After you’ve called us for your dental emergency, you’ll need to take care of your teeth and manage your pain until you can get to our office. Below, you’ll find some basic tips for dealing with the more common dental emergencies. Our team can also give you advice tailored to your specific situation during your initial call. Taking the proper first aid steps can make the rest of the treatment process much easier.
It can be difficult to know if you need immediate care or not, but a good rule of thumb is to call us if you’re ever in doubt. That said, here are some examples of dental emergencies that need to be treated right away:
In some cases, general health problems like a cold or flu will get better with time. Unfortunately, that doesn’t apply to dental problems, which only get worse!
To avoid further pain and damage to your teeth, we recommend calling us immediately to make the first available appointment, especially in cases like a knocked-out tooth. This is because we have a better chance of saving it if we see you within an hour.
Yes. A knocked-out tooth must be kept moist to stay “alive,” but milk is a better choice than water. It contains antibacterial agents, sugars that the cells on the root need to survive, and proteins to maintain the right balance of acids, all of which keep the tooth healthier and make it easier to save.
Not necessarily, but each situation is different, so it will depend on the type and severity of the problem. With that said, our main goal is to save your natural teeth whenever possible. To assess the damage, we’ll start with an exam and diagnostic images like X-rays. From there, we’ll discuss our findings and recommend the best type of treatment.
If you have a deep cavity or severe toothache, a root canal can relieve your pain and treat the infection while preventing the need for an extraction. Afterward, a dental crown can be done to restore the strength, function and appearance of the tooth.
However, if a cavity or injury has destroyed most of a tooth’s structure, an extraction may be necessary. In these cases, we’ll also discuss replacement options such as a dental implant or bridge.
Throbbing tooth pain could be an indication of several things, including an infection or considerable inflammation within the tooth. Ultimately, it’s a warning sign that something is wrong, so don’t ignore it! Instead, call our emergency dentist in your area to schedule an exam. At your visit, one of our dedicated dentists will complete a comprehensive oral exam, determine what’s causing the throbbing sensation, and, perhaps most importantly, help you decide which treatment is best for you.
Sometimes, same-day care isn’t necessary, even if you are dealing with some mild discomfort, soreness, or sensitivity. If that’s the case for you, we recommend taking a few proactive steps to ensure you can get a good night’s sleep. The first is avoiding spicy, sugary, and acidic foods at dinner. The second is taking OTC pain medication about 30 minutes before bed and, when you’re ready to go to sleep, prop yourself on a few pillows to prevent blood from rushing to your head during the night.
If your toothache suddenly disappears, you might initially think that’s good news; that the decay, infection, or whatever else was causing your discomfort is gone. However, the opposite is usually true: the root of the problem has progressed to the point where it has “killed” the nerve of your tooth. So, don’t wait – call us right away to schedule an emergency exam. This will give us the highest chance of being able to save your tooth.
No, you cannot pop a dental abscess on your own. Not only will this expose your mouth to more bacteria, but doing so can irritate the area more and cause the infection to spread throughout your head, throat, and neck. If you find a pimple-like bump on your gums, schedule an appointment with us within the next day or two. That way, we can safely open and drain the abscess.
Patients are often surprised to hear that emergency exams usually aren’t costly, but it’s true! Plus, we offer several financial solutions to our patients so the cost isn’t the only thing preventing them from scheduling an appointment. The first is dental insurance, which often covers a significant portion of the cost of essential restorative care. The second is CareCredit, which allows you to space out the total price into smaller, monthly chunks that work within your budget.
Important reminder: Although it may be tempting to take the “wait and see” approach in hopes that you’ll save money, that usually has the opposite effect. The best choice for your smile and your wallet is to visit us when the abnormal symptoms first arise so we can intervene with the most conservative care possible.