Boyles General Dentistry Blog

The last few months of the year are a busy time for most people. You may be preparing for seasonal festivities, looking for great deals on items you plan to purchase, and making plans for the future. In all the end of the year craziness, however, there is one thing that you should not let slip your mind: your oral health. Are you using your 2020 dental insurance in Odessa to the full? Your time to maximize your coverage is running out!

Anyone who has been in this situation knows how scary it can be. When you’re in a state of shock and pain, it can be difficult to know exactly what to do in order to save your tooth. By acting quickly and calmly, you can take steps to increase the likelihood of keeping your tooth alive long enough so a skilled emergency dentist can help to restore your smile. Continue reading to learn exactly what you should do if you have a knocked-out tooth.

TMJ, which is professionally referred to as temporomandibular joint and muscle disorder, is a condition that causes patients to feel chronic pain and dysfunction in their jaw joint. Although few are aware of this diagnosis, it affects 12% of the population and is second only to back pain in musculoskeletal pain and disability. While the symptoms of this condition are unpleasant, the good news is that powerful, effective, long-lasting relief is available through TMJ therapy! Read on for information on common causes, risk factors, and how your dentist can help.

For several months now, you’ve done your best to stay away from others. You’ve worked from home, washed your hands frequently, ordered your groceries online, and worn a mask when necessary. Although the shelter-in-place order has been lifted, social distancing is still important to follow in order to slow the spread of COVID-19. But some tasks require close proximity to others—like going to your dentist in Odessa. How can you possibly get a checkup and cleaning while social distancing? Read on to find out!

If you need to visit your dentist during the COVID-19 crisis, don’t be surprised to see them decked out in head-to-toe PPE. Many patients aren’t aware that facial masks and shields are an absolute necessity for dental staff because they work so close to the mouth. Even before COVID-19, these helped keep them safe from a variety of illnesses. Read on to learn more about why your dentist wears facial coverings and how it’s also beneficial for patients.

At work during your lunch break, you eat beside a co-worker. As you take a sip of hot coffee, you feel a sudden, sharp pain in one of your teeth, and your co-worker expresses concern for you. You tell them it’s just a little toothache. “What kind of toothache?” they ask. You’re confused—aren’t all toothaches the same? In fact, there are several types of toothaches, each of which could point to a more serious problem with your dental health like decay, an infection, or an abscess. To learn about some of the most common kinds of tooth pain and how your emergency dentist in Odessa can treat them, just keep reading!

Toothaches are one of the most nagging and uncomfortable feelings a person can have. Whether caused by something stuck between your teeth, sinus pressure, or a more serious infection, it never seems as if you can truly relieve the pain. But what if there was a way you could prevent a toothache? Is it possible? To find out, listen to an emergency dentist who explains what you should do if one occurs as well as what tools and techniques you can use at home to keep your teeth pain-free.  

Your dentist just informed you that you need a tooth extracted. Although not thrilled with the idea, you agree to move forward and are given a round of antibiotics before your surgery. If you’re wondering why you would need to take these before your surgery, you’re not alone. To better understand the process and why it’s recommended by most dental professionals, read on to hear what your local dentist has to say on the topic. 

You’re playing a competitive game of basketball with your friends. Your teammate passes you the ball, and you make your move toward the hoop. Despite having a defender close by, you shoot, confident that you’ll score. As you land, the defender’s elbow hits you in the mouth. Play stops as your friends gather around to make sure you’re all right. Your mouth is bleeding slightly and one of your teeth has been chipped from the impact. You know that you need to get urgent help, but do you need to go to the emergency room or your emergency dentist?

These situations can be stressful to say the least, and your first instinct may be pointing you toward the ER; however, the doctors there often do not have the training or equipment to help you in a dental emergency. They can alleviate pain, but they will not be able to perform emergency dentistry. Basically, you’ll just be wasting your time, energy, and money with the ER visit. Other times, however, more serious medical treatment may be needed before addressing your teeth. In this blog post, you’ll learn when you should go to the ER and when you should call your dentist.

You have a big trip coming up in just a few days. You’ve been looking forward to this vacation for months, and you can’t wait to leave. But at your dental appointment, your dentist tells you that you need a root canal. Many questions pop up in your brain all at once. Will this procedure interfere with your plans? What are the risks of completing more complex dental work so close to traveling? Read on to learn the answers to these questions and more.