Can a Child’s Toothache Manifest as an Earache?  

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Healthcare has a number of branches and specialties, which can sometimes cause us to forget about the amount of overlap between professionals. For instance, an ear, nose, and throat doctor will know many of the same things as a dentist.

In fact, your dentist in St. Cloud, MN, may need to know even more than a doctor, so they can be sure they are directing the patient to the best possible treatment. At times, your dentist might be even better at diagnosing certain conditions and pains. We’ll look at how earaches and toothaches are related and why it’s important to pay attention to your child’s symptoms.

Cavity: A Tricky Kind of Pain

Pain from a cavity doesn’t always mean that a child will feel pain in their mouth. It may seem as though the ear is either infected or suffering from a buildup of wax, but the reality is the pain is extending to the ear, which is why it seems as though that’s where the problem is originating.

It’s more common to see this kind of pain confusion for older kids and adults because molars or infected teeth are more likely to present as ear pain. However, cavities and abscesses can occur at any age, so it’s important to keep an eye out for additional symptoms besides ear pain.

Seeing a Dentist in St. Cloud, MN

Because our systems are so interconnected, parents should hold back from jumping to conclusions. Particularly if the child has no history of earaches, it may not be worth holding off on treatment in the hopes that the infection will clear itself up. If there’s a serious dental problem, it’s imperative to get help as soon as you can. Thankfully, there are usually other symptoms that occur when the child has a toothache and not an earache.

If your child is displaying any of these symptoms along with ear pain, consider scheduling an appointment with your dentist:

  • Swollen or bleeding gums
  • Persistent bad breath
  • Sensitivity to hot/cold
  • Jaw pain
  • Loose teeth

Whether your child needs an extraction or a filling in St. Cloud, MN, Friesz Family and Cosmetic Dentistry has a staff that is here for you and your family. If you need a dentist in St. Cloud, MN, contact us today.

 

Root Canals: An FAQ

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Do you need a root canal? Do you know what a root canal entails? Some people are afraid of getting a root canal because they don’t know very much about the procedure or how it works. Knowing more information about root canals can help you feel calmer and more prepared for your upcoming root canal procedure in St. Cloud MN. In this article, we’ll address some common questions about this procedure to help ease any anxiety you may be feeling.

What Is a Root Canal?

A root canal is a procedure that is performed on an infected tooth. During the procedure, the infection is removed from the inside of the tooth, then a crown is placed on the remaining tooth to reinforce the structure.

How Can You Tell If You Need a Root Canal?

The best way to tell if you need a root canal is to see your dentist in St. Cloud, MN. It’s helpful to know the symptoms of a tooth infection. If you know the symptoms of an infection, you’ll know when it’s time to go see the dentist. Here’s what to watch for:

  • Pain in the tooth (intermittent or constant)
  • Swelling in the mouth
  • Sensitivity to heat and cold
  • Tooth discoloration
  • Tender gums

Do Root Canals Hurt?

A root canal procedure will most likely not hurt because the area will be numbed before work begins. Most people say that their teeth hurt a lot more before the root canal began! Once your dentist has numbed your mouth, you should be able to proceed through the rest of the procedure in relative comfort.

Are Root Canals Safe?

Yes, the root canal will be safe, especially if you’re working with an experienced dental professional. At Friesz Family & Cosmetic Dentistry, we help our patients through complicated dental procedures like root canals.

Is There Something Wrong With Your Tooth? Don’t Wait to Get Help

If you’re experiencing pain in your mouth, contact Friesz Family & Cosmetic Dentistry to schedule an appointment. It could be that you need to have a root canal. Waiting to get help could compromise your health or the health of your teeth. In fact, if you wait too long, you may need to have a tooth extraction! Call today.

Why You Might Need a Filling Restoration

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A filling is one of the most common procedures performed in a dental practice, but not everyone knows that restorations are completed for a number of reasons. We’ll look at why you might need a filling in St.Cloud, MN, and how you can find the right dental professional to get your oral health back on track.

Tooth Decay

This is one of the most common reasons for dental restoration. Your teeth can be affected by decay even when your hygiene habits are impeccable. A dentist will use a drill to take out any affected portions of the tooth and then fill in the gap with a long-lasting material, such as composite resin. Even if you have a small hole in the tooth, it’s important to take action sooner than later. The longer it’s left untreated, the bigger it’s going to get.

Fractured Teeth

If you’re looking for a dentist in St. Cloud, MN after an emergency, such as a slip-and-fall or sports-related accident, it might be because a tooth has fractured. Anything from contact athletics to chewing on the cap of a pen can lead to tooth fracture. While major injuries may require more advanced treatment, a filling can potentially be the answer if you need minor repairs.

Surface Remedies

If your teeth become discolored, some dentists may use fillings to both strengthen and whiten them. Unlike teeth brightening services, this might be used for more extreme cases. For instance, if you grind your teeth at night or have years of stains built up on the surface of your teeth. Anything from wine to candy to coffee can affect the color of your teeth, and the effects can have a real impact on your smile.

Find a Dentist in St. Cloud, MN

The term restoration is entirely appropriate when it comes to describing a filling. A dentist is literally making the tooth whole, which in turn makes the mouth more stable. At Friesz Family Dentistry, you can count on our staff to perform fillings correctly the first time. We understand just how important it is to care for each individual tooth, so you can achieve better oral health. Contact us for more information about our services today or make an appointment.

Why do Dentists Use Drills to Fill Cavities?

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When you go to get cavities filled or a filling restoration in St. Cloud, MN, your dentist may use a drill. Few people enjoy the sound of a drill being used in the mouth, so it may help to know exactly why dentists use drills to fill cavities.

Drills Aren’t Used to Actually Fill Cavities

The thing is, dentists don’t use drills to fill cavities. The drilling is done to clean and prepare the tooth to accept the filling. A great way to think about this process is using an example of a similar situation.

If you’ve ever had to patch a hole in drywall, you know that the edges of the hole are uneven; jagged, even. If moisture or other materials have gotten on the drywall, you don’t want that to spread into the patched area. So first, you have to get rid of the moisture. Then you have to clean up the edges of the hole before you can patch it neatly.

This is almost exactly what the dentist is doing when he drills before filling a cavity in St. Paul, MN. He or she is drilling away areas of the tooth that are infected with bacteria. Otherwise, that bacteria would continue to grow until your whole tooth is rotted out. So that’s one reason why your dentist uses a drill.

Next, the dentist needs to neaten up around the perimeter of the cavity. This is so that the filling completely fills in the hole and there are no tiny cracks or areas for bacteria to enter the interior of the tooth.

Drilling is a necessary preparatory step in filling cavities, but it’s not done to actually fill the cavity. That’s an entirely different step that comes after the cavity in the tooth has been properly prepared.

Now that you know what the drilling is really for, you can rest easy when you hear that sound. It’s actually the sound of your dentist in St. Paul, MN making sure that he does quality work on your cavity filling so it lasts as long as possible. After all, cavity filling is a way to preserve your natural teeth. When you think of it that way, drilling doesn’t sound so bad, does it?