Top Dental Symptoms: Toothache

If your mouth or jaw hurt, it could be from a toothache. Toothaches usually indicate a cavity but they can also signal gum disease. In some cases, a toothache is a sign of an abscess or impacted tooth. A toothache should be evaluated by a dentist right away to determine the cause of the problem and prevent the tooth from dying.

Above article from: MouthHealthy.org

Siranli Dental  
Samantha Siranli, DMD, PhD, FACP
2112 F St. NW, Suite 605
Washington, DC 20037
(202) 466-4530
SiranliDental.com

Your Mouth Is Not a Bottle Opener!

Your mother was right: Never open bottles, packages, or other containers with your teeth. You might permanently chip or crack the enamel.

Gnawing on anything else -- like pens or fingernails -- or chomping down on seeds, popcorn kernels, or ice could have the same result.

Above article from: Webmd.com/oral-health

Siranli Dental  
Samantha Siranli, DMD, PhD, FACP
2112 F St. NW, Suite 605
Washington, DC 20037
(202) 466-4530
SiranliDental.com

Emergency Dental Care

Same-Day Emergencies

Are you suffering from pain in your teeth or gums? Have you cracked or knocked out a tooth? You don’t have to suffer! Call us right away, and we can instruct you on how to handle it, and then find a place in our schedule for treatment the same day. It’s important that you get a fast diagnosis and immediate treatment so we can hopefully save a tooth or even your healthy smile long-term. Our caring, compassionate, and very gentle team is here to support you.

Common dental emergencies include:

• Mouth sores
• Tooth pain
• Gum pain
• Swelling
• Bleeding
• Pain with hot or cold
• Cracked tooth
• Fractured tooth

Here are some things you can do before you come in to see us:

1. If you think your jaw is fractured or that you could be suffering a life-threatening emergency, call 911.
2. Take acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) or ibuprofen (like Advil) for pain. Ice can be applied for 10-20 minutes out of an hour.
3. Orajel, campho-phenique, and similar over-the-counter medications can ease a mouth sore by laying a protective film over the area.
4. A bitten lip or tongue or similar soft tissue injury can also be eased by application of ice or pressure.
5. Have you had an extraction and are bleeding? Folded gauze needs to be applied with pressure to the site. Another option is to soak a tea bag, wrap it in a thin layer of gauze, and apply with pressure for an hour.
6. For a chipped tooth, soft wax can be placed over the broken area. If you have the chip, place it in a cup of milk or in water with a pinch of salt.
7. Knocked out adult permanent teeth should be put back in place and held while you’re on your way to see us. If you can’t do that, put it in a cup of milk or water. You’ll need to be seen immediately.

Siranli Dental  
Samantha Siranli, DMD, PhD, FACP
2112 F St. NW, Suite 605
Washington, DC 20037
(202) 466-4530
SiranliDental.com

Treatment Options for Tooth Sensitivity

The best way to find out why a tooth is sensitive is to have dental professional examine you. They can look for the signs of dentin exposure, and run tests to determine what the true cause of the sensitivity is. Sometimes, the sensitivity is due to a cavity or gum disease - these can be treated to address the sensitivity. Other times, the cause of the sensitivity is because the enamel has been lost through abrasion or erosion, or the gums have receded, causing the roots to be exposed.

What Can Be Done?
If the sensitivity is due to a cavity, a restoration can be placed. If gum disease is the cause, the dental professional can perform a thorough cleaning of the area.

However, if the cause is from dentin being exposed, then there are a number of professional and at home treatments that can be used to reduce the sensitivity.

In Office Procedures:

• Fluoride varnish can be applied to exposed areas, strengthening the enamel and dentin
• Fluoride foam or gel can be placed into a mouth tray; you then sit with this in your mouth for 3-5 minutes, providing the teeth with a high concentration of fluoride to strengthen the areas
• Bonding agent, the material used to stick tooth colored restorations to teeth, can be used to seal the dentin surface and provide a barrier to the stimuli that cause sensitivity

At Home:

• Use a very soft bristle tooth brush, with low abrasive tooth paste
• Brush correctly and do not over brush
• Use a tooth paste specially formulated to soothe the nerve endings in the tooth
• Use a high concentration fluoride toothpaste (given to you by the dental professional) to strengthen the tooth surface

There are a number of treatments available, and your dental professional can help you find those that will work best, depending on your situation. Always seek a dental professional's help - do not try to diagnose this problem yourself. It may be the sign of something more serious, and only a dental professional can tell you what it really is.

To read the entire article visit Colgate.com


Siranli Dental  
Samantha Siranli, DMD, PhD, FACP
2112 F St. NW, Suite 605
Washington, DC 20037
(202) 466-4530
SiranliDental.com

Emergency Dentistry

Learn more about what the American Dental Association has to say about Emergency Dentistry!

The above video is found on the American Dental Association YouTube Channel.

Siranli Dental  
Samantha Siranli, DMD, PhD, FACP  
2112 F St. NW, Suite 605  
Washington, DC 20037  
(202) 466-4530  
SiranliDental.com

Dental Assistant

Learn more about what the American Dental Association has to say about the role played by your Dental Assistant!

The above video is found on the American Dental Association YouTube Channel.

Siranli Dental  
Samantha Siranli, DMD, PhD, FACP  
2112 F St. NW, Suite 605  
Washington, DC 20037  
(202) 466-4530  
SiranliDental.com

Dentists Are the First Line of Defense for Elder Abuse

With the American population living longer, seniors' oral health has become an important issue, as has the widespread problem of elder abuse. Every year more than 2.5 million older Americans may be victims of elder abuse, and in some cases dentists serve as the first line of defense, according to a report in the May/June 2005 issue of General Dentistry, the clinical, peer-reviewed journal of the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD).

To read the entire article, visit: KnowYourTeeth.com

Siranli Dental  
Samantha Siranli, DMD, PhD, FACP
2112 F St. NW, Suite 605
Washington, DC 20037
(202) 466-4530
SiranliDental.com