Emergency Dentistry

How to Handle Common Dental Emergencies

When you contact our office, one of our experienced team members can talk you through what to do on the phone to prevent any further damage from occurring. Even if you’re not sure whether the issue warrants a call to your emergency dentist in Castle Shannon, we’ll let you know if you need immediate assistance when you contact us. Here are some basic care tips in case you find yourself with an unexpected dental dilemma on your hands.

Learn More About How to Handle Common Dental Emergencies

Toothaches

A toothache can be a sign of a serious oral health problem or something as simple as a piece of food stuck between your teeth. First, gently brush your teeth and floss to see if your pain is caused by something like a popcorn kernel. If your pain persists, call us immediately and, if possible, avoid eating until after your appointment with us.

Chipped/Broken Tooth

If you damaged a tooth, chances that it can be repaired are high if you take the necessary steps to protect the rest of the structure. Swish lukewarm salt water around your mouth to clear the area of any debris. If you notice swelling, place a cold compress on the outside of your cheek. You can use orthodontic wax to cover up any sharp ends to protect your oral tissues from getting cut. Be sure to contact us immediately.

Knocked-Out Tooth

Be sure to retrieve your knocked-out tooth and gently rinse it under cool water, being sure to handle it by it’s biting surface only. Swish lukewarm water around your mouth and try to place the tooth back in its socket. If you aren’t able to, you can place it in a baggie of milk to keep it moist until you reach our office. Time is of the essence, so try to get to us within an hour of the accident if possible.

Lost Filling/Crown

For a lost crown or filling, try to retrieve the restoration if possible. You can use toothpaste or denture adhesive to reattach a dental crown until you get to our office. Try to avoid chewing in the area where your crown or filling is missing, and be gentle when you brush or floss. Contact us as soon as you notice.

How to Prevent Dental Emergencies

Preventing dental emergencies is actually easier than you may have thought. While you can never avoid them altogether, there are certain measures you can take to protect your smile, including:

• Keep up with your oral hygiene routine by brushing twice each day for two minutes and flossing daily.
• Visit Dr. Colleen every six months for your routine checkup and cleaning.
• Protect your teeth by using a sportsguard if you are an athlete or an oral appliance if you grind or clench your teeth.
• Quit bad habits like chewing on ice, fingernails, or other hard objects.

The Cost of Treating Dental Emergencies

Every dental emergency is different, meaning the price of each patient’s visit will vary depending on the treatment they need. During your appointment, Dr. Colleen will review your options with you, discuss cost, and help make an individualized treatment plan that repairs your smile without breaking your monthly budget. If you have any questions or are in need of immediate dental attention, don’t hesitate to contact us immediately!

Dental Emergency FAQs

As we mentioned earlier, nobody can predict a dental emergency. That is why being prepared with the right information beforehand is crucial in making sure the damage they cause is minimal. We believe that being educated about emergency situations is of the utmost importance when a dental emergency strikes. That’s why your emergency dentist in Castle Shannon has gathered some of the questions we get asked the most often about dental emergencies and answered them below for your convenience.

How Long Should I Wait to Receive Emergency Treatment?

Ideally, you should contact us right away should an emergency arise. Unlike a lot of general medical problems, like the common cold, dental issues usually don’t get better on their own. In fact, they often worsen with time. That’s why, if you are experiencing any of the emergency situations listed above, it’s best to seek treatment right away. Since most dental emergencies have some degree of pain associated with them, you’re going to want to contact us as soon as possible anyway so that we can relive your discomfort.

What If I Bite My Lip or Tongue?

Clean the wound immediately by rinsing with warm water. Ideally, you should get to a dentist, but if you can’t, then go to the emergency room of your local hospital. Bleeding from a laceration on the tongue can be reduced by pulling the tongue forward and putting pressure on the wound with a piece of gauze or cloth. To cut down on pain, apply a cold compress to the area once you have reduced the bleeding.

How Can I Prepare for Dental Emergencies?

You can pack a dental emergency kit to take with you in the case of an urgent dental problem. Include the following items:

• Your dentist’s phone number, both home and office
• Saline solution
• Gauze
• Handkerchief
• Small contained with a lid
• Ibuprofen (not aspirin, as aspirin is an anti-coagulant, which may cause excessive bleeding during a dental emergency)

What If My Child Knocks Out a Baby Tooth?

In this situation, do NOT try and re-implant the tooth the way you would for a dislodged adult tooth. Depending on how close the tooth was to falling out naturally, Dr. Cain will decide whether or not the tooth should be reattached. Like you would for a permanent tooth, hold the baby tooth by the crown, not the root, and keep it moist until you can reach our office. If the tooth wasn’t going to fall out for a while, we may place a space retainer in your child’s mouth to keep his or her remaining teeth from drifting into the gap.