What To Do During A Dental Emergency
What You Should Know Need emergency dental help? Ascent Dental Group is here for you. We offer immediate, same-day care in Denver and Cherry Creek. And if you’re not sure what to do before you come to our office, read on for some dental emergency advice that will help you stay prepared. Dental Emergencies Can Happen At Any Time – Be Prepared! Nobody wants to experience a dental emergency, but they can happen at any time, and cause damage to your teeth and gums, the soft tissue inside your mouth, and injuries to your jaw. It’s very important to get timely care for a dental emergency in Denver, and some are more important than others. If you have a knocked-out tooth, for example, you need to have your tooth replaced within 1-2 hours to save it, so contact us immediately to get the emergency dental help you need. Even if the tooth cannot be saved, modern tooth replacements like dental implants can be used to repair the damage. Broken and chipped teeth are less urgent, but still need to be treated right away. A tooth can chip or crack at any point, often when eating hard foods or due to a dental trauma. A filling or crown may be used to repair it. Contact a dentist to discuss the severity of the issue. Toothaches are another common emergency that can happen at any time. A toothache can be extremely painful. If you have a toothache that continues after 1-2 days and gets worse, or you notice a toothache after experiencing dental trauma to your tooth, contact your dentist right away to get help. When Should I Contact A Dentist For An Emergency Appointment? Here are our guidelines – if you notice any of the following symptoms, contact a dental provider for help immediately. Swelling in the mouth or facial area – This may indicate a serious tooth infection, or major trauma to your face after a dental injury. Get in touch right away to get help from a dentist. Dental trauma – If your mouth has been injured in an accident from a slip or fall, a fender-bender, or a hard hit in a contact sport, it’s best to get a consultation with a dentist right away. Knots or swelling in gums – Bumps on gums can result from oral injuries, but can also indicate oral cancer. Serious swelling in gums often results from gum disease or tooth infections, so this is a major cause for concern. Serious oral bleeding – If oral bleeding doesn’t stop within an hour after an injury, you should see a dentist to treat your cuts, lacerations, and oral injuries. Loose tooth – Whether it’s caused by oral trauma or gum disease, a loose tooth must be splinted and re-attached ASAP to preserve your tooth and your oral health. Severe oral pain that won’t go away – Any significant oral pain that doesn’t go away after taking a pain reliever demands immediate attention from a dentist. Contact Us For Emergency Dental Help In Cherry Creek, Denver! We hope the dental emergency advice above will help you stay safe and save your tooth if you’re experiencing a serious oral injury. If you have any questions about a dental emergency, don’t wait. Contact us online or give us a call at 303-975-6987 to get the help you need.
How Does Sugar Cause Cavities?
Everything You Need To Know You may know that maintaining a diet low in sugar is good for your oral health. But why does sugar rot your teeth? How soon can cavities form due to excessive sugar consumption? Find out the answers to all of these questions in this guide from Ascent Dental Group, and see why proper oral hygiene and a healthy diet are so important for preventing cavities. How Does Sugar Cause Cavities? Why does sugar hurt your teeth? Because it’s the preferred food for oral bacteria, which will consume the sugar, multiply, and excrete acid. This acid eventually dissolves the enamel in the teeth through a process called “demineralization,” which results in tooth decay. This happens every single day, and our mouths are in a constant battle to prevent tooth decay. It can take as little as 20 minutes after we eat or drink sugary foods and beverages for decay to start, and for plaque to start building up. Who Is At Risk Of Tooth Decay? Everyone is at risk! You can get a cavity at any age. However, children and adolescents tend to have the highest risk, as they may consume sugary drinks and snacks with more frequency and tend not to maintain the best oral hygiene habits. About 43% of kids between the ages of 2-19 have at least one cavity. In addition, anyone who eats a lot of sugar is at risk. If you like sugary energy drinks, soda, sweetened tea and coffee, and sugary treats like cookies and candy, your risk of cavities will be much higher than someone who consumes less sugar in their diet. In addition, smoking and consuming alcohol can contribute to a higher risk of tooth decay. Smoking causes dry mouth and a variety of other oral health issues, and alcoholic drinks tend to have a high sugar content, putting your mouth at risk. How Can I Avoid Cavities? Just because you have a sweet tooth doesn’t mean that you have to worry about sugar rotting your teeth. Here are a few simple ways to fight back against decay. Brush & floss properly – Brush your teeth thoroughly twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, and floss daily to keep your teeth healthy. Eat less sugary foods –- Reduce the overall amount of sugar you consume, particularly sticky treats like caramel. Consider rinsing your mouth with water after eating sugar, too. Reduce snacking – Frequent snacking throughout the day contributes to higher overall acid production. Try to avoid snacking on sugary candy or starchy snacks like potato chips and pretzels. Avoid sugary beverages – Minimize your intake of all sugary beverages, and drink mostly water. Rinse your mouth or brush your teeth after drinking any beverage containing a lot of sugar. Eat sugary treats at mealtimes – At this time, saliva production is stimulated to help mitigate acid buildup, and this also helps you avoid snacking. Schedule A Consultation To Help Fight Back Against Cavities! So, why does sugar rot your teeth? Now you know! And in addition to the above steps, you should also see a dentist at Ascent Dental Group every six months for a teeth cleaning and oral exam. Preventive dentistry helps eliminate bacteria-filled plaque from your teeth, and ensures your mouth is clean, healthy, and cavity-free. Contact us online or call now at (303) 975-6987 to schedule an appointment.
