It’s finally the summer, and the last thing anyone wants while on vacation or on a beach at Tahoe is to deal with painful dental issues. With some preventative maintenance, you can keep your teeth in peak health for the season and beyond.
One possible reason for dental problems in the summer is dehydration. It’s easy to enjoy the warm weather and endless fun at the beach a little too much, and forgetting to listen to your body and its needs for water. If you’re chronically dehydrated, the reduced moistness in your mouth causes low saliva. This all contributes to drying out your teeth and gums, making them places for bacteria to grow rapidly.
In the summer, people enjoy foods that are high acidity like soda, fruits and sparkling water. High sugar is also present in ice cream too as a major contributor to dental decay and the need to extract teeth. So if you’re indulging in something delicious, yet sugary, make sure to brush, rinse and floss as soon as you have a chance afterward. Staying ahead of dental problems allows you to enjoy some of the best foods this season has to offer in moderation!
Keep Up Your Hygiene RoutineSometimes in the summer, we can slack off on our oral hygiene regimen. Keep on track and remember to brush your teeth at least twice a day, floss often and use an ADA-approved mouthwash. It will not only remove plenty of plaque but also reduce the risk of gum disease.
A cold glass of ice water is refreshing on a hot day, but chewing on ice cubes can be enough to ruin that feeling. Ice cubes are tough enough to damage enamel or cause chips and cracks. So while they might be satisfying to chew on, it’s not worth a chipped tooth.
A lot of people don’t realize that hot weather can activate any untreated oral infections and toothaches. Even the smallest of temperature changes can affect dental restorations like bridges, crowns and fillings that are cracked, worn out, or loose. It is possible that extreme heat in the summertime can irritate any inflammation that already exists, so staying cool is a good idea overall and getting regular check ups with your dentist to prevent any issues in the first place.
Wearing a mouth guard when playing a sport is important because it’s a simple way to add an additional layer of protection when in contact with others. If professional athletes wear mouth pieces to avoid any missing or cracked teeth, then you can too!
Our additional tips for after tooth extraction care include:
-Don’t rinse your mouth out vigorously
- Avoid strenuous activity for at least the first 48 hours
-Avoid using straws when drinking for at least three days to prevent the essential blood clot from getting dislodged or disrupted
-Take all prescribed medications from your dentist, like antibiotics or pain relievers
As for pain and swelling, you can use an ice pack or bag of frozen veggies to deal with the swelling and can place it along the side of your face. It should dissipate after about 48 hours of your procedure, but if it doesn’t make sure to reach back out to our team for an urgent follow up. The best care after a tooth extraction is to rest and make sure to pay attention to any other aches and pains that may pop up. For most people, it takes up to two weeks to recover from the procedure. Make sure to keep gauze handy throughout the entire healing process as well, as it stops continuous bleeding after the appointment.
If you’ve been putting off getting your teeth extracted, now is the time to do so. Prevent dental irregularities and issues like summer-related seasonal toothaches and sensitivity. Make an appointment today.
Click Here to Schedule Your Tooth Extraction
Oral surgery can be nerve wracking for some people. Like any surgery, patients can feel anxious.
Our team is here to help ease any fears that you may have. As a reminder, oral surgeons have extensive training in what they do and many have performed routine surgeries like it’s their second nature.
It’s best to see your oral surgeon for extractions instead of your dentist because of the proper tools and certifications.
Dentists are incredibly important to oral health, and therefore their scope of expertise focuses on exams and preventive care. They give plenty of attention to crowns, veneers, fillings and bridges. If there’s serious issues with a patient, whether it’s in their soft tissues or the teeth itself, they’ll refer them to oral and maxillofacial surgeons.
Oral surgeons are trained in IV sedation and general anesthesia, which allows greater pain management for even the most complicated procedures. General dentists don’t usually provide IV sedation and only use local anesthesia for extractions. Even though dentists can remove wisdom teeth, these procedures are not as straightforward because of complications like impaction or potential infections.
Oral surgeons can use one of three types of anesthesia, depending on the complexity of the surgery. Local anesthesia is administered at the injection site, sedation anesthesia is given through an IV, and general anesthesia is inhaled as you lose consciousness.
