Handling Dental Emergencies

Broken or Cracked Teeth
When a tooth is broken or fractured, pain may not be felt immediately and you may not even notice that the tooth has been damaged. Since it is not possible to treat a tooth fracture at home, call a dentist whenever a tooth it is painful to eat or the tooth is sensitive to temperature changes. The cracked tooth may slowly begin to hurt more and more as the months go by. If this is happening to you it is because the crack in the tooth is getting worse. Your symptoms will include sensitivity to hot and cold. Painful to pressure, like when you are eating. You will want to shy awway from that tooth as you will feel paint each time you chew on that tooth. Dont wait until it is too late to save the tooth. Many times when the cracks are small a root canal and a crown can be placed to save the tooth. If the crack develops and is really bad the tooth will end up being extracted as the dentist cannot save it . An implant or a bridge would have to be placed to replace the missing tooth.

When a tooth completely breaks, call the dentist immediately. However, the following procedures should be followed until a dentist is available: Salvage any remaining pieces of the tooth. Rinse the fragments in warm water. Rinse the mouth with warm water. If bleeding occurs, apply gauze to the area until the bleeding stops. To reduce swelling and pain, apply a cold compress to the cheek or lips over the broken tooth. Take an over the counter pain reliever. Finally, call a 24 hour emergency dentist so you can get immediate care.
Call Dr. Nolan at 310-827-5094 for 24 hour emergency care. Located in west los angeles in playa del rey, ca 90293.

2010
08/15
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Recession Buster for Dr. Nolan patients and all new patients

Dr. Nolan’s office is offering a 20% discount thru September 30,2010 for all patients who are referred to our office thru this site .  This offer is to help out people thru this difficut period of time in the economy. This is a recession buster offer/incentive. If you have been holding off on any needed dental treatment then now is the time to go to the dental office of dr. nolan and have your treatment done.

2010
08/14
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The Great Headache Debate

The Headache Question

Chronic symptoms of the head and neck can often be attributed to:

• Headache — the temporalis muscle (it closes and clenches the jaw)

• Sinus pressure and pain — the lateral pterygoid muscles (it moves the jaw side to side and/or forward)

• Neck stiffness and pain — trapezius muscle (it stabilizes the skull during jaw clenching and grinding)

Dental offices have treated and helped more and more people with their headache problems. For years, we assigned all of these names to headaches, like muscle tension headaches, neuralgia, migraine and so on, and it seems that many headache patients share one very common trait- They clench or grind their teeth at night!

Most medical research has shown that headaches, even people with classical migraine headaches, have no physical reason, no vascular problems and no neurological problems; in fact their physician’s exam will give no physical reason for the pain. Many patients have had CAT scans and MRI’s that were negative, and find that drugs really don’t help their problem; instead the medication makes them groggy and “drugged out.”

What we have discovered is that people who can control their nighttime clenching and grinding will get tremendous relief for their headaches and neck aches. Many people do so much unconscious clenching of their jaw muscles that when they wake up, their teeth are sore, their muscles are already tired, and they are set up for the beginning of a headache from the start of the day, if they don’t wake up with one.

One effective treatment utilizes an NTI appliance (short for nocioceptive trigeminal inhibition), a dental device that fits between the upper and lower front teeth. (Detailed information can be gotten from the website at http://www.headacheprevention.com/ ) The simple fact is that this device reduces the intensity of nighttime parafunction by 70 percent immediately, which can explain why so many patients wake up feeling better very quickly.

A traditional dental mouthpiece, or splint, reduces the resistance to side-to-side movement, thereby, reducing the effort and resultant strain to the jaw joint and sinuses (so long as clenching intensity isn’t too intense). However, the same splint also provides an ideal clenching surface, where maximum clenching intensity may increase and/or allow jaw joint problems to perpetuate.

