What Every Parent Should Know

Most parents likely panic when their young children should suddenly have a dental emergency. It’s important to know what to do next to better manage an otherwise nerve-wracking situation. Here are some of the most common emergencies and what it takes to have you calm and prepared.

A broken tooth

A cracked or broken tooth needs to be attended to right away by your dentist even if the damage does not look extensive. However, immediately rinse the mouth with warm water to clean the area, and, if swelling is present, apply cold compresses on the area of the face to lessen swelling. See your child’s dentist as soon as possible.

A knocked-out tooth

If a tooth has been knocked-out and is a permanent one, keep it moist in a container of milk or a tooth preservation product that will keep the tooth alive for 24 hours until a dentist can replant it. If it’s a baby tooth, there is no need to moisten it but must be brought to the dentist as well if it is found.

A loose tooth

It is best to leave the loose tooth in place though it may be a discomfort to the child. Let nature take its course, falling out without assistance. A permanent tooth coming loose may be the result of injury or trauma and needs to be attended to right away at the dentist.

A toothache

Firstly clean the area by rinsing the mouth with warm water. Remove any food debris caught in between teeth. Do not use aspirin. If the pain persists, contact your child’s dentist. It may indicate the presence of tooth decay.

Swelling gums

It may or may not be painful. See your dentist right away. It can indicate the presence of an infection of the gums.

Bitten tongue or lip

If your child bites his tongue or lip, clean the area gently with water and apply a cold compress. See your child’s dentist or go to the emergency room as soon as possible.

Broken jaw

If you think your child’s jaw is broken, apply cold compresses to control the swelling. Go to your child’s dentist or a hospital emergency department immediately.

Accidents can happen anywhere and any time. Always keep your dentist’s contact information handy.

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Available Dental Emergency Treatments in Issaquah

At Meadow Creek Dental, a dental emergency is our priority. Whether you walk in or call ahead, we make every effort to accommodate dental emergencies on the same day.

Clear Aligners Versus Braces

There are many reasons to choose Invisalign over the traditional teeth straighteners – braces. While braces still work for others, Invisalign has more amazing benefits. It also has its downside, though. You’ll know if Invisalign is for you by reading on.

For starters, Invisalign does away with metal braces and wires. The brand uses soft, flexible patented plastic called SmartTrack. They come in trays. Aside from being more comfortable to wear, it gives you a clear, neat look that is barely there. Generally, no one will suspect you are under treatment for crooked teeth, so it is more aesthetically pleasing. It is designed to be more gentle on your tissues and hence, more comfortable.

Invisalign is removable, unlike conventional braces. You can take it off during meals and afterwards attach it again. No worries about what you want to eat; you can enjoy apples or any crunchy food without fear of breaking your straighteners; because they’re off while you eat. They are also very easy to clean, unlike braces; let alone cleaning your teeth while with braces. You can go on without bother while engaging in brushing and flossing your teeth. Henceforth, you deter the likelihood of developing cavities or plaque buildup as your aligners are not permanently attached.

While under treatment, you are provided with backup aligner trays. In cases that you might crack or break a tray, you always have a reserve. Likewise, it can happen that you lose a tray or misplace it. You do not need to rush to your orthodontist for an emergency appointment.

There are a couple of downsides to Invisalign, though. Using Invisalign requires a certain degree of compliance. This means that even forgetting to reapply your aligners, even by just a few hours, you could set your progress back. Remember that Invisalign requires some 20 to 22 hours each day of wearing.

Another issue is that Invisalign may not work for certain teeth misalignment issues. It’s not effective for complex bite problems, it’s not used for impacted teeth, too large spaces, or presence of bridgework. This suggests Invisalign is more effective for people whose teeth require only certain kinds of movement.

Nonetheless, a visit to your orthodontist can clear up things for you and help you determine if Invisalign is the best teeth aligner for you.

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Finding More Benefits of Invisalign in Issaquah

When you think that Invisalign might be an option for you, knowing their benefits over braces, come see your certified Invisalign professional here at Meadow Creek Dental. We are happy to help.

Saying Yes To A Clear Solution

If you are thinking of fixing that smile, that could have been perfect except that it’s a bit crooked, you might want to consider Invisalign. Know about Invisalign and why it’s a popular option to fix crooked teeth.

It is actually a brand name of clear aligners to straighten out-of-place teeth. Unlike conventional teeth straighteners called braces, it’s almost unnoticeable, removable, and made up of soft plastic. Of course, just as braces, they are custom-made to fit your particular mouth and issues and works similarly by gradually straightening a person’s teeth. It is easy to use as it does away with wires and metal brackets that can leave some users uncomfortable.

How does Invisalign actually work?

Firstly, you must consult with an Invisalign dentist, who must be an orthodontist certified in Invisalign. Once evaluated and settled, your dental professional should get a precise 3D digital scan of your teeth and this will be the basis of your custom treatment plan.

Invisalign typically utilizes small ridges glued to certain teeth that are called attachments and they are the same color as your teeth. These attachments are three-dimensional and critical to achieve the goal. The aligners have corresponding ‘bumps’ built into the flexible plastic so as to engage with the attachments on the teeth. This engagement generates the specific force system. Invisalign moves teeth in micro-increments, just enough force with each change of movement until the desired position is reached.

Wearing your Invisalign keeps the pressure consistent to your teeth, gradually breaking down and rebuilding bone in the direction of the pressure. They are worn 20 to 22 hours a day and meant to be removed while eating or drinking. Depending on your orthodontist, you’ll have a change of aligners every one or two weeks. Once the goal is reached, a transparent retainer must be worn to keep the teeth in position, however, only to be worn at night.

