Dental Tips 

FIRST AID DENTAL EMERGENCIES

Toothache

Clean the area around the sore tooth thoroughly. Rinse the mouth vigorously with warm salt water or use dental floss to dislodge trapped food or debris. DO NOT place aspirin on the gum or on the aching tooth. If face is swollen, apply a cold compress. See a dentist as soon as possible.

Cut or Bitten Tongue, Lip or Cheek

Apply ice to bruised areas. If there is bleeding, apply firm but gentle pressure with a clean gauze or cloth. If bleeding does not stop after 15 minutes or it cannot be controlled by simple pressure, go to the nearest hospital for treatment.

Knocked Out Permanent Tooth

Find the tooth. Handle the tooth by the top (crown), not the root portion. You may rinse the tooth, but DO NOT clean or handle the tooth unnecessarily. Try to reinsert it in its socket. Have the patient hold the tooth in place by biting on a clean gauze or cloth. If you cannot reinsert the tooth, transport the tooth in a cup containing milk or water. See a dentist IMMEDIATELY! Time is a critical factor in saving the tooth.

Broken Braces and Wires

If a broken appliance can be removed easily, take it out. If it cannot, cover the sharp or protruding portion with cotton balls, gauze, or chewing gum, cheek, or tongue, DO NOT remove it. Take the patient to a dentist immediately. Loose or broken appliances that don't bother the patient don't usually require emergency attention.

Broken/Fractured Tooth or Filling Falls Out

Rinse the injured area with warm water. Place cold compresses over the face in the area of the injury. Locate and save any broken tooth fragments. Immediate dental attention is necessary.

Bleeding After Baby Tooth Falls Out

Fold and pack a clean gauze or cloth over the bleeding area. Have the child bite on the gauze with pressure for 15 minutes. This may be repeated more than once. If bleeding persists, see a dentist.

Cold/Canker Sores

Many patients occasionally suffer from "cold" or "canker" sores. Usually over-the-counter preparations give relief. Because some serious diseases may begin as sores, it is important to have a dental evaluation if these sores persist.

GLOSSARY OF DENTAL TERMINOLOGY

-A-

* Abscess - infection caused by severe decay, gum disease or trauma.
* Amalgam - a mixture of silver and mercury that has been used for fillings since the mid 1800s. Expands and contracts over time, and may eventually damage or fracture the tooth.
* Anesthetic - an agent that causes loss of sensation with or without the loss of consciousness.
* Anterior Teeth - the teeth in the front of the mouth (centrals, laterals, and cuspids).
* Antiseptic - a chemical agent which can be applied to living tissues to destroy germs.

-B-

* Bleaching - a peroxide based gel used to condition teeth and make them whiter.
* Bonding - a process in which a composite resin is layered onto the teeth, cured with a harmless, high-intensity light, and then sculpted to the desired shape.
* Bridge - one or more artificial teeth attached, usually on both sides, to crowns on adjacent teeth. It is used to maintain space and function for missing teeth.
* Bruxism - unconscious clenching or grinding of teeth, done most often at night.

-C-

* Calculus - hard yellowish deposit on the teeth, consisting of organic secretions and food particles deposited in various salts, such as calcium carbonate. Also called Tartar.
* Canine - another name for Cuspids, canine teeth are the pointy teeth just behind the laterals.
* Cap - slang term for Crown.
* Composite filling - slang for Resin.
* Caries - also known as cavities, caries are decayed and infected teeth.
* Cavity - a small hole in the tooth caused by decay, also known as caries.
* Centrals - the two upper and two lower teeth in the center of your mouth.
* Crown - an artificial tooth, or an artificial cover for a tooth made of porcelain or metal used to repair a decayed or damaged tooth.
* Cuspid - pointy teeth just behind the laterals, also known as Canines.

-D-

* Decalcification - the loss of calcium from teeth which makes them more susceptible to decay.
* Deciduous Teeth - primary or "baby teeth".
* Dental Implant - used to replace missing teeth. Implants are different than bridges in that the implant is permanently attached directly to the jawbone.
* Denture - an artificial set of teeth that is removable, partial or complete.

