🚨 Dental Emergencies

Woke Up with a Toothache?

A toothache is often your body’s way of telling you that something is
wrong. Dental pain should not be ignored, especially when it is severe,
persistent, worsening, or accompanied by swelling.

Common causes of tooth pain may include:

• Tooth decay or a deep cavity
• A dental infection or abscess
• A cracked or broken tooth
• A damaged or inflamed tooth nerve
• A loose, broken, or lost filling
• A damaged or lost dental crown
• Gum disease
• Teeth grinding or clenching
• Wisdom-tooth problems
• Dental trauma

What Is Considered a Dental Emergency?

• Severe or persistent tooth pain
• Facial, jaw, or gum swelling
• A suspected dental abscess
• A broken or cracked tooth
• A knocked-out or displaced tooth
• A lost crown or filling causing pain
• Uncontrolled bleeding from the mouth
• Dental trauma or injury
• Pain that prevents sleeping, eating, or working

Can You See Me Today?

Yes. Whenever possible, we offer same-day emergency dental appointments.

Call as early as possible so our team can help identify the earliest
available appointment.

Can a Tooth Infection Become Serious?

Yes. An untreated dental infection may spread into the surrounding gums,
jaw, face, or other tissues.

• Throbbing or severe tooth pain
• Facial or jaw swelling
• Swollen or tender gums
• Fever or feeling unwell
• A bad taste or drainage in the mouth
• Pain when chewing or biting
• Difficulty opening the mouth

What Is a Dental Abscess?

A dental abscess is a collection of infection that may develop inside a
tooth, around a tooth root, or in the surrounding gum tissue.

Treatment may include drainage, root canal therapy, periodontal
treatment, tooth extraction, medication, or another procedure.

Medication alone may not remove the source of a dental infection.

Can My Tooth Be Saved?

Whenever appropriate, preserving the natural tooth is an important goal.
Whether a tooth can be saved depends on the amount of healthy tooth
structure, the location of a crack, root condition, infection, gum and
bone support, and whether the tooth can be predictably restored.

• Dental filling
• Cosmetic or restorative bonding
• Dental crown
• Root canal therapy
• Periodontal treatment
• Tooth extraction
• Dental implant after extraction

🦷 Dental Implants

What Is a Dental Implant?

A dental implant is a tooth-replacement option that uses an implant
placed in the jawbone to support a dental restoration.

• One missing tooth
• Multiple missing teeth
• An implant-supported bridge
• An implant-supported denture
• A larger full-arch restoration

Who May Be a Candidate for Dental Implants?

• The number and location of missing teeth
• Bone quantity and quality
• Gum health
• Oral hygiene
• Medical history and medications
• Smoking or tobacco use
• Bite forces
• Treatment goals

Even if you have experienced bone loss, you may still have treatment options.

Do Dental Implants Hurt?

Comfort varies according to the patient and procedure. Local anesthesia
is commonly used during implant placement. Temporary soreness, swelling,
tenderness, or bruising may occur after treatment.

How Long Does Dental Implant Treatment Take?

1. Examination and dental imaging
2. Removal of an unhealthy tooth, when necessary
3. Bone grafting, when necessary
4. Dental implant placement
5. Healing
6. Placement of the final dental restoration

How Should Dental Implants Be Cared For?

• Brush thoroughly every day
• Clean between the teeth and around implant restorations
• Attend recommended dental examinations
• Attend professional cleanings
• Avoid tobacco
• Report pain, swelling, bleeding, looseness, or bite changes

😁 Invisalign® & FASTBRACES®

What Are Clear Aligners?

Clear aligners are removable trays designed to gradually move teeth
according to an individualized treatment plan.

• Crowded teeth
• Spaces between teeth
• Crooked teeth
• Overbite
• Underbite
• Crossbite
• Open bite

What Is Invisalign®?

Invisalign® is a clear-aligner treatment system. A series of custom-made
aligners is used to move teeth progressively.

What Is FASTBRACES®?

FASTBRACES® is an orthodontic treatment system that uses brackets and
wires to move teeth.

Which Treatment Should I Choose?

Dr. Un Chong (Maxine) Tam will evaluate tooth position, bite, spacing,
crowding, gum and bone health, lifestyle, treatment complexity, and
desired outcome before making a recommendation.

✨ Cosmetic Dentistry

Cosmetic dentistry focuses on improving the appearance of the teeth and
smile while also considering oral health, function, and the bite.

Professional Whitening or Store-Bought Whitening?

Professional whitening is supervised by a dental professional and can be
selected according to oral health and type of discoloration.

What Are Porcelain Veneers?

Veneers are thin dental restorations placed over the visible surfaces of
selected teeth. They may improve tooth shape, size, discoloration, small
spaces, minor chips, and selected alignment concerns.

❤️ General & Restorative Dentistry

Why Are Regular Dental Examinations Important?

Some dental problems produce little or no discomfort in their early
stages. Identifying a concern earlier may allow it to be treated before
it becomes more extensive.

Why Do My Gums Bleed?

• Plaque accumulation
• Gingivitis
• Periodontal disease
• Inconsistent brushing or flossing
• Irritation or injury
• Certain medications
• Hormonal changes

How Do I Know Whether I Need a Root Canal?

• Persistent tooth pain
• Prolonged sensitivity to hot or cold
• Pain when biting
• Swelling
• A pimple-like area on the gum
• Deep tooth decay
• A cracked or injured tooth

When Do Wisdom Teeth Need Attention?

Wisdom teeth may need evaluation when they cause pain, swelling,
infection, gum irritation, difficulty cleaning, crowding concerns, or
damage to a neighboring tooth.

🙋 Frequently Asked Questions

Why Does My Tooth Hurt?

Tooth pain may be caused by decay, infection, a cracked tooth, gum
disease, grinding, trauma, wisdom-tooth problems, or another dental
condition.

Can I Wait if the Tooth Pain Goes Away?

Not always. Dental pain may temporarily improve even though the
underlying problem remains.

Should I Pull My Tooth or Try to Save It?

Preserving a natural tooth may be appropriate when the tooth can be
predictably treated and restored. Some teeth, however, are too badly
damaged or have inadequate support.

Do You Accept PPO Dental Insurance?

We welcome patients with all PPO dental insurance plans.

Our goal is to help patients maximize available insurance benefits while
minimizing out-of-pocket costs whenever possible.

Do You Offer Financing?

Financing options may be available for qualified patients. Approval,
terms, eligibility, and payment amounts are determined by the financing
provider.

Which Communities Do You Serve?

We welcome patients from Healdsburg, Santa Rosa, Windsor, Cloverdale,
Geyserville, Ukiah, Willits, Lakeport, Clearlake, and surrounding
Northern California communities.