Dental Avulsion

We hope that you’ll never need to know what to do if you get a tooth knocked out. But if it does happen, there are things you can do to improve your chances of recovery. Although we frequently place dental implants at the Bridge Smiles Dental Group, we don’t underestimate the benefits of keeping natural teeth healthy and we encourage patients to remember the following advice.

“Dental Avulsion” is what we call it when an entire tooth is knocked out of its socket. Ideally, there will be a first aid kit nearby that contains a tooth saving kit approved by the American Dental Association. But if not, the tooth should be picked up by its crown, washed in a saline solution, and then placed back in the socket. If the patient is unable to tell which way the tooth should be facing or is unable to reinsert it, the tooth may be held in the cheek or in a jar of milk while the patient makes an emergency trip to the dentist. (There is a limited amount of time during which teeth can be saved, but gashes to the face should take higher priority.)

Reinserting the tooth will only work if it is a permanent one and relatively undamaged. Dentists do not reinsert baby teeth because doing so may cause them to fuse with the jaw bone instead of being pushed out naturally later. But a juvenile patient may be referred to an orthodontist to keep the gap open until a permanent tooth emerges. A tooth that is cracked at the root cannot be saved, either, but it may be replaced with a partial denture or implant.

Drs. Meghadri and Grewal run Bridge Smiles Dental Group at 820 US Hwy 202 North Neshanic Station, NJ, and 15 North Bridge St. Somerville, NJ. To schedule an appointment, visit Bridge Smiles Dental.

 

Root Canals and Orthodontics

At the Bridge Smiles Dental Group in Somerset County, we provide patients with a wide variety of dental services, including root canals and invisible orthodontics. Sometimes patients’ teeth have been injured and need to be moved, in which case a root canal may be a better option than a prosthetic.

When teeth are cracked at the root, they need to be removed, but in the cases of other injuries and infections, they may only need a root canal and a new crown. This may be the better option when orthodontic work needs to be done because the point of an implant is to fuse with the surrounding bone structure. Once an implant is integrated, orthodontic treatments will be unable to move it, and if it does move, it needs to be taken out.

In contrast, a root canal maintains the health of the outer portion of the tooth root, which can be guided through the bones of the jaw. We are providers of the Invisalign clear series of removable aligners, but artificial crowns are also able to receive the adhesive which is used to affix orthodontic brackets to teeth. Traditional orthodontics may be necessary if a tooth was knocked far out of place.

Drs. Meghadri and Grewal run Bridge Smiles Dental Group at 820 US Hwy 202 North Neshanic Station, NJ, and 15 North Bridge St. Somerville, NJ. To schedule an appointment, visit Bridge Smiles Dental.

 

Handling Dental Emergencies

Accidents happen, and knowing what to do when a dental emergency occurs can mean the difference between saving and losing a tooth. At Bridge Smiles Dental Group P.A., our goal is to help you minimize the risk of emergency treatment. This is why we commit a copious amount of time designing a Lifetime Treatment Plan that will help you to offset the possibility of unforeseen pain or tooth breakage. When you have a dental emergency it’s important to visit us as soon as possible. Meanwhile, here are some tips for handling common dental emergencies.

• For a knocked-out permanent or adult tooth, keep it moist at all times. If you can, try placing the tooth back in the socket without touching the root. If that’s not possible, place it between your cheek and gums, or use a tooth preservation product that has the American Dental Association (ADA) seal of acceptance.


• For a cracked tooth, immediately rinse the mouth with warm water to clean the area.


• If you bite your tongue or lip, clean the area gently with water and apply a cold compress.


• For toothaches, rinse the mouth with warm water to clean it out. Gently use dental floss to remove any food caught between teeth.

Dr. Samuel Meghadri is on call 24/7. If you have a dental emergency, please contact our office immediately. To learn more about dental emergencies as well as services we provide at the practice, visit www.bridgesmilesdental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Bridge Smile Dental Group P.A. in Somerville, NJ, call 908-725-0400.