Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.
A serious fracture is one that exposes both the dentin and the pulp
tissue and should be treated promptly. The tooth may be displaced and loose,
and the gums may bleed. To prevent the loose tooth from falling out
completely, the dentist can splint the loose tooth by bonding it to the
adjacent teeth to help stabilize it while the underlying bone and gums heal.
Because of the high risk of pulp death, a root canal procedure may need to
be performed during the first visit. Alternatively, the dentist may elect to
only apply a sedative dressing on the splinted tooth to help calm the tooth
pain. The tooth will then be reevaluated in two to four weeks for root canal
procedure followed by a dental filling or crown. The splint is also removed
at that time.
The most serious injuries involve vertical, diagonal, or
horizontal fractures of the tooth roots. In most instances, fracture of the
tooth root leaves the injured tooth very loose, thus necessitating tooth
extraction. The extracted tooth is replaced with a removable plate containing a
false tooth. Teeth with horizontal fractures near the tip of the root may not
need extraction. However, root canal treatment for the injured tooth may be
required in the future if symptoms of pulp death and tooth infection appear.
Therefore, periodic X-rays of the fractured tooth are performed.
What about a chipped tooth?
A minor tooth fracture involves chipping of the enamel only.
The tooth
is not displaced, and there is no bleeding from the gums. The
only symptom
of such minor chipping may be sharp or rough tooth edges
irritating the
cheek and tongue. The injured tooth itself may not even be
painful or
sensitive to food or temperature. The risk of pulp injury is
small, and
treatment is not urgent. A small amount of orthodontic wax or
sugarless
gum can be placed over the rough edge until the dentist can be
reached.
Definitive treatment usually involves placing a dental filling,
a
porcelain or gold crown, or a "cap" to protect the
pulp of the
tooth and to restore normal tooth contour.
Toothache usually refers to pain around the teeth or jaws. In most instances, toothaches are caused by tooth or jaw problems, such as a dental cavity, a cracked tooth, an exposed tooth root, gum disease, disease of the jaw joint (TMJ), or spasms of the muscles used for chewing. A toothache can also be caused by a problem that does not originate from a tooth or the jaw, like diseases of the heart (angina or heart attack), ear infections, and sinus infections. A thorough oral examination, which includes dental X-rays, can help determine the cause.
Find out more about how orthodontic braces and retainers can provide proper alignment to crooked teeth. Get answers to all your braces questions about care, clear braces, and color bands.
The most common cause of a black eye is due to an injury to the face or head. Most black eye injuries are minor and heal on their own, however, some may lead to significant injury. In addition to trauma to the face, cosmetic surgery can cause a black eye(s) as a side effect. People should be aware of the situations in which medical care should be sought immediately for a black eye.
Endocarditis, a serious infection of one of the four heart valves is caused by growth of bacteria on one of the heart valves; leading to an infected massed called a "vegetation." The infection can be caused by having bacteria in the bloodstream after dental work, colonoscopy, or other similar procedures. Endocarditis symptoms include fever, fatigue, weakness, chills, aching muscles and joints, night sweats, edema in the legs, feet, or abdomen, malaise, shortness of breath and small skin lesions. Treatment for endocarditis is generally aggressive antibiotic treatment.
Learn more about what cavities like, their symptoms, treatment and prevention. See how tooth decay, plaque and bacteria contribute to the creation of cavities and how regular brushing and flossing can help.
Children's health is focused on the well-being of children from conception through adolescence. There are many aspects of children's health, including growth and development, illnesses, injuries, behavior, mental illness, family health and community health.
First aid is a complicated subject and it is situation-specific. First aid is the help and medical assistance that someone gives, not only to an injured person, but to a person who is sick. Preparedness is a key element of first aid, like having basic medical emergency kits in your home, car, boat, or RV. Cuts, puncture wounds, sprains, strains, nosebleeds are one type of injury that may require first aid; heart attacks, strokes, seizures, and heat stroke are examples of more critical first aid emergencies.
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