Month: August 2023

Navigating the Need for Emergency Dental Treatment

There are many types of dental emergencies, whether from an accident or an unexplained painful flare up of a long-standing condition. All of these require prompt evaluation and care from a dentist who is specially trained to deal with dental trauma and conditions that can’t wait. Delaying care could lead to additional pain, damage and cost.

The best way to avoid dental emergencies is to follow a regimen of oral hygiene that includes regular checkups and a healthy diet. It is also wise to have a good dental insurance plan that allows you to maximize your benefits and provides coverage for preventative procedures such as dental cleanings, exams and dental X-rays.

However, the reality is that dental injuries and infections can happen despite your best efforts to take care of your teeth and gums. When accidents occur, it is sometimes difficult to distinguish what qualifies as a dental emergency and what doesn’t.

A severe toothache is one of the most common dental emergencies and requires immediate attention from an emergency dentist to alleviate the pain and reduce the risk of further complications. Oftentimes, an infection or abscess is the result of untreated tooth decay or dental injury and will only worsen if left alone. An emergency dentist can lance and drain the abscess, relieve the pain and swelling and prevent the infection from spreading.

Other dental emergencies that should be treated as soon as possible include cracked or broken teeth, knocked-out or loose teeth. Injuries to the lips, gums, inside of the cheeks and tongue also warrant urgent dental care as they are delicate tissue that can become infected and bleed easily. To protect the injured tissues, rinse with warm water and apply pressure to stop the bleeding.

Injuries to the jaw and face can be life-threatening if not treated promptly. Seeing an emergency dentist as soon as possible can reduce the risk of fracture and swelling and help prevent the possibility of bone loss.

Even a small chipped or fractured tooth can cause pain and is an emergency, because the remaining intact tooth can be saved and lessen the expense of a full replacement tooth down the road.

It’s important to know the difference between a dental emergency and something that can be addressed at home, so patients can avoid going to a hospital ER for treatment when it isn’t necessary. Many times, going to the ER for a dental problem can be more costly than visiting a Northbrook emergency dentist right away. It is also a good idea to have a comprehensive dental insurance plan that covers emergency care and has low co-pays. Visit the best dentist Northbrook, IL today to learn more about our dental insurance plans and to schedule a consultation. We look forward to helping you manage your dental needs.

Enhancing Spinal Health Through Chiropractic Adjustments

Chiropractic adjustments are a drug-free, hands-on form of manual therapy that can alleviate back and neck pain, reduce muscle tension, improve range of motion and help the body heal itself. Whether you are an athlete who wants to maintain peak performance or simply wish to have less neck and back pain, spinal manipulation may be the right option for you.

Spinal misalignments, or subluxations, are one of the most common causes of neck and back pain. They can occur due to many different reasons including trauma, car accidents or falls; muscular contractions that pull joints out of alignment; and poor posture while standing or sleeping. These misalignments cause inflammation and irritation of the spinal nerves, leading to pain and discomfort. When the spinal nerves are irritated, it can affect everything from the digestive tract to your hormone production. Luckily, a chiropractor can treat these issues through spinal manipulations also known as chiropractic adjustments.

During a chiropractic adjustment, the chiropractor will guide you into a comfortable position typically lying face down on a padded chiropractic table. They will then apply quick thrusts to specific joints along your spine or extraspinal areas with the use of their hands and/or a device that applies fast controlled force. A popping sound, known as joint cavitation, is a normal part of the process and indicates that there has been a change in pressure within the joint. This pressure change allows nitrogen gas to escape, and when this occurs, the popping sound is heard.

After the chiropractor applies the spinal manipulation, they will usually use the diversified technique or other methods such as the Thompson Drop-Table technique, Gonstead Adjustment or Activator. These techniques all provide similar results but the method of delivering the spinal adjustment can differ between the various practices.

While the exact mechanism isn’t fully understood, it is believed that when a spinal vertebrae becomes stuck or misaligned it can alter the way the nervous system works and lead to all kinds of symptoms from digestive problems to heart disease. This is why it’s important to see a chiropractor on a regular basis to keep the spine and other parts of the body healthy and in alignment.

Besides keeping the body in proper alignment, chiropractic adjustments have also been shown to boost immune function. This is because a healthy, balanced nervous system can communicate effectively with the body and help fight off diseases, viruses and bacteria.

There has been some chatter and content circulating online that suggests chiropractic adjustment will prevent the coronavirus, but this is unequivocally FALSE. These claims are based on theories that suggest misaligned vertebrae can inhibit the brain’s ability to protect against the virus and this is not supported by any scientific evidence. There are other more effective ways to stay protected and this includes staying up-to-date with your routine maintenance visits to a family chiropractor in Atlanta. Seeing your chiropractor on a regular basis can ensure the musculoskeletal system is functioning as it should, helping to prevent and reduce any aches and pains you may experience, such as headaches or neck and back pain.