DENTAL EMERGENCY

Dr. Neil L Starr

A dental emergency can be a stressful time. Whether a tooth has broken, has come completely out, or if you are concerned that you are suffering from an infection, our staff at Neil L Starr, DDS, PC can help. Dr. Starr has experience and knowledge in most oral injuries, and can provide you the care you need in an emergency situation. We never want our patients to remain in pain, and will always try to accommodate a patient in an emergency situation as quickly as possible. If you have experienced an injury or had a prosthetic device break or come loose, we can help.
At Neil Starr, DDS, PC, we run our office a bit differently. This is in large part due to having an onsite laboratory. Dr. Starr’s laboratory is outfitted with a CAD/CAM (Computer-aided Design and Computer-aided Manufacturing) milling dental unit (Amann Girrbach Motion 2) and a 3D printer (Nextdent 5100) to facilitate quicker replacement of broken dental devices as well as traumatized or fractured teeth. This means that we can create, repair and fabricate your prosthetic device much more efficiently. We do not send your device out to a lab. Our devices are created faster and under the watchful eye of Dr. Starr, ensuring that your prosthetic replacement or repair is made right.

Some of the most commonly seen dental emergencies include:

  • Broken Prosthetics: Though prosthetics are highly durable, damage can occur. If you have bent, cracked, or broken your dental device, including a dental veneer, crown, bridge, or denture, we can help. Adjustments and repairs can be done in the office. If necessary, we can place a temporary device until your permanent device is ready. You do not have to live with missing or damaged teeth until your device is repaired.
  • Tooth Injury: Dr. Starr has seen teeth that are cracked, fractured, loosened and missing. Injuries to your teeth can be painful, frustrating and sometimes even embarrassing. There are options for restoration. Depending on your situation, we may be able to repair the natural tooth, cover the natural tooth with a bonded restoration, entirely replace the missing natural tooth or even reattach the broken off part of the tooth with modern adhesive technology .
  • Dental Infection: Infection can be a very serious problem. Adults tend to ignore warning signs from their body indicating that infection is present. Don’t do that. In many cases, your body cannot fight infection when it concerns your teeth and gums, because the source of the infection is still present. We need to remove the source and then assist you in recovery. Do not ignore pain, swelling, tenderness, or fever as they are symptoms that your body provides to indicate that something is wrong.

DO I HAVE A DENTAL EMERGENCY?

If you are experiencing pain or discomfort, we will do our best to see you as soon as possible. Generally, we classify a dental emergency as a patient requiring service within 24–48 hours due to an injury or illness. If you are experiencing excessive bleeding, fever or pain, we ask that you seek immediate medical help from the closest available source.

For more information on dental emergencies and the services that we offer at Neil L. Starr, DDS, PC, contact our front desk at our Washington location. Our staff is happy to assist you. (202) 293-7177.

FACIAL TRAUMA

Facial trauma can be serious, and can have a significant impact on one’s life. The term facial trauma covers all kinds of injuries to the head, face and the mouth including the interior of the mouth. It includes such things as lacerations, burns, fractures and much more. Any type of facial trauma, no matter how minor it may seem at the time, should be addressed right away. Untreated facial trauma, even minor trauma, can quickly lead to later complications.

At Neil L. Starr, DDS, PC, we can provide treatment for facial trauma, helping to restore your oral health, your smile, and your life.

WHAT CAUSES FACIAL TRAUMA?

Facial Trauma may be due to many different causes:
  • Bicycle and/or auto accidents. These accidents are the leading cause of facial trauma.
  • Falls. You can experience facial trauma in the event of a fall, such as falling on a slick surface, falling off of a step ladder, and more.
  • Sports related injuries. These injuries include such things as getting tackled by another player, getting hit in the face with a ball, or being hit with an object such as a stick.
  • Physical lacerations. A fistfight or other type of brawl can often lead to facial trauma.

THE TYPES OF FACIAL TRAUMA

There are a few different types of facial trauma:
  • Soft tissue injuries. These include cuts, burns, and contusions on the soft tissues in and around the mouth.
  • Bone injuries. Bone injuries include fractures to the jaw as well as the bones of the chin, cheeks, eye sockets, nose, and forehead.
  • Tooth injuries. Tooth injuries consist of both complete dislodging as well as partial displacement or the tooth may end up being forced further into the bone.

SOFT TISSUE INJURIES

Soft tissues are those injuries that affect the soft tissues of the mouth, as well as those around it. Injuries vary from cuts, to burns, to other contusions. The soft tissue of your mouth and face is very delicate. It also contains blood vessels, nerves, and salivary glands and ducts. When facial trauma affects the condition of your soft tissues, more than just your appearance is affected. Harm may also come to blood vessels, nerve, and the salivary system. Treatment as soon as possible not only helps to restore your appearance, but the functions of these essential components as well.

BONE INJURIES

Your facial bones are not unlike the other bones in your body. If a facial bone is fractured, it needs to be set. However, facial bones cannot be set in a cast like other fractured bones. In order to help your facial bones heal, there are a couple of different treatments. One such treatment, commonly used in the event of a fractured jaw, is wire. Your jaw is wired closed to prohibit movement of the mouth, which allows it to heal. In other cases, plates and screws may be used. This method may be preferred because it allows for the movement of the jaw while you heal.

TOOTH INJURIES

Tooth injuries are common with facial trauma. In some cases, a tooth may become partially dislodged, or it may be forced deeper into the socket. In either case, it can be reset. Do not attempt to do this on your own. We can carefully set your tooth back into its proper position and apply a splint while the ligaments and bones heal. In other cases, a tooth may get knocked out completely. In many instances, we can replace the tooth, so long as it is in good condition when you come in. If the tooth cannot be reset, we will discuss options for replacement.

All facial trauma, no matter how minor it seems at the time, should be addressed as soon as possible. For more information or to schedule your consultation, contact Neil L.. Starr DDS PC today at (202) 293-7177.