Preventable Dental
EMERGENCY D O N’ T
ENAMEL CARIES
L E T
I T
S T O P
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Y O U
T R A C K S
ne of the most innovative developments in automobiles is the tire pressure monitoring system that automatically lets you know your tire pressure. It’s very handy, of course, until you are following your child’s bus to his class field trip and get a slow leak that you anxiously watch drop one psi at a time between Fort Worth and San Antonio. Don’t worry, I made it just in time (with 20 psi to spare), but unfortunately in dentistry, our teeth and gums usually lack the ability to give us immediate warning signs to oncoming emergencies.
examinations, most patients are aware of
the necessity to have their teeth cleaned,
but it is also important that your teeth and
gums are monitored for potential tooth or gum disease. Considering that even the
most diligent dental patient is seen twice a year, a lot can occur within six months
when it comes to oral health and catching it early can make all the difference.
When it comes to monitoring tooth decay,
oftentimes the lesion is located in between the teeth, and only a dental radiograph
will illustrate its presence. Small cavities PULPITIS
Y O U R
by Dr. Matt Artho
When making routine dental
DENTIN CARIES
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on the chewing surfaces may initially
appear as a stain unless checked by your
dentist. Decay that is unchecked can grow resulting in a great loss of tooth structure or fracture. By the time a tooth begins to
feel pain from extensive decay, it is likely close to the nerve requiring a root canal or extraction. Gum health is also recorded during routine examinations. Periodontal disease is often called the silent dental disease, as it is unnoticeable if not monitored. Bacteria beneath the gums will cause inflammation that results in bone loss around the teeth that cannot be regained. Excessive bone loss could potentially lead to tooth loss. Any of these conditions could quickly cause an unwanted and unexpected emergency. The best method to avoid a dental emergency is to be prepared and preventative. Make sure to keep up your homecare and don’t miss those essential dental appointments.
940.455.7645 | www.CountryLakesDental.com PERIODONTITIS 30 | LANTANA LIVING | NOVEMBER 2020
info@countrylakesdental.com | 74 McMakin Road | Bartonville, TX 76226
www.LantanaLiving.com