When to get your wisdom teeth out
When is the best time to remove wisdom teeth? Well, that entirely depends on your situation. For some people, their wisdom teeth will never cause any problems. These lucky individuals have four more molars that grow in perfectly acceptable to complete their adult teeth. But for most, saying goodbye to their wisdom teeth is a preventive measure to avoid uncomfortable and painful complications. Sometimes, wisdom teeth grow in at problematic angles that can lead them to be trapped within your jaw. This creates an environment that can cause infections or cysts that can wreak havoc on your bone support and teeth roots. Ascent Dental, a dentist in Cherry Creek, Denver, has years of wisdom teeth removal experience and can answer any questions you may have. But before elaborating on when to remove wisdom teeth, let’s start by looking at when they come in. When do wisdom teeth come in? Typically, wisdom teeth start to come in between the ages of 17 and 25. Even though they may not erupt until early adulthood, the formation of wisdom teeth begins much earlier—between the ages of 7 to 10. There are common signs that your wisdom teeth are making their way through your gums, which include: Bleeding or tender gums Swelling of the gums or the jaw Jaw pain An unpleasant taste in the mouth or bad breath Difficulty opening your mouth Though not as commonly reported, headaches and gum infections are also experienced. If that is the case for you, consider it a good indicator that you need to schedule an appointment with your dentist. Wisdom teeth often don’t have enough room to grow, which is why they create problems for many people. The reasons for wisdom tooth removal include: Wisdom teeth become impacted within your jaw Sometimes, wisdom teeth grow in at problematic angles that can lead to the teeth to be trapped within your jaw. This creates an environment that can cause infections or cysts that can wreak havoc on your bone support and teeth roots. Wisdom teeth partially emerge and become a magnet for bacteria. When a wisdom tooth is only partially visible through the gums, it creates a passageway for bacteria. Because these teeth are hard to reach during everyday cleaning, the likelihood of infection is very high. Crowd nearby teeth. Without proper space to grow, wisdom teeth can damage and crowd other teeth that can change your smile’s alignment. From infections to teeth crowding, taking them out is a way to avoid the complications caused by the extra molars. If your wisdom teeth don’t cause any problems and are growing in the right position, then you have nothing to worry about. In any event, it’s a good idea to call your dentist about wisdom teeth and ask if you need to get them removed. Here at Ascent Dental, we have years of experience with wisdom tooth removal. Our dental practice in Denver, Colorado, is always accepting new patients. Contact us today with your questions about wisdom tooth removal or set up an appointment; Ascent Dental is here to help.
Finding the Right Family Dentist
Children and Family Dentistry There are numerous factors to consider when looking for a family dentist. As the name implies, children and family dentistry is about providing dental care for each member of your family. While your kids might not be so fond of the idea, being welcomed by a professional who is patient and gentle can make all of the difference and put your little ones at ease. But how do you find the right practice? When you want to make sure your entire family is comfortable, and their dental care is taken care of, finding top-notch dentistry for the entire family can seem like a daunting task. If you’re new to Denver, Colorado, you may be looking for a new family dentist. Ascent Dental is a great option and located in beautiful Cherry Creek! Regardless of your location, we have some insight into what to consider while searching for a new family dentist. How to find a dentist Whose opinion do you trust the most? From people that you know. But before reaching out to your network, assess your family’s insurance policy to see which dental practices are in your network of coverage. Having your dental care covered by insurance is a cost-saving dealbreaker for most families, and it would be a shame to have your eyes set on a practice, only to discover that you will be the one footing the bill. Once you’ve determined the scope of your search, reach out to relatives, friends, or coworkers familiar with the area. The insight of those in your orbit will likely be helpful and point you to some dentists to consider. You should also look for testimonials and reviews of the practice online. It can often be a good way to get a sense of their reputation and the quality of their services. When you are looking into your options, keep an eye out for pediatric dentistry details and the specific services they provide. There’s nothing more inconvenient than an unavailable dentist when your child is crying because of a terrible toothache. When looking at a potential option, research what services they provide, and if they accept emergencies. Proximity can make a big difference. Ensure that the dentist is located in a convenient and safe area close to where you live. That way, making regular appointments and check-ups will be much less of a hassle. And in the event of an emergency, you can be there quickly. Contact Ascent Dental Group The good news is that most dental offices accept consultations, the perfect tie-breaker if you’re having a hard time choosing between multiple dentists. Here at Ascent Dental in Cherry Creek, we value the long term relationships we build with the families that visit us. Our staff and dental team are extraordinarily friendly and committed to providing care of the highest quality. With years of experience and exceptional care, you know your family will be in great hands. Contact Ascent Dental’s Colorado office today to ask any questions or to book an appointment.