Many patients run the gamut of the medical world’s attempts to control their headaches- with multiple drugs, injections and so on, without ever thinking that the pain might be muscular in origin. But just like back pain is often muscle spasm, the pain we call TMJ, as well as headaches of many sorts are very much caused by overuse of the muscles of closing the jaws.

We would recommend that if you or a loved one has chronic headache problems, that you go to the web site, or give us a call and let us take a look. It can do no harm, and it might very well make a huge difference in your lives!

Robert Nolan DDS
211 Culver Blvd. Suite T
Playa Del Rey, CA 90293
(310) 827-5094
rnolan@dentalchickens.com

http://www.dentalchickens.com

2010
07/19
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Childhood Safety: Poisoning

Child Safety: Poisoning

A poison is anything that you eat, breathe or touch that could cause illness or death. In the United States a child is poisoned every 30 seconds and 60% of those children are under the age 6 who are curious by nature and attracted to colorful materials and packages. Most accidents involving poisons occur in the kitchen, bathroom or bedroom. One of the leading causes of death is the ingestion of both prescription and over-the-counter drugs. Household cleaners are high on causing fatalities and carbon monoxide from cars left running or faulty gas heaters is also often fatal. Plants and cosmetics are commonly involved in poisonings.

Prevention “Poison-proof” your house. Tour your home and determine which substances might be poisonous. Then carefully lock those away. Do not transfer potentially poisonous materials to unlabeled containers or food containers such as milk bottles. Instruct the older children in the family as to the dangers of swallowing unknown or non-food substances. It is not uncommon for them to feed poisonous substances to their younger brothers and sisters in “playing doctor” or “playing house” games. Be sure your babysitter is made aware of potential problems and where the phone number to the poison control center is located [it should be on every phone]. Store food and household chemicals in separate areas. Most poisonings occur when the product is in use, so take the young child with you to answer the phone or doorbell. Many poisonings occur when your daily routine is interrupted and at meal times. Be extra cautious during these times. Keep all medicines out of sight and out of reach. Do not call medicine candy. Consider vitamins as medicine since vitamins with iron are especially poisonous. Many household plants are poisonous. Call your local poison control center and request a list of poisonous and non-poisonous plants.

• Child’s condition, age and weight

• Name of product and/or ingredients

• How much of the product was taken

• Time poisoning occurred

• And your name and phone number.

This article was originally posted on DentalSenders.com

Robert Nolan DDS
211 Culver Blvd. Suite T
Playa Del Rey, CA 90293
(310) 827-5094
rnolan@dentalchickens.com
http://www.dentalchickens.com


2010
07/19
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A Brief Bite Out of History

People of ancient times believed that the stabbing pain of a toothache was caused by a toothworm, which either had appeared spontaneously or had bored its way into the tooth. If the tooth pain was severe, it meant that the worm was thrashing about, but if the aching stopped, then the worm was resting. Cultures all over the world, many of whom had no contact with each other, held stubbornly to this myth. The folklore of the toothworm persisted from ancient times to the beginning of the eighteenth century.

Folk Cures

• Bee: Honey, a product of bees, was used to coat an infected tooth in the Middle Ages. People smeared their aching teeth with honey and waited all night with tweezers in hand, ready to pluck out the toothworm.

• Donkey: In ancient Greece, donkey’s milk was used as a mouthwash to strengthen the gums and teeth.

• Frog: Besides spitting in a frog’s mouth for toothache relief, these web-footed creatures were applied to a person’s cheek or to the head on the side of the ailing tooth.

• Onion: In the Middle Ages a slice of onion was applied to the ear on the side of the aching tooth.

Reprinted with permission from “Toothworms and Spider Juice: An Illustrated History of Dentistry” – Loretta Frances Ichord, Millerbrook Press.

Robert Nolan DDS
211 Culver Blvd. Suite T
Playa Del Rey, CA 90293
(310) 827-5094
rnolan@dentalchickens.com
http://www.dentalchickens.com

2010
07/02
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Root Canals Don’t Have to be Painful

Every day thousands of people have the nerves removed from their teeth. This procedure is commonly called a “root canal.” Many people say that it is a painful experience and an expensive one. Now , lets talk about this.