All oral and maxillofacial surgery practices are required to have capnography equipment and utilize it during every procedure that requires moderate or deep sedation and general anesthesia.
Oral surgeons and dentists attend the same four years of dental school to achieve either a Doctor of Dental Surgery or a Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons need to attend specialty training through a four-year surgical hospital residency program. This hard work and experience helps them diagnose and treat dental issues in the mouth, face, jaws, and surrounding soft tissues.
The offices at Reno-Tahoe Oral Surgery have plenty of extensive imaging technology for three-dimensional analysis for treatment planning for dental implants, corrective surgeries, or the wisdom teeth removal process. Before booking a surgery, it’s important to schedule a consultation first for an examination. We’re excited to help you improve your oral health through these necessary procedures!
At Reno-Tahoe Oral Surgery, Dr. Redlinger specializes in oral implant surgery. He also conducts tooth extractions, bone grafts, wisdom teeth surgeries, and supports for ill-fitting dentures. As a renowned oral and maxillofacial surgeon of Northern Nevada, he will make sure your surgery is done safely and correctly. Our office will work with you to provide convenient financial options so it’s one less thing to worry about before a big procedure.
Dental problems can range from small issues like sore gums to requiring full-blown facial surgery. A dentist will typically perform dental exams and offer preventative care among other dental services. But for serious issues, such as impacted wisdom teeth, a trip to your regular dentist, unfortunately, won’t do you any good. Instead, you’ll need to see an oral and maxillofacial surgeon (OMS).
It’s pretty normal for patients to first see their dentist when an oral problem arises. However, when the issue runs outside of the regular dentistry scope, it’s very likely that the patient will be referred to an OMS for treatment. The most common procedures performed by a Reno oral surgeon are wisdom teeth removal and dental implants. But is the oral surgery referral really necessary, or can anyone just schedule an appointment for surgery? Let’s take a look at this below.
Do I Need a Referral to See an Oral Surgeon in Reno?As with most surgical procedures, it can seem like a long process. Thankfully, you can contact an oral surgeon to get yourself scheduled. This is done for several reasons and will depend on the oral surgeon you see as well as your insurance policy. A majority of OMSs require a referral to provide the patient with quality continuity of care. Insurance companies often require referrals to ensure the patient’s coverage of services and will likely deny paying for things like wisdom teeth removal or dental implants without going through the proper procedures.
The steps to getting a referral from your dentist to see an oral surgeon are as follows:
The first thing you need to do to get a referral for oral surgery is to address your dental problems with your dentist. Bringing up your concerns will help your dentist determine if an oral surgeon needs to be involved and when it’s appropriate to make an appointment. The sooner you address your concerns, the sooner you and your dentist can find the best solution.
In doing so, your dentist will assess the severity of your dental problem and whether or not you’ll require surgery to renew your smile. A dentist will easily be able to determine if wisdom teeth extraction or getting dental implants will resolve your problems and will be happy to refer you to an oral surgeon to alleviate your concerns.
To find the best oral surgeon in Reno, talk to your dentist about the OMSs they recommend. An oral surgeon is a dental professional who has additional training in surgical techniques that allow them to perform reconstructive surgery on the face, oral cavities, head and neck, and mouth and jaw. Oral surgeons like Dr. Redlinger provide wisdom teeth removal, dental implants, bone grafting, and even pre-prosthetic surgery.
Your dentist will offer the best oral maxillofacial experts in Reno for your treatment, so you can trust that you’ll be in good hands.
Before booking your surgery with the first oral surgeon your dentist recommends, however, be sure to meet with them in person to ensure they’ll be a good fit for you. Many oral surgery practices are happy to offer a consultation prior to scheduling any surgery. Not only does this give them the chance to examine your mouth for themselves, but it helps you decide if they’re the right OMS for you.
Dr. Redlinger is a board-certified dental specialist that provides a full scope of oral surgery including dental implants to replace missing teeth, dental implants to support ill-fitting dentures, tooth extraction, bone grafts, and wisdom teeth surgeries.
Come meet Dr. Scott M. Redlinger DMD, MD Reno's expert Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon so he can develop the right treatment plan for you!
