Photo of blown airbag

Accidents and injuries can change your smile in an instant. That’s because accidents can cause chipped, broken and loose teeth. They can also cause teeth to get knocked out partially or completely. Crowns may come loose or fall off, and, if the person was wearing braces at the time, the brackets and wires could be damaged as well. There may also be fractured or broken bones, soft tissue injuries and disfigurements of the mouth, jaw and face. The experts at Rutgers Health University Dental Associates see cases like this all the time. They know firsthand just how important it is to get treatment after a dental emergency.

patient in dentist

If you’ve ever had a small sore spot on the inside of your mouth, you might have been dealing with a lesion. Oral lesions are a fairly common occurrence and often benign, though usually uncomfortable. However, it’s hard to tell the difference between a harmless lesion and one that’s a symptom of a more serious condition. This guide to oral lesion diagnosis from Rutgers Health University Dental Associates introduces a few factors to consider when determining the cause of one.

dental x-ray

Your third molars, also called your wisdom teeth, are infamous for causing a variety of problems. Unfortunately, most wisdom tooth complications aren’t obvious until the damage is too serious to reverse. While leaving wisdom teeth in might seem safe, you could already have an invisible issue which will cause more problems later on. Normally, your general dentist will refer you to an oral surgeon when recommending the extraction of wisdom teeth. Here, Rutgers Health University Dental Associates describes a few common complications you can avoid by having your wisdom teeth removed sooner.

doctor reading a patient x-ray

Your dentist can identify cavities, periodontitis, and other issues affecting your teeth and mouth with the visual exam they perform at regular checkups. Yet in some cases, damage and disease hide out of sight. If left undetected, these problems can escalate quickly, causing pain, loss of function, and tooth loss.

To address dental problems before they become serious, the dentists at Rutgers Health University Dental Associates rely on oral radiology, or X-ray imaging. This imaging technology provides a view beneath the gums and inside the teeth and bone to support early detection and effective treatment.

oral surgery

If you suffer from multiple failing components in your mouth, you may be an ideal candidate for full mouth reconstruction. This refers to multiple restorative dentistry and surgical procedures that share a collective goal of restoring your overall oral health and enhance the aesthetics of your smile. Here’s a look at how to determine whether you may need full mouth reconstruction surgery, which is offered by Rutgers Health University Dental Associates.

Man smiling in the mirror

At Rutgers Health University Dental Associates, there’s a wide range of specialties available under one roof. Here, patients can see dentists, surgeons, prosthodontists and even orofacial pain specialists. If you’ve been living with chronic, debilitating pain in your mouth, jaw, head, face or neck, a specialist can offer help, unlike many dentists, who often lack the advanced training necessary to treat these disorders.