A knocked-out, or avulsed, tooth is an obvious and common dental emergency. More than 5 million teeth are knocked out every year. But knocking out a tooth isn’t the only type of dental emergency.
Here at Silver Lake Dentistry in Raymore, Montana, our gifted dentists, Josh Whitford, DDS, and Jessica Whitford, DDS, offer same-day appointments for dental emergencies whenever possible.
Taking fast action can save a damaged tooth, so our dentists want to share information about common dental emergencies and what to do about them.
We know that dental emergencies happen. Our team plans for emergencies by setting aside hours each day for patients with sudden and painful dental problems. Here are some dental issues that require emergency attention.
You should never ignore pain — it’s how your body tells you something is wrong. If you develop severe tooth or jaw pain, call us right away for advice. Acute pain can indicate an abscess, an infection that can lead to tooth loss and other problems if left untreated.
If you cut the soft tissue in your mouth, for example, during a sports accident and start bleeding uncontrollably, you need emergency dental care. Use clean gauze to try to control your bleeding, and ask someone to drive you to our office. If your injury occurs outside of our office hours, call us for advice.
Knocked-out teeth are common dental emergencies, but with prompt action on your part, and ours, we can save your tooth.
You can pick up your tooth, but be careful only to touch the crown of the tooth. Gently brush off any debris and, if possible, put the tooth back in its socket. Close your jaw, and bite gently on a piece of gauze to keep the tooth in place.
If you can’t place the tooth into its socket, tuck it between your cheek and gum, or if absolutely necessary, put it in a small, sealed container of milk or an over-the-counter Save-A-Tooth solution. Even though it’s critical to keep your tooth moist, don’t put it in water.
Apply a cold compress to reduce the swelling, and come to our office — preferably within 30 minutes. You can call our office if you knock out your tooth outside of office hours.
If you have a broken tooth, carefully rinse your mouth using warm water to clear away any food or debris. Apply a cold compress to your cheek to reduce the swelling and discomfort. If you have the broken piece of tooth, clean it, and try to preserve as you would for a knocked-out tooth. Call our office for personalized advice and to book your emergency appointment.
Adult teeth shouldn’t be loose. Whether you notice that a tooth is unstable in your jaw or sustain an accident that loosens a tooth, call us immediately to schedule an appointment.
Although a missing crown might feel like an emergency, you don’t necessarily need immediate treatment to save your tooth. You should still contact us right away and schedule the next possible appointment; after all, you don’t want to spend too many days with a gap in your smile.
Other dental issues that need prompt, but not emergency treatment include:
If you have a dental problem, don’t delay treatment. Our team provides outstanding emergency dental care to protect your oral health and smile. Give us a call for personalized advice and to schedule emergency dental treatment today.
