By Arthur Kezian
Okay, so you're not a successful dentist. So, what do you do if you run into problems with your smile?
Read the answers to these 3 questions. That way, the next time you encounter a dental emergency, you'll be prepared to deal with it!
1. "How do I know if I'm having a dental emergency?"
This can actually be a tricky question to answer, because some dental emergencies are less dramatic than others. If you lose a tooth in a tennis match, you know it's an emergency! But what if you're not in blinding pain? What if you just have a nagging ache that won't go away? Should you call your emergency dentist?
Yes!
Anytime your teeth don't feel quite right, you should call an emergency dentist and arrange to have it checked out. After all, better safe than sorry!
2. "What if it looks worse than it feels?"
Some dental emergencies look downright awful -- like a filling that falls out or a tooth that cracks when you're out to dinner -- but don't hurt, at least, not right away. Does that mean it's not a true emergency?
No!
In either of those cases, the integrity of your tooth has been compromised. All it takes is a couple of innocent little bites to cause major damage to your already-weakened tooth. And, trust me, that's something that's going to hurt a whole lot!
Even if you're not in any pain, it's better to pay a dental professional a visit right away. That way, you can prevent minor issues from turning into major, expensive, invasive problems.
3. "What's the harm in waiting?"
Waiting to call your emergency dentist is like inviting pain. After all, dental pain -- or any other kind of pain -- doesn't just go away all by itself. Before you know it, that dull ache can turn into a mind-numbing throb.
Plus, the longer you wait to call your Los Angeles emergency dentist, the higher your odds of suffering permanent tooth damage. In fact, even relatively minor tooth problems can quickly escalate into nerve damage. After all, each of your teeth is connected to a network of tissues, nerve endings, and blood vessels. If any one of those things is damaged, it can lead to major -- and permanent -- problems.
Sadly, dental emergencies can lead to problems for your entire body if you ignore them long enough. For example, if one of your teeth is infected and you don't do anything to take care of it, that infection can spread to other parts of your body -- leaving you feeling terrible all over!
Dr. Arthur A. Kezian DDS 443 N. Larchmont Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90004 (323) 467-2777
-N.S.
