Emergency Dentist in OKC
Our emergency dental office proudly serves the Oklahoma City, OK community and it’s surrounding suburbs. We are a general dentistry office prepared for a variety of dental problems, and we try to always leave room for same day appointments in the event of unforeseen dental emergencies.
Our emergency dental care team will provide one-on-one time with our patients in order to fully understand the dental issues and come to an agreement on the best course of proper treatment. Don’t hesitate to contact our Oklahoma City emergency dental care center. From mild toothaches to root canal therapy, we can help.
Emergency Dental Care Services We Offer
If you have experienced any of these unfortunate, unforeseen dental emergencies, please fill out our simple contact form and one of our emergency dental staff members will reach out to you as soon as we are able.
We provide assistance with emergency tooth extraction, root canal therapy, dental pain, severe toothache, broken teeth, lost crown, chipped tooth/cracked tooth/knocked out tooth, tooth pain, lost filling, and other dental emergencies. If you have received a face or head trauma, please visit an emergency room to ensure you don’t have any underlying issues prior to visiting our emergency dental care facility.
What Can I Do In The Meantime?
After you’ve made contact with us and are waiting for your appointment, here are a few things you can try for temporary relief of pain and discomfort. In the event of a painful broken or bleeding trauma to a tooth, you may find that swishing with warm salt water, apple cider vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, or clove oil may help alleviate pain and keeping the affected area clean. If you are struggling with a toothache, a cold compress on the area or over the counter medications may help to alleviate pain and swelling.
Are You Experiencing Anxiousness About Your Dental Emergency?
Does thinking about the dental office leave you feeling sweaty and uncomfortable? According to researchers, roughly 50% – 80% of the general population suffers from dental anxiety in one way or another. Dental emergencies may cause even higher anxiety with the addition of possible pain, bleeding, feeling unprepared, and the shock of suddenly needing an emergency dentist, especially if you don’t already have one on speed dial.
Some people are so affected by anxiety that they may never visit a dentist. These folks are unfortunately often left experiencing severe pain, poor oral hygiene, infections, and other long lasting dental and overall health issues.
There are some helpful tips we suggest our patients use to lessen the dental office anxiety, and therefore move forward with more confidence and a better handle on your dental and overall health.
Tips For Controlling Dental Office Nervousness
- Let us know! There is often a feeling of relief by simply stating how you feel if you are experiencing fear or anxiety. Have a chat with our emergency dentists and with our staff. If there is anything we can do to lessen your worries, we will certainly make it happen.
- Many stressful situations have been alleviated with the use of deep breathing exercises and positive visualization. Imagine yourself proudly facing your fears and coming out on the other side with an improved handle on your dental and overall well-being.
- Distraction works wonders. Ask our emergency dentists if you could bring your headphones or earbuds so you can listen to a favorite, relaxing playlist. Many of our dental offices are equipped with television screens on the ceiling so that you may enjoy a movie while the dentist works on you. Having a trusted friend or relative to bring along with you may also help to ease your worries.
- Anti-anxiety medications are also a possiblity. Your doctor may be able to prescribe you a simple anti-anxiety pill to take shortly before your procedure, but keep in mind you will need someone to drive for you. Nitrous Oxide, also known as “laughing gas” is also an option at some dental offices. You can find out prior to your appointment if it is available, and you may also want to check with your insurance, since some policies will cover the use of Nitrous Oxide even for routine checkups and exams.
The Link Between Dental Health and Overall Health
Maintaining healthy gums and teeth really is a lifelong commitment. You likely already know that you should be brushing and flossing daily. But it’s not just about keeping your smile white and preventing cavities. Keeping your mouth healthy is an integral part of your overall state of health and well being. The lack of proper oral hygiene can be an indication or trigger of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, periodontal disease, and premature births. If you’re interested in maintaining good oral health, and therefore good overall health, you should be visiting your dentist regularly for checkups and cleanings.
