time to be a part of this field.

Dentist  >  Emergency Dentist