When You Have A Dental Emergency
Dental emergencies may happen at any time, often catching us by surprise. Because the care you receive or do not receive can mean the difference between saving and losing your tooth, it’s best to contact your dentist immediately if you experience any of the following injuries (even if it’s after business hours):
- Chipped or Broken Tooth: When classifying a chipped or broken tooth, it’s possible that a chipped tooth can wait until normal business hours. However, if the tooth is severely chipped (a larger portion has chipped away), individuals should seek immediate attention. In the meantime, there are a few ways that you can help. First, if the tooth has been chipped in multiple pieces that have fallen away, try to gather those pieces and rinse them off. In turn, rinse your mouth with warm water. Apply pressure with gauze to help stop any bleeding. Last, ice compresses may be used to combat inflammation. When the tooth is actually broken, there is no question—contact the dentist right away. While you may not experience major pain, dentists must check the nerve inside the tooth for damage.
- Knocked-Out Tooth: There is no guesswork involved when a tooth is knocked out. Individuals must seek immediate medical care. Yet, if you have the tooth, attempt to place it back in the socket while biting down on gauze. If you’re not able to recover the tooth, or if the tooth will not stay in the socket, you can bite on a cold, wet compress until you reach the dental office. In turn, make sure the tooth is clean and free of dirt.
- Abscesses: Depending on the patient and the area in which an abscess occurs, there may be little to no pain. Yet, abscesses are considered dental emergencies anyway. This is because infection may spread to other areas of the body.
For many involved in dental-related accidents this year, the problem may not clear-cut. Thus, if you find that you’re in this predicament, call your dentist. One can never be too cautious when it comes to damage to their teeth.
Dr. Ashish Patel and the staff at Lawrenceville Family Dental Care provide comfortable care that puts you at ease, even in the event that you need emergency dental care. Your should know—our doctors are emergency dentists that you can count on during a crisis. That’s why we welcome your call today. With a sense of urgency concerning your case, Dr. Patel delivers caring and compassionate care, with a sense of urgency.
Posted on behalf of Lawrenceville Family Dental Care