Why Dental Health Matters
Many people consider their mouth as separate from the rest of their body, perhaps because a dentist is different from a general doctor, or because dental insurance is usually separate from the rest of your health insurance. However, you should consider your mouth and general dental health as a very important extension of the rest of your body. While other conditions with no bearing on oral health may exist, it seems unlikely to have good overall health without tending to your dental health.
Having Poor Oral Health Can Lead To…
Gingivitis – occurs when bacteria infect your gums and is considered an early, mild form of gum disease.
Periodontal disease – a gum infection that often leads to inflamed gums as well as bone loss around the teeth.
Tooth decay – occurs from untreated cavities.
The Link Between Oral and the Overall Health
Your mouth, just as with other parts of your body, holds a lot of bacteria. Most of these are harmless, and when you practice good oral hygiene, you keep the bacteria in check. With poor oral hygiene, the bacteria are left unchecked, and it could lead to tooth decay, infections, and gum disease. The bacteria can also multiply, enter the bloodstream, and spread to other parts of the body.
Several studies suggest that oral bacteria linked to gum disease may also contribute to a myriad of serious conditions, as outlined below.
Cardiovascular disease – this is an umbrella term referring to a group of disorders related to the heart and blood vessels. Poor oral health is often associated with forms of cardiovascular disease such as coronary artery disease. Coronary artery disease can lead to heart failure and heart attacks; it’s one of the leading causes of death in the US.
Clogged arteries – people with periodontal disease have considerably higher rates of atherosclerosis, which occurs when plaque builds up in your blood vessels.
Stroke – several studies have demonstrated a strong association between periodontal disease and strokes, especially those related to atherosclerosis.
Endocarditis – This is an infection of the inner lining of the heart valves or chambers, which could occur when germs or bacteria from your mouth spread through your bloodstream and attach to specific parts of your heart. Endocarditis can occur when you contract a bacterial infection during procedures like tooth extractions. If you have heart-related issues like heart disease, you’re at a higher risk of developing endocarditis.
Birth and pregnancy complications – Periodontitis (a severe form of gum disease) is often linked to low birth weight and premature birth. For this reason, expectant mothers have an extra reason to take care of their bodies, including their oral health. Otherwise, poor oral health may place them at a risk for gestational diabetes, fetal growth restructions, miscarriage, low birth rate, preeclampsia, and stillbirth. The reasoning behind this is that oral bacteria could travel into the bloodstream and end up causing harm to the fetus.
Pneumonia – This is among the respiratory conditions that may occur when the bacteria in your mouth are pulled into your lungs. Having cavities is often linked to developing pneumonia, which can be caused by viruses, bacteria, or fungi. The bacteria from your mouth can move to the upper airways and eventually into the lungs, which may cause pneumonia. It also makes it easy for the bacteria that could cause respiratory diseases to stick in the lungs.
Diabetes – diabetes can be especially problematic, as it may result in a vicious cycle that can be difficult to control. People with diabetes are naturally more susceptible to periodontal disease, which makes blood sugar management a bit more complicated, which makes diabetes worse.
Other conditions – links to other conditions are also being established, including dementia, Alzheimer’s, and rheumatoid arthritis.
The Importance of Regular and Preventative Dental Care
Regular dental exams are not only helpful in maintaining healthy gums and teeth, but also enable your dentist to be on the lookout for developments that could lead to future problems, including oral cancers.
Regular preventative dental care can help to avoid the progression of gum and oral diseases, helping lower the risks associated with diabetes, heart disease, and pregnancy. Moreover, the mouth can also tell you much about what is going on in the body.
Over 90% of all common diseases have oral symptoms. For instance, mucosal sores and lesions are common in people with HIV/AIDS. Consistent preventative oral care can help with the early detection of HIV/AIDS and more conditions.
Ensure you let your dentist know about any changes in your oral health, including any illnesses or conditions you may develop, even ones that seem unrelated to your mouth. Make sure you also follow your dentist’s recommendations, including any home care regimen. Regular flossing, brushing, and visits to the dentist will help you maintain proper oral health and an overall healthier you.
