Does your toothache or throb? Our Flint, MI, endodontist and periodontist, Dr. Frank Gordon, discusses treatment options for toothaches.

Caring for your toothache at home

Although toothaches should be evaluated by a dentist, there are a few things you can do to ease your pain until it's time for your appointment. Over-the-counter anti-inflammatories, like ibuprofen and naproxen sodium, can decrease pain. Applying ice and rinsing your mouth with warm salt water may also provide temporary relief of pain.

Fillings

If your pain is caused by a cavity, you'll need a filling. Fillings fill the space in your mouth after the decayed part of your tooth has been removed.

Sensitive teeth treatments

Does your pain occur when you eat or drink hot or cold foods and beverages? You may have sensitive teeth. If weak tooth enamel is the cause, a fluoride treatment to strengthen your enamel may be helpful. Pain that occurs due to exposed roots can be treated by applying bonding material to the roots. You may also need gum disease treatment in our Flint office if your exposed roots are caused by receding gums.

Root canal therapy

Toothaches may also be caused by an inflammation or infection in the pulp, the soft core at the center of the tooth. The problem can occur if frequent dental procedures have weakened your tooth, if tooth decay has spread to the pulp or if you've fractured or injured your tooth. Once the pulp is inflamed or infected, the only way to save it is by performing a root canal on the tooth. Infections must also be treated with antibiotics. If they aren't treated promptly, the infection can spread to other parts of your body.

During a root canal, the pulp is removed from your tooth and the root canals, the small canals that reach from the roots to the top of your tooth. The treatment also involves disinfecting the center of your tooth and your canals and shaping the canals with small files. In most cases, you'll receive a temporary filling during your first visit to allow adequate time for drainage. When you return for your second visit, you'll be given a permanent filling to strengthen the tooth. You may also need a dental crown to protect your tooth after the procedure.

Are you concerned about an aching tooth? Call our Flint, MI, endodontist and periodontist, Dr. Gordon, at (810) 230-0990 to schedule an appointment.

When you’re experiencing tooth pain in Flint, MI, it’s important to seek professional dental care immediately. Dr. Frank Gordon Jr. is well versed in treating patients of all ages. Tooth sensitivity is perhaps the biggest sign that something is off in your teeth and gums.

Tooth Pain Causes

Dental cavities are perhaps the most common cause of tooth pain or toothaches in patients. Gum disease is perhaps the second most common cause of a toothache. However, every one’s situation is different, that’s why it’s important to see a dentist for tooth pain in Flint.

The degree of pain caused by a toothache can vary from chronic to sharp and excruciating. It’s best to not ignore even the slightest pain as it may be a sign of something wrong that lead to infection, severe pain and/or future dental treatments. Sometimes a tooth can be saved early on without the need for root canal or extraction.

Some of the most common causes for tooth pain include:

• Space between a crown/filling at the gum line
• Broken tooth
• Grinding or clenching
• Tooth decay in the root or at the gum line
• A crown/filling that is too high / improper bite
• Cold or hot beverages or foods (tooth sensitivity)

Most dentists can agree that dull tooth pain can be the most serious type as it usually means that the nerve inside the tooth has been damaged in some way. Typically, root canal treatment is required with this situation.

Neglecting tooth pain or a toothache can be catastrophic. It’s best to schedule an appointment with Dr. Gordon Jr., your Flint, MI dentist, to have a full examination to determine the cause of your pain. He has years of experience treating a variety of patients and can’t wait to help you to see relief from your pain. To schedule an appointment to discuss your tooth pain, call his office at 810-230-0990.

If your gums are swollen or bleed when brushing, those are signs of possible gum disease. Also known as periodontal disease, gum disease is a bacterial infection of the gums. If left untreated, the infection can spread and weaken the supporting structures of the teeth, which can cause teeth to loosen over time and ultimately require extraction. Gum disease can be prevented by practicing good oral hygiene at home, as well as through regular dental checkups and cleanings. Dr. Frank Gordon is your Flint, MI, dentist, here to treat gum disease and help with prevention.

Signs of Gum Disease

There are several signs of gum disease and they are important to notice. Treating gum disease early on can stop the infection from spreading and causing other periodontal problems. If you have developed any of the following signs of gum disease, see a Flint dentist soon. Signs of gum disease include:

• Swollen, tender or red gums
• Gums that bleed after brushing or flossing
• Loose or missing teeth
• Receding gums
• Toothaches
• Bad breath

Causes of Gum Disease

In short, gum disease is caused by bacteria in the mouth. Daily brushing and flossing help prevent gum disease by removing this bacteria. When the bacteria is not removed, plaque forms on the teeth that can lead to tartar buildup. Ultimately, gingivitis, an early stage of gum disease, can develop from tartar buildup. Tartar cannot be removed by brushing or flossing. Only a professional dental cleaning can successfully remove tartar. This is why practicing good oral hygiene at home and visiting your dentist regularly are so important for preventing gum disease.

