You Might Laugh: Sedation Dentistry

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Categories: Dental emergency, Sedation Dentistry

At OnCall Dental in Fresno, we handle a wide varitey of urgent dental situations. From weekend warriors who lost a tooth on the playing field to the kid with the severe toothache in the middle of the night, we have pretty much seen it all, and treated it all.

In many cases, patients arrive here in great pain, and are facing painful treatment. Sedation is frequently necessary to treat them quickly, efficiently, and without pain.

One of the most common forms of sedation dentistry is nitrous oxide, better known as laughing gas. It is often described as light sedation, probably because it does not put you to sleep. But nitrous oxide is enough to make most patients feel very relaxed. They may not actually laugh, but in most cases they are able to undergo treatment.

Did you know that nitrous oxide has been used in dentistry for more than a hundred years? It’s true. That’s probably because it is so safe and, above all, effective. It takes effect quickly, wears off quickly, and for the majority of patients, there are no side effects. A minority experience headaches, nausea, shivering, or sweating.

Nitrous oxide is administered through a mask, and is actually a mixture of nitrous and oxygen. It is so safe that it is the sedation method of choice for treating children who are anxious about seeing the dentist.

Remember that at OnCall Dental in Fresno, we handle dental emergencies on a routine basis. They include toothache relief and extractions. You don’t need an appointment; walk-ins are always welcome.

Knocked Out Tooth? No Time to Lose!

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Categories: Dental emergency

There are lots of ways a tooth can get knocked out: from playing contact sports, on the playground, in a bicycle crash, or just roughhousing at home. No matter the cause, a knocked out tooth is an emergency situation, and if it happens, you should make a beeline to OnCall Dental in Fresno.

Of course, when a tooth gets knocked out it is unexpected. There is probably going to be blood, maybe even a lot of blood. There will be pain, too, and shock. It’s important that you keep calm, because time is of the essence.

This is critical: you must act quickly. The chances of having a tooth successfully put back into your jaw decrease sharply after about half an hour.

The first thing to do is locate the knocked out tooth, and make sure you find any fragments. Depending on how it happened, fragments may be on the ground, in your clothing, or in the clothing of a teammate or opponent. A fragment could even be in someone’s hair.

Do not pick the tooth up by the root. Rinse it gently, taking care not to scrub it, then put the tooth back in the gap from where it was just knocked out. If that hurts too much, put it into a small container or wrap it in plastic with a little milk to keep it moist. Milk has proteins that keep a steady acid-to-alkaline ratio. But don’t waste time looking for a carton, if one isn’t handy. You can always moisten it with spit.

By now you should be headed toward OnCall Dental, where we will make every effort to place it back in your jaw. It bears repeating that the sooner we get to it, the better. Blood vessels and other surrounding tissue have also been damaged, and a root canal may be necessary somewhere down the road. Even so, the tooth can take root and be saved.

Remember that at OnCall Dental in Fresno, we handle dental emergencies on a routine basis. You don’t need an appointment; walk-ins are always welcome.

Stuck! Dental Emergency in Fresno

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Not all foods are created equal, and some have greater tendency than others to get stuck between your teeth. Is there a better example than popcorn? When you get food stuck between teeth, there are some things you should definitely not do, and some things you can do, up to and including seeing us at OnCall Dental in Fresno.

First things first: never, repeat never, use metal tools to get something, food or otherwise, that is wedged between your teeth. It might seem like a good idea. Something like, say, a pocketknife is thin, rigid, and with a pointed end. But you run a huge risk of scraping tooth enamel, or damaging your gums, or both.

Your best bet is to try getting the object unstuck with your tongue. Even then, take care. If it doesn’t come out right away, stop. A better trick is to swish a little water around in your mouth to try loosening it.

Another trick you can try involves a toothpick. Carefully place a toothpick between the two teeth where the piece of food is stuck. Gently push it in enough so that it stayed in place, and then wait for a few minutes. The teeth should move, ever so slightly. Give the toothpick one more little nudge. Then remove the toothpick and try dental floss.

But it bears repeating: do not use any metal tools. And while we’re at it, don’t use force, either. Better to make a beeline to OnCall Dental in Fresno. You don’t need an appointment; walk-ins are always welcome. We provide emergency dental care, including toothache relief.

Don’t Ignore That Toothache!

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Categories: Dental emergency, Emergency Dentist

Pain is your body’s way of telling you there’s a problem. That includes toothache pain. You might be tempted to ignore a toothache, but that would be a mistake. Before you know it, what was a small problem can turn into something urgent, requiring a trip to OnCall Dental in Fresno.

