General Dental Care

If you think you have a dental emergency, call to see our Canton, MI emergency dentists as soon as possible. In the meantime, follow our instructions below for what you should do while waiting for emergency dental care. The sooner you act to save a tooth, the more likely you’ll have a good outcome.

Continue reading to learn how to respond to a toothache, knocked-out tooth, loose tooth, and other situations that require urgent dental care.

What Is a Dental Emergency?

Call our emergency dentists if you have sharp and/or consistent oral pain, tissue bleeding that won’t stop, abscesses, or broken teeth. If you aren’t sure if you have a dental emergency, call our office for further instruction. Getting emergency dental care in time can help you save a tooth.

Toothache

Many mild toothaches are caused by food caught between teeth. Before calling our emergency dentists, gently floss to remove any trapped food particles that could be causing pain and rinse with warm water.

If the toothache persists, call our office as soon as possible and take over-the-counter pain relievers until your appointment. DO NOT put crushed aspirin on your tooth, as this burns gums and destroys tooth enamel.

Knocked-Out Tooth

Your best chance to replant a knocked-out tooth is within 30 minutes of the injury. Our emergency dentists can help with these types of emergencies, giving you the best chance of saving your tooth.

1. Call our emergency dentists ASAP.
2. Pick up the tooth by its crown (chewing surface), not the root. Touching the root can damage the cells needed for reattachment.
3. Gently rinse the tooth.
4. If possible, gently place the tooth back in the socket. Otherwise, store the tooth between your gum and cheek or wrap the tooth in clean gauze and immerse it in whole milk.

Loose Tooth

1. Call our emergency dentists ASAP.
2. Apply a cold compress to your cheek to temporarily relieve pain.
3. Take over-the-counter pain reliever if necessary.

Cracked, Chipped, or Broken Teeth

1. Call our emergency dentists ASAP.
2. Rinse your mouth with warm water.
3. Apply a cold compress to your cheek to temporarily relieve pain.

DO NOT put crushed aspirin on the tooth. Doing so will burn your gums and destroy your tooth enamel.

Don’t ignore a toothache! Tooth pain is your body’s way of saying something is wrong. If you have a persistent toothache, schedule an appointment with our dentists as soon as possible.

If we find a cavity, we may recommend a dental filling to restore the tooth. Call our office in Canton, Michigan today if you suspect you need a cavity filling or continue reading to learn more about how a tooth filling can help restore your smile.

Questions For Our Tooth Filling Dentists

How does our dentist fix cavities?

We may recommend a tooth filling if your cavity is small enough. Otherwise, a dental crown may be better-suited to repair the tooth. During the procedure, we will numb your tooth with a local anesthetic before removing the cavity.

Our dentists will then apply a special material to the surface of your tooth to fill in the structure that’s been removed. In other words, a cavity filling fills in the part of the tooth that was lost to decay.

How long do dental fillings last?

How long your cavity filling lasts will depend on the materials our dentist used, as well as where the filling was placed. While tooth fillings are durable, they’ll eventually need to be replaced. Our tooth filling dentists will be able to examine your teeth during your next appointment to look for signs of wear and tear in fillings.

Do fillings hurt?

We numb your tooth before removing decayed tooth structure so you won’t feel any pain during the cavity filling procedure. However, you will feel a small pinch as we inject the local anesthetic.

Once the anesthesia wears off, it’s normal for the inside of your mouth to feel sensitive or sore. Our dentists may prescribe pain relievers for you to use after your procedure. Any pain you feel should subside in a few days.

The American Cancer Society estimates that over 50,000 Americans will get throat or oral cancers this year. Fortunately, our oral cancer screening dentists in Canton, MI can help you detect oral cancer in its beginning stages.

Call our dental office in Canton, Michigan today to schedule your oral cancer screening. It could save your life!

Can Dentists Detect Oral Cancer?

Yes, our dentists are able to examine your lips and the inside of your mouth for red or white patches, sores, and other abnormalities. If our dentists spot suspicious tissue, we may remove it and send it to a diagnostics lab where it will be tested for oral cancer.

Our Canton, MI dentists may especially recommend an oral cancer screening test if you have a history of smoking or alcohol abuse, as these factors increase your risk of oral cancer.

What Are the First Signs of Mouth Cancer?

Signs of mouth cancer include:

• Persistent mouth or lip sores that won’t heal
• White or red patch inside mouth
• Difficulty chewing or swallowing
• Lump or thickened tissue in cheek
• Persistent bad breath
• Hoarse voice or chronic sore throat

If you recognize any of the above symptoms, call our dental office today to schedule an appointment with our oral cancer screening dentists. The oral cancer screening procedure can also be done during your next teeth cleaning appointment with us.

Why Are Oral Cancer Screenings Important?

The American Cancer Society estimates that over 10,000 Americans will die of oral and throat cancers this year. The sooner we’re able to detect oral cancer, the better your chances for survival. In other words, an oral cancer screening can help save your life.

Even if you don’t have the major risk factors for oral cancer (such as smoking), there’s still a chance you could get oral cancer. In general, an oral cancer screening is done about once a year.

About 47.2% of Americans age 30 and older have periodontal disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Are you one of them? The best way to protect your smile is to schedule an appointment with our gum disease dentists in Canton, MI.

Our dentists will be able to spot the early warning signs of gum disease, so you can maintain a healthy smile. Schedule your appointment with our office today.

Can Gum Disease Be Cured?