Some conditions are also associated with an increased risk of developing gum disease. These include having a genetic predisposition to developing it, being diabetic, taking certain medications and being a smoker. For women, hormonal changes can also increase risk by increasing gum sensitivity. Individuals with one or more of these conditions tend to develop gum disease more easily. Regular dental visits can help you maintain healthier gums and better manage your risk for developing gum disease.

Don’t ignore the signs of gum disease, such as bleeding or swollen gums. A dentist can treat your gum disease, stop its progression and help you achieve healthier gums. For treatment of gum disease in Flint, MI, contact the office of Dr. Gordon by calling (810) 230-0990.

A root canal is a treatment used to fix and save a tooth that is infected or badly decayed. Millions of teeth are saved each year with root canal treatment. Dr. Franklin Gordon, Jr. in Flint, MI offers root canal therapy with a gentle touch. Here are the top five reasons not to delay getting a root canal.

#1- A Toothache

Pain is the most common symptom of needing root canal therapy. If the tooth is dead and has become abscessed, the individual will feel pain when they eat or put pressure on the infected tooth. If the tooth is still alive, the individual will experience sensitivity to cold or hot foods or liquids.

#2- Fracture

A tooth that has fractured may need root canal treatment if the fracture reaches the pulp. If the tooth has fractured in a way that doesn't leave much tooth structure left for a restoration, root canal therapy may need to be performed so a post can be placed down the canal of the tooth to help retain the restoration.

#3- Deep Cavity

If tooth decay reaches the pulp, the pulp will become infected with bacteria. When this occurs, it will become painful and inflamed or it will die and become decayed tissue. Sometimes there's no pain, but the only way your Flint dentist can get all the decay out of the tooth is by performing root canal therapy and removing the nerve.

#4- An Abscess

An abscess that's left untreated will keep growing and infect the bone around the root of the tooth. It may spread into surrounding tissues and bone. In rare cases, people have died from infections that started from an abscess. The only way to remove the infection completely is by performing a root canal.

#5- Resorption

Root resorption is a condition whereby the structure of the tooth dissolves away as a reaction to tooth replantation, trauma, injury or aggressive tooth movement during orthodontic treatment. The resorption can invade the canal and the blood vessels and nerve contained therein. If this happens, the affected tooth will need root canal therapy.

Don't put off root canal therapy if you need it. Call Dr. Gordon in Flint, MI at (810) 230-0990 right now to schedule your next dental appointment. Everyone deserves a healthy, beautiful smile!

Find out more about dental infections and what can be done to treat them.

You have been dealing with nasty dental pain and you’re fed up. It’s making it difficult to just get through the day and nearly impossible to sit down and enjoy a delicious meal. Dental pain can be warning you of a variety of different issues, including an infection. Find out more about dental infections and how our Flint, MI endodontist, Dr. Frank Gordon Jr., can treat them.

One of the most common tooth infections is an abscessed tooth. This is when bacteria have reached the roots of a tooth. An abscessed tooth usually results from tooth decay that wasn’t detected. More often than not, if you are someone who doesn’t visit their Flint general dentist for routine exams then you may have decay and never even know it until an abscess occurs.

An abscessed tooth can also be the result of a broken or chipped tooth that wasn’t treated right away. When a tooth is damaged bacteria now has a place to go and can easily reach the inside of the tooth (also known as the dental pulp). From there the bacteria can continue to spread to the roots of the tooth and even the surrounding bone.

What are the symptoms of an abscessed tooth?

The most common symptoms of an abscess are:

• Dental pain, particularly when chewing or biting down
• Tooth sensitivity to hot or cold foods and drinks
• Bad breath
• Gum redness or inflammation
• Swollen glands in the neck
• A pimple-like growth on the gums near the problem tooth

How is it treated?

Our goal is to preserve as much of the natural tooth as possible and to treat the infection. This is most often done through root canal therapy, where we go inside the tooth, remove the diseased tissue and disinfect the tooth. From there we can start to rebuild the tooth from the inside out. At the end of this treatment a dental crown is usually placed over the tooth to protect it from further damage and to restore its strength and resilience.

Unfortunately, there are some patients that wait too long to seek medical treatment and the infection is so severe that even a root canal won’t be able to save the tooth. In this case a tooth extraction is typically necessary.

Don’t let dental pain get the better of you. By ignoring this pain the problem will only get worse. Protect your teeth from potential irreparable damage by calling our Flint, MI dental office today.