May 21, 2013
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One may use a warm compress to sooth the area. This will help promote circulation and speed healing. Biting a moist teabag releases tannic acid which helps naturally relieve discomfort. Taking 2-3 ibuprofen with 1 extra-strength acetaminophen can be as effective as prescription pain killers as well (be careful not to exceed the maximum dose!).
Anything with fluoride! As long as you find toothpaste you like and brush properly, any fluoridated toothpaste is acceptable. Be careful about those with baking soda and some whitening toothpastes, because they can be abrasive and wear away your teeth and gums if one brushes too hard.
Following root canal therapy, the tooth is now weaker and easily fractured. Should a fracture occur the tooth may need extracted. If there is enough natural tooth remaining following a root canal, a crown may not be needed. This can only be determined by your dentist.
The most common reason is that the pulp (or nerve) of the tooth is inflamed. The most common sensitivities following a restoration are to cold and biting. The cold sensitivity will usually go away after a couple of weeks, but if the tooth is sensitive to biting it needs to be adjusted by the doctor. In some cases, the pulp may be irreversibly damaged by the decay that was present prior to the filling. In this case, the new filling has sealed the tooth so well, that the pressure builds inside the tooth and a root canal may be necessary.
Wisdom teeth can be very problematic, and can cause discomfort, shifting of teeth and cysts to form. As we age, the process of removing these teeth can be much more difficult and come with a higher risk of complications such as nerve damage.
Plaque is the film left on your teeth that causes tooth decay. Plaque can be removed with proper brushing and flossing.
Any of these symptoms must be evaluated by a dentist ASAP. You may simply have receding gums that can be treated with a de-sensitizing agent at the dentist’s office. You may also have a cavity that needs a filling, or the pulp (nerve) of your tooth is damaged and you may need a root canal.
Inlays and onlays are a way of replacing missing tooth structure. Part of the tooth may be missing due to either decay or breakage. An onlay is larger and typically covers part of the tongue or cheek side of the tooth. An inlay is on the inside of the tooth. Inlays and onlays can be made out of gold, porcelain, or composite resin (specially formulated plastic).
A veneer is a piece of porcelain that covers the outside of a tooth. These are most often used for cosmetic purposes. The Doctor will shape the tooth (or teeth), make a model, and a technician will custom-make the veneer for the patient. The patient will typically be wearing a temporary material during this process, which will be removed when the veneer is cemented into place.
A bridge can be used to replace one or many missing teeth. The missing tooth is usually made out of porcelain and is then anchored to the teeth on either side of the missing space. Many times the teeth on either side of the missing tooth will need to be shaped by the Doctor and covered with porcelain similar to a crown (see: what is a crown).
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