Many people dismiss toothaches as a minor inconvenience. But trust us: no toothache has ever fixed itself.

There are a lot of reasons for toothaches. Some may be minor, like a popcorn kernel stuck between a tooth and your gum. That might not sound very severe, but sometimes it’s necessary to have popcorn kernels removed by a dentist.

Other causes for toothaches are more alarming:

  • Cracked tooth
  • Tooth decay
  • Lost filling
  • Damaged bridge or crown
  • Infection
  • An abcess

Some of these issues can cause an awful lot of pain. And if there is an infection involved, it could get to the tooth’s root. This could require a root canal, or even an extraction.

To complicate things, there is the likelihood that a toothache could get worse, and require immediate attention, at the least convenient time: the middle of the night, or over the weekend, when most dentist offices are closed. If that happens, remember OnCall Dental – Fresno. We are providers of emergency dental care, including toothache relief. Walk-ins are always welcome.

What’s A Dental Emergency?

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Categories: Dental emergency, Gum disease, Injury, Tooth pain, Toothaches

What constitutes a dental emergency? The dictionary says an emergency is an unforeseen crisis requiring immediate action. At OnCall Dental in Fresno, we think that’s about as good a definition as you’re going to find.

Here’s our quick summary of five common dental emergencies:

  • A broken or chipped tooth. This certainly meets the standard of an emergency. Whether it’s the result of an injury, or because of brittle teeth, a broken or chipped tooth could lead to unwanted consequences if it is not treated promptly.
  • Jaw injuries. If you’ve broken your jaw then a trip to the emergency room is probably in order. But a dentist should also be in the loop. He or she will evaluate your oral cavity and teeth to see whether they have also sustained damage.
  • Severe toothache. The sooner treatment for a severe toothache begins, the better. A bad toothache could indicate tooth decay, and there could be infection that threatens the tooth. The sooner treatment begins, the better the chances of saving the tooth.
  • Bleeding gums. This may indicate gum disease. As with a toothache, prompt treatment is best. When it is caught and treated in its earliest stages, gum disease is curable. If is also preventable with brushing and flossing twice a day.
  • Knocked out tooth. If you have a tooth knocked out, make a beeline for the nearest urgent dental care. An emergency room will do. Time is of the essence. If it is treated within an hour or so there is an excellent chance the tooth can be saved.

All of these emergencies can be dealt with effectively if you seek immediate dental care. OnCall Dental in Fresno is an important resource for emergency dental care. Walk-ins are always welcome.

Walks-ins Welcome: Emergency Dentistry in Fresno

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Categories: Dental emergency, Emergency Dentist, Extractions, General Dentist, Root Canal Treatment, Tooth pain, Toothaches

When you have a dental emergency, it means you have some kind of pain, and  maybe a whole lot of it. Waiting for an available dentist is out of the question. At OnCall Dental in Fresno, emergency dental care is available and walk-ins are always welcome.

Why is it that dental emergencies always seem to happen on the weekend? Maybe it’s because we get busier then, and are more likely to injure a tooth by playing sports, or falling off a bicycle. We also go the movies more often on the weekends. It’s hard to resist a bucket of popcorn, but if you bite down wrong on a kernel you can damage a tooth.

While it may be true that most dental emergencies are not as severe as other medical emergencies, they’re still serious. Issues with your teeth can cause a special type of pain, and you should see a dentist as soon as possible.

At OnCall Dental, we can treat:

  • Severe toothache
  • Broken or chipped teeth
  • Knocked out tooth
  • Object stuck between the teeth
  • Bitten tongue or lip

Even if you have never been to OnCall Dental in Fresno, we will treat you if you have an emergency. We are here to serve you when you need it the most. Walk-ins are welcome and you don’t need to call ahead.

 

Keep Us On Speed Dial: Oncall Dental

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Categories: Dental emergency, Emergency Dentist, Extractions, Root Canal Treatment, Tooth pain, Toothaches

The phone number for OnCall Dental in Fresno is one of those you might want to have on your speed dial, or at least taped onto the front of your refrigerator.

On the other hand, you don’t need an appointment and walk-ins are always welcome. We know that you can never predict a dental emergency. From a knocked out tooth to a cracked tooth, from a bit tongue to a toothache, unpredictability is the nature of the beast.