To begin with teeth are made of enamel on the outside with the middle called dentin and the inner core called the nerve tissue. The nerve tissue is connected to blood vessels that keep the tooth “alive”.

When the nerve gets “infected” due to decay , or by a filling that was done close to the nerve, or banging the tooth in an accident. It begins to degenerate and slowly die. Many times the nerve tissue becomes infected and the condition if left untouched results in a “fistula” which is an opening to the outside environment to release the bacteria or “pus “ that has built up as a result of this infection.

The nerve that becomes infected eventually can result in pain and swelling. Now , if you have pain and swelling around a tooth this does not mean that a root canal will be required.

Many times a root canal procedure is done when in reality that root canal was not needed to solve the problem. This is because often times a swelling with pain associated with it can be the result of a sinus infection or a problem with the gum tissue or gum abscesses. These problems can be healed without the need for a root canal.

The biggest hindrance is the dental profession’s attitude in prescribing root canals as the catch all answer for the common “toothache”. Plus there is a large benefit economically to do the root canal procedure for the dentist. If you would like more information on this topic please feel free to contact dr. Nolan by email at rnolan@dentalchickens.com or by telephone at 310-827-5094.


2010
06/28
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How to Stop Being Afraid of the Dentist

Alfred Hitchcock once said, “The only way to get rid of my fears is to make films about them.” Hitchcock must not have feared the dentist because he didn’t direct any dental horror flicks. While it’s not easy to stop being afraid of the dentist, it’s not impossible. The most important thing you can do is find a competent dentist who truly cares about his or her patients.

Step 1: Research for a dentist who can meet your needs. Browse the yellow pages, ask other people about their dentists and call a dental referral line. You goal is to find a dentist who is not only professionally skilled, but is caring, patient and never allows you to feel pain. If the first one you try doesn’t meet your criteria, keep searching until you find one who does.

For the next six steps check out, How to Stop Being Afraid of the Dentist | eHow.com.

2010
06/24
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Sedation Dentistry Can be Life Changing

If you’re at a point in your life where you’re in pain from eating or drinking cold substances, or simply from breathing in air, it’s time to take care of your mouth.  I perform sedation dentistry so that patients don’t have to experience any worry or pain, as they are moving toward optimum dental health.

Watch Michelle’s story of how sedation dentistry changed her life.

Please note:  Michelle is not a patient of mine.

2010
06/12
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Providing Peace of Mind and Mouth for Los Angeles

Hi there,

I’m Dr. Robert Nolan of Playa del Rey, CA.  I have been practicing dentistry for over two decades.  Over the years, I’ve learned just how scary the thought of having dental work done can be for people.  My number one goal is to give my patients peace of mind when I work with them.  Listening to patients and communicating with them about their needs and concerns is paramount at my office.  If you’re fearful about having hours of painful procedures performed on your teeth and gums, look no further.  Dread and sweaty palms do not exist in my practice.

In the past,  I participated with many insurance company plans, and diagnosed patients based on their policies and not their true dental needs and desires. Now, the patient and I decide what type of dentistry needs to be done, not the insurance company. It is a true pleasure to be able to practice dentistry and offer the level of service that I would expect when I go to a medical office.

I try to make my office unlike an ordinary dental office from the first telephone call to the end of the visit. You will always find our staff members caring and highly trained in customer service. You will always feel welcome, never rushed and always important. You will feel the warmth, caring and energy throughout the office. We offer beverages in the reception area, along with a private telephone and computers for our patients use, and a relaxed atmosphere for your comfort.

I diagnose the patient’s mouth the way I would diagnose my own family. I will explain everything about your treatment, make my recommendations, and then let you decide what services you would like performed.

I love what I do!

2010
06/12
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