Copyright 2014- Dental WebSmith, Inc. and Glade Dental Clinic. All rights reserved. Disclaimer: The information provided within is intended to help you better understand dental conditions and procedures. It is not meant to serve as delivery of medical or dental care. If you have specific questions or concerns, contact your health care provider.
Dr. Ronnie L. Brown, a native of Lebanon, VA, is a 1969 graduate of the Medical College of Virginia. He served four years in the Army Dental Corp before beginning his private practice in January of 1974. He has a great passion for dentistry and is a member of the American Dental Association, the Virginia Dental Association, where he served on the executive council, and a member and past president of the Southwest Virginia Dental Society. Dr. Brown has been nominated and accepted into the International College of Dentists. He is an avid outdoorsman, enjoying hiking, camping, fishing and hunting in the great west every fall.
Dr. Bob L. Brown, a native of Lebanon, VA, received a pharmacy degree from the Medical College of Virginia in June 1970 and a Doctor of Dental Science in May 1974. He spent the summer of 1974 working as a pharmacist in Nome, Alaska and returned to Abingdon to practice dentistry that fall. Dr. Brown is a member of the American Dental Association, the Virginia Dental Association and the Southwest Virginia Dental Society. Like his brother Ronnie, he is an avid outdoorsman and spends a big part of his free time hiking in the mountains of Southwest Virginia with his four legged children, Maggie May, Robert Lee, Bill Henry and Gage.
Dr. Christopher W. Thurston is a native of Tazewell County. In 2008, he graduated from the University of Virginia with a degree in Biology. He obtained a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from Virginia Commonwealth University where he also received the Dr. Hugh B. Douglas, Jr. award for excellence in Prosthodontics. Dr. Thurston is a member of the American Dental Association, Virginia Dental Association, and Southwest Virginia Dental Society. Like the Brown brothers, he enjoys camping, fishing, hiking and hunting along with spending time with his wife, Virginia and their four legged children, Maggie, Lilly and Belvedere.
Dr. Tyler J. Toney is a native of Forest City, NC. In 2007, he graduated from Campbell University located in Buies Creek, NC with a degree in Biology and Chemistry, receiving the faculty award for Excellence in Biology. He obtained a Doctor of Dental Surgery from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2012. Dr. Toney is a member of the American Dental Association, Virginia Dental Association and Southwest Virginia Dental Society. He enjoys spending time with his wife, Alyssa and daughters, Tenley and Landry.
Although the weekend is only two days long, it might seem as though it's longer if you are experiencing a tooth problem. Here are some tips for coping with a dental emergency after hours or on the weekend.
Home Remedies: While nothing can substitute for prompt dental care if you have a toothache, treating your discomfort at home can at least buy you some time. Over-the-counter analgesics like acetaminophen or ibuprofen are usually effective at dulling tooth pain so you can function and get some sleep.
While you should avoid oral anesthetic gels, because they can irritate your gums, you can try slipping a whole clove in the side of your cheek next to the aching tooth. Clove oil can naturally encourage the nerve to settle down. You can also apply an ice pack to the outside of your face or try running hot water over the area in the shower. Finally, swishing with warm salt water can temporarily relieve tooth pain.
A Lost Filling: If you lose or crack a dental filling, it's important to baby the tooth until you can get it fixed. Once a filling is dislodged, the rest of the tooth becomes more prone to breaking. So be careful to chew on the opposite side of your mouth. Also, brush and swish with mouthwash or salt water to keep the area clean.
Visit your pharmacy to find a temporary dental filling material that you can apply yourself to tide you over for a few days. Don't place a temporary filling and then forget about it, it's vital to get into the office when it opens again, as these materials are not meant to stand up for the long haul.
In case of severe pain or major swelling: Most of the time, dental problems are annoying and painful, but not particularly dangerous. An abscess or other dental infection is the exception to that rule! If you have a swollen jaw or are having excruciating pain, suspect an abscess, GO TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM. The most important thing at this point is to get on an antibiotic as soon as possible, even if you have to wait a day or two to see your dentist.