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Having Confidence with Invisalign in Issaquah

When you’re looking to improve your smile and confidence with Invisalign, do visit your Issaquah dentist here at Meadow Creek Dental. We’ll tell you more about Invisalign and how it can change your life.

Rinsing Your Mouth

Do you brush your teeth after every meal? Do you floss after eating? It may be inconvenient to brush and floss after each meal, but did you know just rinsing your mouth can offer several benefits for oral health?

Removing food particles

Rinsing your mouth with water or mouthwash after eating helps dislodge and wash away food particles that may be stuck between your teeth or along the gumline. This helps prevent the buildup of plaque and reduces the risk of tooth decay and gum disease.

Reducing acidity

Acidic foods and beverages can erode tooth enamel over time. Rinsing your mouth with water after consuming acidic substances helps dilute and neutralize the acids, minimizing their harmful effects on your teeth.

Freshening breath

Rinsing your mouth with mouthwash can provide a fresh feeling and help combat bad breath. Mouthwash often contains ingredients that help kill bacteria and reduce oral odor, leaving your breath smelling pleasant.

Promoting gum health

Using an antimicrobial mouthwash can help reduce the presence of harmful bacteria in your mouth, which can contribute to gum disease. Rinsing with an appropriate mouthwash can help control bacterial growth and promote healthier gums.

Supporting healing after dental procedures

Rinsing with a prescribed mouthwash or a saltwater solution as recommended by your dentist can aid in the healing process after dental procedures such as extractions or oral surgeries. It can help keep the area clean, reduce inflammation, and promote faster healing.

Supplementing brushing and flossing

While rinsing is not a substitute for brushing and flossing, it can complement these essential oral hygiene practices. Rinsing can reach areas that may be difficult to access with a toothbrush or floss, providing an additional layer of cleanliness.

Remember, it’s important to choose the right mouthwash for your specific needs. Consult with your dentist to determine which type of mouthwash or rinse is most suitable for your oral health requirements.

To Extract Or Not To Extract

There are many cases of third molars causing problems and dental professionals see them happening in their patients with overcrowded teeth. Studies have shown potential issues with impacted third molars and dentists may or may not recommend extraction.

Third molars have the potential to cause disease. In fact, the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (or the AAOMS) states that links exist. It recommends that active monitoring is necessary when it comes to wisdom teeth that carry complications.

Many dentists will recommend tooth extraction if a wisdom tooth is impacted, if it causes pain and discomfort, or if it damages the neighboring tooth, or has the potential to cause damage to both teeth and jaw bone. If there are no symptoms of pain or swelling in an impacted tooth, your dentist cannot accurately say if the tooth will cause problems. Nonetheless, X-ray results may give clues regarding the angle of pathway of the third molar and how it may push against the adjacent tooth.

How do dentists manage and treat impacted third molars?

If the wisdom teeth erupt properly and fully, dentists often leave them alone, assured that they can be cleaned easily. If they erupt as impacted, many dentists and oral surgeons in the US suggest removing impacted wisdom teeth. It’s a preventive measure against tooth decay and gum disease.

There’s a 2021 study where under 30% of third molars were removed via extraction while more than 70% were removed with justifiable reasons. On the other hand, a 2017 study showed half of their cases that present no symptoms were referred for surgery; the other 36% received referrals for preventive purposes.

So it looks like patients have their wisdom teeth removed whether they are causing issues or not. It is still debatable, though, if asymptomatic molars should be pulled out. According to an AAOMS review, however, it is more likely that a wisdom tooth will cause a worsened periodontal status than a tooth that will not have one.

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Helping You Decide on Your Wisdom Teeth in Issaquah

If you are having issues with your third molars, come see us at Meadow Creek Dental. Let your Issaquah dentist assist you in decision-making regarding problematic wisdom teeth.

The Wisdom Tooth

Typically the human mouth should have room enough for 32 permanent teeth. But it doesn’t always happen that way. The last teeth to grow in may find they have little or no space, and that’s where the problem lies.

Known as third molars, these last teeth to grow in are part of the 32 teeth appearing each at the end of the upper and lower gums, right in the back of the mouth. A person between the ages of 17 and 21 years usually goes through this coming out of the four wisdom teeth. It does not always cause problems when they appear, except when they become trapped under the gums or in the jaw.

What sort of issues can they cause?

It can happen that the one’s jaw may be too small to accommodate the last tooth, leaving no space for an emerging molar. This may cause it to come out instead at an atypical angle, or only partially. You now have an impacted third molar. Crowding happens, with swelling and pain, discomfort in the jaw, pain in the ear area, an infection, and other complications. In rare instances a person can have more than four third molars.

Wisdom teeth that grow in a different position, like sideways, can cause pain and damage adjacent teeth. Sometimes there seems to be no apparent damage or even no pain or discomfort that accompanies it. However, just its angle and position enables difficulty of cleaning. Often tooth brushing or flossing is insufficient or lacking, and that leads to buildup of plaque and cavities. This is how infection and decay can set in.

Additionally, a resultant overcrowding may necessitate orthodontic treatments to correct the crooked teeth. If the tooth happens to grow into a sac in the jawbone, a cyst can form and this growth can damage the nerves, cause the jawbone to swell, and even damage the adjacent tooth. The normal tooth just beside the impacted tooth becomes more prone to cavities as it pushes against it. In rare cases, a non-malignant tumor may grow beside it.

Can you still keep your wisdom tooth as long as you practice good oral hygiene? Yes, you can. However, periodic dental checkups are necessary to monitor changes in your mouth. See your dentist regularly.

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Looking After Your Wisdom Teeth in Issaquah

When you’re around the age your wisdom teeth are erupting, see your friendly Issaquah dentist here at Meadow Creek Dental. It’s alway best to be guided accordingly to foresee potential problems.