If You Have a Dental Problem, We’re Here To Solve It!

Sometimes, a toothache can be caused or aggravated by a piece of debris lodged between the tooth and another tooth, or at the edge of crowns. Simple toothaches can often be relieved by flossing and rinsing the mouth to clear it of debris and other matter. Because the area has been irritated, wait a few hours to see if the pain subsides. Avoid placing an aspirin between your tooth and gum to relieve pain, because the dissolving aspirin can actually harm your gum tissue. If your pain doesn’t go away within a few hours after cleaning around the sore tooth, call us!

Although crowns are generally strong and long-lasting, they can come off or loosen especially when biting into hard, sticky foods. It is important to get the crown recemented as soon as possible to protect the tooth and prevent it from shifting. Occasionally, a  crown will come off because the underlying tooth fractured, in which case, additional treatment will be needed. 

A swollen jaw is something that needs immediate attention. It is a sign of a dental abscess, requiring either an extraction or root canal therapy if the tooth can be restored. Before any treatment, you must take antibiotics to get rid of the abscess and the pain. The swelling and pain is caused by bacterial products (pus, gas.) The antibiotic kills the bacteria, and the swelling and pain go away. The presence of pus also prevents the anesthetic from working making for an unpleasant visit for both patient and doctor. Keeping the whole you in mind, we have patients take their antibiotics before attempting treatment. 

These third molars are usually fully erupted by the age of 16. If they are impacted, they will be extremely uncomfortable while they try to erupt into the mouth, which they cannot do. From years of experience, seeing thousands of patients, Dr. Christian has noticed that jaws seem to be getting smaller. Using our advanced 3D x-rays, we can diagnose impacted wisdom teeth before they are a painful problem. Dr. Christian  recommends that these teeth should be extracted when patients are young, healthy and covered by their parent’s insurance, as they won’t get any better. 

TMJ disorders manifest as aching tight jaws, sore teeth, headaches, and neck or shoulder pain. The most common cause today is stress — resulting in grinding and clenching teeth, especially at night. Our doctors are experienced in helping to alleviate TMJ pain and discomfort. We must first examine the musculature and source of the pain, before determining treatment, so don’t wait to come in and get examined. Until then, ice and anti-inflammatories (e.g. Ibuprofen) help.

Getting a tooth knocked out can be extremely traumatic for both the patient — and their parents, in the case of a child or teen. If this happens, find the tooth, rinse off any dirt or debris, wrap it in a wet paper towel (a glass of milk is best), and call us for an Emergency Appointment. If it’s not during regulat patient hours, visit an ER with a Dentist on call, for example Mountainside, St. Barnabas or UMDNJ (Dental School) Hospitals.