Posts Tagged ‘Dental Emergencies’

Dentistry can bring on night sweats, rapid heart beat, hyperventilation and all of the symptoms of a huge anxiety rush.  This type of feeling is usually felt before a dental appointment for those who have had bad experiences.

These bad events can stay with people for decades.  The level of fear can last for many years because the fear is ingrained into that person’s memory.  Because we deal with very close spaces and are directly in one of the most sensitive and personal areas on the human body trust must be one of the most importent issues that the dental patient must have.

Modern dentistry has equipped ourselves to deal with these issues to make visits much more comfortable.  For example, we use sedation to put people in a state where they have no memory of their procedure and are very relaxed when they get to the office and during the procedures.  It also allows for them to get many services done at one visit so they don’t have to continually return to our office.  Another option is to plug in a DVD into our virtual reality glasses and watch a movie.

It is critical to have dental procedures pain free.  Anesthetics properly administered do a great job in controlling pain and therefore anxiety, and as a result trust starts to become developed.

Because fear comes from a loss of control it is very important that you are in complete control of the procedure and have a way of stopping if you need a break or are in pain and in need of additional anesthesia.

Anxiety stems from fear of the unknown and when you are not sure the anxiety increases.  It is also very helpful if all of your questions are answered when you need additional information.

Because relationships are so important and can’t be stressed enough we have personal interviews with the patient so that their needs are met and so that there are no misunderstandings.

Please don’t let your bad experiences affect your present condition. Modern dentistry emphasizes prevention over all other things so do yourself a favor and don’t delay this any longer.   Your needs will be met and you will be comfortable having treatment as this is my promise. You will be amazed at how easy and user friendly dental care can be.

It is easier said than done, but don’t be embarrassed if you haven’t been to a dentist in years and are afraid of past judgments from the dentist.   A modern dentist will help you look forward to your future care and would never lecture you.

Dental emergencies seem to appear at the most inappropriate times.  Toothaches, broken teeth, abscesses and infections seem to happen when a big event is ready to take place usually when your immune system seems to be at its lowest point.

Toothaches develop usually when the nerve becomes exposed.  Cracks in the teeth or cavities make the tooth vunerable to infections.  As the tooth is left open food and bacteria come into close proximity to the nerve and small blood vessels.  The bacteria penetrates the nerve and transfers down into the deeper part of the tooth and eventually deeper into the bone.  The pain associated with this shifts from a sharp short term type of pain to a deep throbbing sensation.  If the area is not treated the dental infection in the bone continues to grow creating pressure in the bone.  After a while the pressure from the puss starts pressing and decomposing the bone until it hits the soft tissue that covers the bone.  When the dental infection reaches the soft tissue there is no way to contain it and this is when you can become very swollen. This becomes dangerous  as the infection can get not only into the blood system, but can invade the neck or even the brain.

The progress of this can be very short for some people or longer for others.  The body’s immune system is what keeps infections under control.  During stressful times the immune system becomes challenged and then the infections that seemed to not be a problem all of a sudden seem to take over.  The key is to treat the problem before it takes over.

I had a patient I recently treated who was going on vacation the next day and flying.  She developed a large swelling in a cheek area from teeth that

There are many ways to select a new dentist and I would like to have you consider some of the factors I feel that are important when selecting a new dentist for yourself and family.  10 traits customers look for when choosing a new dentist and a new dental home are as follows:

1. Personal Referrals-They usually ask a family member or friend where they go to and if they are happy with the service and level of care they get. We find that many of our new dental patients come from personal referrals and reputation in the Macomb, Shelby Twp., Clinton Township community.
2. Homey atmosphere-Since dentistry is such a personal thing, selecting a new dentist for you and your family must assure that you will feel comfortable with the environment, people who serve you and total atmosphere.  Details from the reception area to the bathroom must feel like yours at home.  You must also be treated with respect and feel listened to.  Since your time is so vital, it is important to get in when your dental appointment is and not be waiting for an extended period of time.
3. Sterility of equipment and  Cleanliness-A new dental  home needs to be not only comfortable, but must conform to the strictest OSHA guidelines to make certain that you and your family are safe.  Everything must be sterilized or thrown away that was previously used in someone else’s mouth.  The sterilizer must be monitored to make certain that it is always working properly.  Treatment rooms must be wiped down all the time and be very clean.  Before choosing a new dentist home it is your right to ask for a tour and ask how things are sterilized and taken care of.  We love to show off our level of attention to detail at our dental office so please ask.
4. Technology- Computers and high technology are a must to make sure the new dentist you choose is current.  The advancements in dentistry require technology such as computers in each room, digital x-rays that reduce radiation exposure up to 75% over regular x-rays, digital photos to relate with the patient.  Paperless charting and paperless forms help to speed the process of filling all necessary forms before even stepping into the dental office.  Lasers and sonic cleaners used to clean the teeth help improve the comfort in treating dental patients.
5. Full spectrum of dental services including emergency care-This is important because it allows for consistency of dental treatment.  Communication can be difficult between general dentists and specialists so if  you find a new dentist who provides a complete level of dental care you can also have more dental treatment done in fewer visits and therefore it is more convenient.  For our high fear patients or those who want a lot of dental treatment at once oral sedation is available.   At our dental office we perform both the surgical placement and restorative aspect of implants; complete cosmetic dentistry including porcelain veneers, Zoom whitening, white fillings, and bleaching.  Root canal, tooth extractions, dentures, crowns, bridges and other general dental treatment is performed in the office.
6. Interest Free Payment Plans-Because dentistry can be a large financial investment finding a new dentist who has interest free plans available is important.  This gives the customer the ability to have more procedures done at one time and spreading out the payments over time.  They must also accept all of the major credit cards including Master Card, Visa, American Express and Discover.
7. Accept dental insurance plans-Each dental insurance plan is different so it is important to call the new dental office to see if they participate with your dental insurance plan.  You certainly get what you pay for especially when it comes to dental insurance.  Be aware that if it seems too good to be true, it probably isn’t.  The expertise of the dentist and dental team are a reflection of the fees they charge.  We accept Delta Dental, Blue Cross and other dental insurance plans and or fees are in the middle of the road so we may or may not be the dentist for you, but it is worth it to see if we take your denal insurance plan.
8. Time spent Explaining and having all of your questions answered- This is important because in this rushed world our biggest commodity is the time we have so it is important to respect the patient’s time- giving them the time they need for all of their questions to be answered.  And at the same time, not spend too much time and too much detail if the new patient doesn’t need the detail to make a decision.
9. Community involvement-it is important to give back to the community both locally and internationally.  I believe that your new dental team should give back to those who they serve.  We do this through our Candy Buy Back program, our Good Deed contest and through Christian mission in Haiti to treat the under privileged people there.
10. Convenient location, wheelchair access and office hours-It is important to have easy access with ample parking, wheel chair access and convenient office hours including evenings and Saturdays.  If you choose The Gentle Dentist as your new dental office we have Saturdays and evening appointments.  Since we are in a detached medical office building located on 22 Mile Rd. just west of Hayes in Shelby Township, it is easy for us to treat “wheel chaired” patients.

Dr. Antolak treats his dental patients in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere where you are treated like a guest in the home.  His motto is to “relax while we take care of your smile”. He specializes in cosmetic dentistry, implant dentistry and general dentistry using sedation dentistry if necessary for his high fear patients. He has been treating patients for the past 21 years and is located in Shelby Township, Macomb County, Michigan.

Give us a call at (586)247-3500 or email DrAntolak@TheGentleDentist.com for more information.