A dental emergency means you have dental damage and discomfort that needs immediate attention. Otherwise, complications could arise down the road, like tooth decay or even an infected or missing tooth. In today’s blog, your Newhall, CA, dentist talks about how to ease your discomfort and when to see our team for treatment.
Common Examples
A dental emergency refers to injury or pain in your teeth or gums that isn’t life threatening. If you have severe damage to your face or jaw, you should proceed to the emergency room or call 911. Otherwise, you should give us a call even if your issue arises outside of normal business hours. We will find a time to see you quickly. Examples include damaged teeth, sudden toothaches, objects caught between teeth that floss can’t remove, a damaged or missing restoration, or a tooth that is knocked loose or out. When these issues develop, you need to see us right away!
Easing Your Initial Discomfort
In addition to taking an over-the-counter pain reliever, you can also take other measures to ease discomfort. For example, for a chipped or cracked tooth, rinse with warm water and stem the bleeding with a cloth or gauze. Use a cold compress to ease facial swelling too! If a tooth aches or has an object stuck between teeth, rinse with warm water and floss gently. Then see us if this fails to remedy the issue. If a crown or filling is loose or missing, contact us right away. Don’t try to re-attach it yourself, and avoid sugary foods or drinks or items that are especially hot or cold, as this could cause discomfort.
If a tooth is knocked out, then pick it up by the crown, never the root. Rinse away dirt, but not tissue, under gently running water. Then place it in a glass of milk or salt water, or failing that, back into the socket. Gently bite down to keep in place. Bring it to the office with you.
Seeking Treatment
Our team can use bonding to repair a tooth in one visit, or place a crown for a more severe case. We could re-insert your tooth, or replace it if necessary with a prosthetic. No matter how minor or severe your dental emergency, we can discuss treatment options to restore the health, function, and beauty of your smile. If you have any questions about our approach to dental emergency care, then contact our team today to learn more.
Talk to Us About Preventive Dentistry
Don’t let a dental emergency cause trouble for your oral health. You can schedule an appointment by calling your Newhall, CA, dentist, Dr. Tajik, at (661) 259-7760.