Knowing how to respond to a dental emergency could significantly reduce stress and discomfort associated with unforeseen oral health issues. Our emergency dentist provides same-day treatment for a number of unexpected crises including toothaches, broken restorations, and knocked out or broken teeth.
The first step to responding to a dental emergency is to call your dentist as soon as possible. When calling, be sure to give information about the nature of your emergency and any symptoms you have. This will give your oral healthcare provider the information necessary to prepare for your emergency appointment. We recommend keeping the phone number to your dentist’s office stored in your mobile phone so you can call as soon as possible.
Tips for Responding to Specific Dental Emergencies
The way you respond to a dental crisis could vary depending on the nature of your emergency. Here are some helpful tips for common emergencies.
Chipped/Cracked/Knocked Out Teeth:
Knocking out, chipping, or cracking a tooth is a common emergency. If you encounter this distressing situation, try to stay calm. Locate your tooth or its pieces, if possible, and save them. Your dentist might be able to reattach your tooth. When saving a tooth or its pieces, place it in milk or a tooth-preserving solution such as Save-A-Tooth.
Toothaches:
A toothache can be incredibly painful. This is often because the internal structures of a tooth are infected. Without professional treatment, you risk losing your tooth to an infection.
If you have a toothache, make an appointment as soon as possible. In the meantime, be sure to maintain vigilant oral hygiene and avoid irritating the area by touching it. You can take over the counter medications to control pain but never dissolve aspirin at the site of a toothache inside your mouth.
Broken Prosthetics and Restorations:
Although prosthetics and restorations like dentures and bridges are durable, they can break or come loose. If this happens, call your oral healthcare provider to make an appointment. He or she might be able to repair and/or reattach your crown, bridge, or denture.
For more information or to schedule an appointment with our emergency dentist, call Crosspointe Dental & Orthodontics today.