Emergency Dental Tips
Dental emergencies often occur at the most inconvenient times. The following tips can you determine how urgent the emergency is and how best to seek treatment.
Ouch! I have the worst toothache, help!:
Tooth pain can be very distracting, but sometimes it comes at very inconvenient times. Pain is an indication that something is not as it should be, and you should seek treatment. However, whether or not a toothache is an emergency really depends on the severity, the consistency and your own tolerance. Delaying treatment for too long can result in much more severe problems, so it is highly recommended that you contact our office to schedule an appointment as soon as possible after you notice the pain. In some cases, there will be physical symptoms such as a bump or abscess that are a sure sign that you should be seen as soon as possible. We cannot diagnose the source of your pain without an examination, but often times the treatment needed is very minimal if treatment is sought early.
If you have a toothache, clean the area very well. Brush your teeth and floss to make sure there is no debris caught in between the teeth as that could cause discomfort. You may also want to try rinsing the mouth with salt water. Ibuprofen is a good way to manage the pain until you can be seen by Dr. Davis, as it is an anti-inflammatory as well as an analgesic. Do not put aspirin or any other painkiller directly on the gums as it could burn the gum tissue. Contact our office to schedule an appointment as soon as possible. Remember, the sooner you are seen the better chance you have of avoiding a major problem.
If you have a toothache, clean the area very well. Brush your teeth and floss to make sure there is no debris caught in between the teeth as that could cause discomfort. You may also want to try rinsing the mouth with salt water. Ibuprofen is a good way to manage the pain until you can be seen by Dr. Davis, as it is an anti-inflammatory as well as an analgesic. Do not put aspirin or any other painkiller directly on the gums as it could burn the gum tissue. Contact our office to schedule an appointment as soon as possible. Remember, the sooner you are seen the better chance you have of avoiding a major problem.
My Crown came off!:
It is important to get the crown back on your tooth as soon as possible. Dr Davis will tell you that this is an urgent issue. As he tells patients, "This might not be a 3 AM emergency, but it might be a 8:00 AM on Saturday emergency."
Teeth can begin shifting if there is not a tooth occupying the space, and if left too long, the teeth can shift so much that there is no longer room for the crown to fit.
You should contact the office to be scheduled as soon as possible.
If you are out of town or otherwise unable to come in to the office immediately, you can purchase denture adhesive from your nearest drug store. You should only purchase adhesive in a tube, like Polident. You can put a small amount of adhesive inside the crown and reposition the crown back on the tooth. This temporary solution should last until you can get into the office to have it cemented back in place.
Teeth can begin shifting if there is not a tooth occupying the space, and if left too long, the teeth can shift so much that there is no longer room for the crown to fit.
You should contact the office to be scheduled as soon as possible.
If you are out of town or otherwise unable to come in to the office immediately, you can purchase denture adhesive from your nearest drug store. You should only purchase adhesive in a tube, like Polident. You can put a small amount of adhesive inside the crown and reposition the crown back on the tooth. This temporary solution should last until you can get into the office to have it cemented back in place.
An entire tooth, including roots, has fallen out!:
Hold the tooth by the crown and rinse off the roots if the tooth is dirty. Do not scrub it or remove any tissue fragments that are still attached!! If possible, carefully place the tooth back into the socket and hold it there. If that is not possible, put the tooth in a cup of milk and contact Dr. Davis immediately as you will need to be seen immediately - make sure that you take the tooth with you when you come in to see the doctor!
Oh dear! My tooth broke off:
Depending on the severity of the break, there may or not be pain associated with a tooth fracture. Warm water should be used to rinse the mouth so as to clean the area. A cold compress can be used to reduce swelling. If the tooth is just chipped and there is no pain, contact our office to schedule a restoration at a convenient time. However, if there is pain associated with the breakage, or if the pulp is exposed or most of the tooth comes off, contact us immediately and request an emergency appointment.
If you bite your lip or tongue:
Clean the area with a cloth and apply a cold compress to help stop swelling. If bleeding does not stop within a reasonable amount of time, or if there appears to be severe tissue damage, we recommend seeking medical attention from your physician or, if need be, the emergency room.
I think I may have broken my jaw:
If you have an injury to your jaw and think it may be broken, apply an ice pack to reduce swelling and contact Dr. Davis immediately or seek immediate treatment from the emergency room.