Early gum disease (gingivitis) can be cured by adopting a good oral hygiene routine and seeing one of our dentists every 6 months. Regular brushing and flossing can keep bacteria at bay and restore your gums to a healthier condition.

However, gum disease is irreversible once it develops into a more serious form of periodontal disease. Because of this, it’s important to diagnose gum disease early on. Call our gum disease treatment dentists as soon as possible if your gums are bleeding, swollen, sore, or red.

What Is the Best Treatment for Gum Disease?

We may recommend scaling and root planning if the gum pockets around your teeth are deeper than 4 millimeters and your x-rays show signs of bone loss.

During a dental deep cleaning, we remove plaque and tartar buildup both above and below the gum line. Once we remove plaque and tartar, we smooth our tooth roots so receding gums have a better chance of reattaching to teeth.

However, this is not a cure for gum disease. You may need to have additional gum disease procedures in the future in order to manage your condition.

When was your last teeth cleaning? If it’s been more than 6 months, you’ll need to schedule an appointment with our teeth cleaning dentists in Canton, MI as soon as possible. A dental cleaning helps you maintain healthy teeth and gums, so you can smile with confidence.

Questions For Our Teeth Cleaning Dentists

Is teeth cleaning necessary?

Yes, the best way to maintain a healthy smile is to get a teeth cleaning every 6 months from our Canton, MI dentists. During your teeth cleaning appointment, our dental hygienist will gently scrape away any plaque and tartar that has accumulated on your teeth over time.

If left untreated, plaque and tartar increase your risk of tooth decay and gum disease. While brushing and flossing at home are important for oral health, you’ll need to see our teeth cleaning dentists for tartar removal.

How often do you need to get your teeth cleaned?

We recommend seeing our dentists at least every 6 months for a teeth cleaning. However, we may recommend more frequent dental cleanings if you have oral health issues that need to be closely monitored. That way, our teeth cleaning dentists and their team will be able to better prevent cavities, gum disease, and other issues that compromise your oral health.

Are there any side effects of teeth cleaning?

A teeth cleaning should be painless, as long as you don’t have oral health issues. For example, inflamed gums may bleed a little after a teeth cleaning. If you experience persistent oral pain, don’t hesitate to call our dental office for assistance.

Schedule an Appointment Today!

Professional teeth cleanings are a crucial component of your overall oral health. Our family dentists in Canton, MI, are here to help you keep your smile in pristine condition. Call Hometown Dental at (734) 667-4941 to make an appointment today.

Tooth decay is the most common chronic disease found in American children, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Fortunately, our dentists are able to help prevent cavities with dental sealants.

Like the name suggests, a dental sealant is a seal that covers the crevices in back teeth that harbor plaque. If you or your child seem to constantly get cavities, call our dental office in Canton, Michigan to schedule an appointment with our dentists.

What Are Dental Sealants Used For?

Dental sealants are used to protect molars (back teeth) from getting cavities. Children benefit from dental sealants because they’re more likely to neglect hard-to-reach back teeth when brushing.

While dental sealants are typically used for baby teeth, our dentists may also recommend dental sealants for adults if your back teeth have deep grooves or divots that collect plaque.

Are Dental Sealants Effective?

Yes! Research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that dental sealants prevent about 80% of cavities in the first 2 years. Dental sealants also prevent about 50% of cavities for up to 4 years after being applied to back teeth. Since 9 in 10 cavities occur in back teeth, dental sealants are a great way to protect your or your child’s smile.

Are Tooth Sealants Safe?

Yes, dental sealants are safe for both children and adults. During the dental sealants procedure, our dentists will first roughen the surface of your back teeth so the sealant is able to bond strongly to your teeth. Next, our dentists will paint a thin coating that will protect your teeth from cavities. The dental sealants procedure is painless, non-invasive, and safe.

Call Our Office

Dental sealants are a great way for patients of all ages to prevent cavities. Our preventive dentists in Canton, MI can let you know if sealants are right for you. Call Hometown Dental at (734) 667-4941 to make an appointment today.

The temporomandibular joints (TMJ) are the hinges that connect your jawbone to your skull. While most people have no issues with their TMJ, others may wake up with sore jaws and need a TMJ treatment dentist to relieve their pain.

Our office is also able to help you find solutions for migraines and headaches. If you suspect you have TMJ disorder, call today to schedule an appointment with our Canton, MI TMJ dentists.

Questions For Our TMJ Treatment Dentists

How is TMJ disorder diagnosed?

Our dentists will examine your jaw and take x-rays during your appointment to determine if you have TMJ disorder. During this appointment, our dentists may press on different areas of your jaw to determine where you feel the most discomfort or pain. Our TMJ dentists may also ask you to open and close your mouth so they can listen for popping or clicking.

How can I relieve TMJ pain?

Schedule an appointment with our TMJ dentists if you suspect you have a TMJ disorder. Each patient is different. For example, our dentists may recommend wearing a custom night guard while you sleep if your TMJ disorder is likely caused by teeth grinding. Our dentists can also help you explore other TMJ treatment options during your appointment.

What is the purpose of a night guard for TMJ?

If you have a TMJ disorder caused by teeth grinding, our dentists may recommend a custom night guard. A night guard for TMJ forms a protective layer between your upper and lower teeth, preventing unconscious teeth grinding while you sleep. Depending on your case, a night guard can bring much-needed TMJ pain relief.

Call Today!

If you have TMJ disorder, you don’t have to suffer in silence. Our TMJ dentists in Canton, MI will let you know if a night guard is right for you. Call Hometown Dental at (734) 667-4941 to make an appointment today.