If you have a dental emergency, remember that we’re here for you. Of course, the best thing to do is to not have an emergency in the first place. That’s why we encourage all of our patients to take good care of their teeth by brushing and flossing twice a day. When you participate in sports, always wear a mouth guard. And never chew on ice or hard candy – let it melt in your mouth.

But we know that all the precautions in the world won’t prevent dental emergencies from happening. Toothaches can get worse and need an after-hour root canals, and sometimes teeth get knocked out. At OnCall Dental in Fresno, we offer night and weekend hours, with services and availability seven days a week. You don’t have to call ahead, and we accept most dental insurance.

Relieving Toothache Pain in Fresno

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When you have a bad toothache, there’s no time to lose. Getting the care of a dentist as soon as possible is your number one priority. That makes OnCall Dental in Fresno an invaluable service.

Tooth pain may be sharp, throbbing, or constant, or it may only happen when there is pressure applied, like when you chew your food. It may include swelling around the tooth, or even in your face, and may even be accompanied by a fever or a headache. When it gets that bad, don’t delay: get help as soon as possible.

A toothache is your body telling you that there’s a problem. The most common cause of a toothache is a cavity. If that’s the case, then we’ll fill it right away. If it’s a really bad cavity, we may have to extract it.

If the tooth is infected, it may be necessary to do a root canal. If that is the only option, don’t worry: root canals relieve pain, they don’t cause it. We’ll numb the infected area before beginning, and if necessary, we’ll provide sedation.

Whatever it is that’s causing your toothache, we’ll identify it and treat it accordingly. It may be after hours for other practices, but OnCall Dental in Fresno is there to treat you. You can call ahead if you want to, but walk-ins are always welcome.

Contact OnCall Dental – Fresno: 599-477-4553

Pull It Now! Wisdom Teeth in Fresno

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Categories: Dental emergency, Emergency Dentist, Extractions, Root Canal Treatment, Tooth pain, Toothaches, Wisdom tooth

Impacted wisdom teeth have a way of getting your attention. That’s because they can be so painful. OnCall Dental in Fresno is there for you.

For most people, wisdom teeth come in during their late teens or early twenties. That’s the age when most of us getting a little wisdom about life, too – hence the term, “wisdom teeth.” Dentists frequently recommend extracting wisdom teeth as a preventive measure, and when they’re extracted early in life it’s a fairly straightforward procedure.

And yet, wisdom teeth can become painfully impacted at any age, before we get around to having them pulled. Impacted means they’re crowding your jaw, which can lead to complications, including abscesses and gum disease. They can also damage the teeth alongside them.

Symptoms of an impacted wisdom tooth include:

  • Red or swollen gums
  • Tender gums
  • Bleeding gums
  • Swollen jaw
  • Bad breath

It’s easy to see why so many dentists recommend extraction as a preventive measure. (By the way, wisdom teeth have nothing to do with wisdom. If they did, we probably would not extract so many!)

If any of your wisdom teeth begin giving you pain and you’re in need of immediate attention, contact OnCall Dental in Fresno. We also offer emergency root canals, and treat toothaches. Walk-ins are always welcome. We can bill all PPO insurance policies, and are currently contracted with Delta Dental Premier, Aetna, Cigna and ASI.

Contact OnCall Dental – Fresno: 599-477-4553

A Phone Call Away: Emergency Dental Care in Fresno

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Categories: Emergency Dentist, Extractions, General Dentist, Tooth pain, Toothaches

Taking good care of your teeth means more than just brushing and flossing twice a day. It also means taking the necessary precautions that come with any active lifestyle.

If you’re an athlete, or if your son or daughter is an athlete, they should always wear a mouth guard – at practice, and on game day. The more rugged the sport the more important a mouth guard is, but even supposedly non-contact sports, like basketball, have more than their fair share of bumps and bruises.

Bumps and bruises, and mouth injuries. Accidents happen. Players collide, or catch an errant ball in the mouth. Common types of mouth injuries any athlete is at risk of getting, even with a mouth guard, include cracked, broken, or even knocked-out teeth. With prompt emergency care from a dental professional, most of these injuries can be treated successfully.

Of course, a lot of games, especially at the amateur level, take place on weekends, when most dental offices are closed. At OnCall Dental in Fresno, we’re just a phone call away. In fact, you don’t even need a phone. If you or your young athlete suffer a mouth injury, make a beeline to our office. Walk-ins are always welcome, and you’ll receive excellent dental care. We also provide general dentistry, including extractions, and treatment for toothaches. We accept most PPO insurance plans.

Contact OnCall Dental – Fresno: 599-477-4553