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Are You in Pain?
Having a dental emergency is awful. In Fort Wayne at Family Dentistry & Aesthetics, we don’t want to see anyone suffer. When you have dental pain, our goal is always to return you to a comfortable state as soon as possible. Our team of emergency dentists in Fort Wayne have genuine compassion for patients in pain, and we will snap into action to help relieve your discomfort, no matter how urgent it is.
Emergency Dentists in Fort Wayne – We Offer Immediate Dental Care In The 46804 Area
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Our office provides same-day emergency visits, so we can see you as soon as possible, on the day you call. Dr. Teel, Gilbert, and Zolnik are always willing to make time in the schedule for emergency patients and will take as long as necessary to determine the source of your pain, present their findings, and offer a choice of treatment options.
Toothaches
Many claim that toothache is the worst type of physical pain, and our doctors are here to alleviate your pain and discomfort as quickly as possible.
We experience dental pain because the 32 teeth in an adult’s mouth are all living structures, each with a nerve that runs through the center. Nerves send signals to the brain, making us sense pain, heat, cold, pressure, and other sensations. Canals within our teeth house the nerves, connective tissues called dental pulp, and blood vessels that provide nutrition and waste removal. Nerves are also located throughout the jawbone, where teeth roots are positioned, and in the gum tissue and other soft tissues of the mouth. Treating cavities, fractures, and tooth infections early can free you from more intense pain and greater expense in the future. Waiting will only complicate the treatment you’ll need since teeth can never heal themselves.
A Broken Tooth
A broken tooth can cause two distinctly different types of pain. If a break (fracture or crack) extends into the tooth’s internal nerve, the pain may become intense as more bacteria accumulates inside the tooth. However, in some cases, the pain is due to a broken tooth’s sharp edges causing irritations or abrasions on your tongue or cheek. Keep in mind, healthy teeth are strong and do not break or crack easily. If your tooth develops structural damage, you may have a more serious problem that requires immediate attention, such as eroded enamel or a failing filling.
Swelling/Infection
Any type of dental or facial swelling could indicate a serious condition. If your pain is accompanied by swelling, call our office immediately to see the dentist. Swelling generally only occurs when there is an infection, and left untreated for any amount of time, the infection can spread to other tissues. With infection, you may also notice foul breath, and discoloration or pus on the soft tissues. Because of the complex anatomy of the head and neck, infections in this area are particularly dangerous for both oral and overall health.
Headaches and Jaw Pain
Another common complaint is jaw pain. Because many nerves are located in the area around our jaw joints, or temporomandibular joints (TMJ), pain may express itself anywhere in the jaw, ears, mouth, head, neck, or shoulders. TMJ pain may even cause headaches, migraines, tingling extremities, and/or lower back pain. Patients may also experience a locked jaw, an inability to open or close the jaws, or a disturbing popping or clicking when opening and closing the mouth.
If you suffer from any of these symptoms, our dentist can recommend treatments to help relieve your pain now. Your appointment will entail a thorough evaluation and diagnosis. Treatment recommendations could include physical therapy, bite adjustment, or an oral appliance.
Gum Pain
Gum disease may present with no symptoms as the chronic condition escalates. Also called periodontal disease, gum disease is s serious but often silent condition that can jeopardize your oral and whole-body health.
You may have gum disease if:
Your gums bleed when you brush and floss.
You notice white pus at the gum line or a foul smell that does not go away.
Your gums are painful when touched.
Your gums are red and swollen.
Any teeth feel loose.
Your gums are receding, and you notice sensitivity on your teeth at the gum line.
What starts as mild gingivitis with few or no symptoms can escalate to advanced periodontitis, in which teeth, gums, and bone tissue become badly infected. Gum disease at all levels is a serious oral health problem that afflicts half or more of the adults in America. It begins with bacteria at the gum line destroying connective bonds that hold the gums to teeth. As a result, periodontal pockets of infection develop, and bacteria reproduce rapidly. The bacterial infection spreads down the roots of teeth, ultimately causing tooth loss.
Non-Specific Pain
You may have pain that cannot be described, but you know that your mouth or surrounding tissues hurt. In some cases, you may not even be able to determine whether the pain is on the top or bottom arch of your mouth. Non-specific pain is quite a challenge for both patient and dentist, but our team is experienced in finding the source of oral pain. Call us and come in for an oral evaluation and we will help identify the cause of your discomfort. Our doctors will work with you to restore comfortable oral function and relieve your pain.
Don’t Wait for Pain!
Call us to have your symptoms evaluated when they first develop. The longer you postpone a dental visit, the worse your pain may become. At your emergency dentist appointment, we will conduct a thorough evaluation and diagnosis and may use various treatment modalities to relieve your pain and re-establish good oral health.
If you neglect six-month checkups and hygiene appointments and only visit the local dentist when you have oral pain, it is not realistic to expect to have good oral health. Our dentists are happy to help relieve your pain with restorative, prosthetic, and full-mouth dentistry, but we advise preventive care, as well.
