While we certainly hope that a dental emergency never occurs for our patients, the truth is that life is unpredictable and sometimes unexpected things can happen. Just as with everything else in life, having proper information is key when these types of events occur. To ensure that our patients are best prepared to handle these occasions, we’re touching on a few of the basics surrounding dental emergencies. What Is a Dental Emergency? The most basic definition of a dental emergency is any dental problem that requires immediate treatment to stop bleeding, alleviate severe pain, or help prevent the permanent loss of the tooth. In dental emergencies it’s important that you get in to see a dentist as soon as possible. At Inland Family Dentistry we always have a dentist on call, and after hours you can call our office at 509-525-7250 and select option 2 to leave a message and have one of our doctors return your call. What Types of Events Might be Classified as Dental Emergencies Knocked Out Tooth – in the event that your adult permanent tooth is knocked out you want to do the best you can to keep the tooth moist and prevent it from...

It’s not uncommon for those who don’t spend their day immersed in the dental world to have questions about the field. It’s normal to be curious and we definitely encourage patients to ask questions that will help keep them informed about how they can help ensure a healthy mouth for themselves and their families. We’ve highlighted some of the most frequently asked questions we hear from patients. Is an electric toothbrush better than a manual toothbrush? Both electric and manual toothbrushes will clean your teeth. The best way to ensure a good clean is by taking your time - you should be brushing for 2-3 minutes. Take this time to clean all of the surfaces in your mouth thoroughly. Patients may find that manual toothbrushes that have varying bristle heights help to loosen plaque are more effective, but we recommend choosing the brush that works best for you. It is important to make sure that you’re choosing the correct brush strength and using the right pressure to ensure you don’t cause damage to your gums. What type of toothpaste should I use? Most toothpastes on the market are going to clean your teeth. They’ll help rid your mouth of bacteria...