-E-

* Enamel - a natural, hard substance that protects the portion of the teeth above the gum-line. It is the outermost layer of the clinical crown.
* Endodontic Treatment - refers to Root Canal.
* Equilibration -a process to balance the occlusion and disperse the forces of chewing equally between the teeth.
* Extraction - the removal of teeth (may be simple or require surgery).

-F-

* Filling - restoration of lost tooth structure by using materials such as: metal, alloy, porcelain, or synthetics.
* Fluoride - a chemical solution that is applied to the exposed surface of the teeth to harden them and prevent tooth decay.

-G-

* Gingivitis - inflammation of gum tissue caused by plaque or tartar build up. It can sometimes be recognized by a redness and puffiness of the gums, bleeding of the gums when they're brushed, and sometimes a bad mouth odor, also known as Halitosis.
* Gums - The pink tissues around teeth.

-H-

* Halitosis - the condition of having stale or foul-smelling breath.
* Home Care - daily routine of 2-3 minutes brushing and flossing to keep teeth and gums healthy between dental cleanings. It may involve use of special tools if teeth and gums are affected by periodontal disease.

-I-

* Impacted Tooth - a condition in which a tooth is so crowded in its socket that it cannot erupt normally.
* Implant - see Dental Implant.
* Incisor - another name for the centrals and laterals.

-L-

* Lateral - the teeth adjacent to the centrals.

-N-

* Night Guard - a plastic mouthpiece to prevent damage to the teeth and TMJ from grinding teeth at night. It is also known as Splint.

-O-

* Occlusion - the lower teeth coming into contact with the upper teeth so that they fit together.
* Onlay - a cast or porcelain attached to the occlusal surface of a tooth.
* Orthodontics - the dental specialty and practice of preventing and correcting irregularities of the teeth, as by the use of braces.

-P-

* Periodontics - a branch of dentistry that deals with the study and treatment of periodontal disease (gum disease).
* Periodontitis - a disease that attacks the gum and bone and around the teeth.
* Plaque - a sticky substance that causes tooth decay, and consists of acids and bacteria or salivary substance.
* Posterior Teeth - the teeth in the back of the mouth (bicuspids and molars).
* Primary Teeth - the first set of teeth that come in, also known as "baby teeth" or deciduous teeth.

-R-

* Resin - composite material that can be mixed to match tooth color. It is applied in layers and hardened with high-intensity light. Used for tooth-colored fillings and cosmetic bonding procedures.
* Root - the portion of the tooth that cannot be seen and is below the gum-line.
* Root Canal - it is the cleaning out the inside nerve of a tooth that is heavily decayed, and replacing it with a material seals the inside of the root so infection cannot get back in. Also known as Endodontic Treatment.

-S-

* Sealant - plastic coating applied to grooves of teeth to prevent decay. It is used almost exclusively on the biting surfaces of posterior, or back teeth.
* Secondary Teeth - your permanent teeth, the ones that come to replace the "baby teeth".
* Six Year Molar - also known as the first molar.

-T-

* Tartar - see Calculus.
* Tetracycline - powerful antibiotic that when administered to children can cause permanent discoloration to their developing teeth.
* TMJ (temporomandibular joint) - also known as jaw joint. Refer to Pankey Institute (www.pankey.org).
* TMJ syndrome - a disorder caused by faulty articulation of the temporomandibular joint and characterized by facial pain, headache, ringing ears, dizziness, and stiffness of the neck.
* TMJ Treatment - refers to Equilibration.
* Tooth Whitening - a process to lighten the color of teeth that usually involves some form of bleaching.
* Twelve Year Molar - also known as the second molar.

-V-

* Veneer - A thin piece of porcelain bonded permanently to teeth to change the shape, color, and arrangement of the teeth. Usually veneers are associated with the front teeth and are used to provide an aesthetic covering over the visible surface of a tooth. Some portion of the natural tooth has to be reshaped to make the veneer appear straight and pleasing. This is a permanent change and is not reversible but when correctly done can make a stunning smile.