What To Do During a Dental Emergency
Life happens, and that might include a dental emergency. But do you know what to do during a dental emergency for either yourself or a member of your family? At Luminous Smiles in Newport Beach, California, we are here to help you during your time of need.
What constitutes a dental emergency?
A dental emergency is any dental issue that requires immediate medical attention. That can include things like:
- Cracked tooth
- Dental abscess
- Dislodged tooth
- Knocked-out tooth
- Lost or broken dental restoration
- Severe soft tissue injury to the mouth or jaw
- Severe toothache
For most dental emergencies, Dr. Desai will be able to treat you right in her office. However, if you are experiencing a dental emergency involving any kind of broken bones in the face, you should go to the emergency room immediately.
Many dentists will have an after-hours phone number you can call if you are experiencing a dental emergency. However, if you don’t have a dentist, or your dentist doesn’t have an after-hours number, and you are experiencing an emergency, you should head to an urgent care center or emergency room to be treated.
How To Handle a Dental Emergency
Each dental emergency is different, but here is what you should do if you find yourself dealing with any of the following dental emergencies.
Cracked Tooth: If your tooth is cracked, you should see your dentist as soon as possible. Take any pieces of the tooth you can salvage and rinse them so you can bring them with you to your appointment. Next, rinse your mouth with warm water, and if there is any bleeding, use a piece of gauze to help stop the bleeding. You can also apply a cold compress to the outside of your mouth near the cracked tooth to help relieve pain and to keep swelling down.
Dental Abscess: See your dentist as soon as you can if you have a dental abscess, which is an area of swollen tissue that happens around the root of the tooth or on the gums. If left untreated, an abscess can spread to surrounding teeth and gums. To treat an abscess at home until you can see your dentist, rinse your mouth with a salt water solution several times a day. The solution should consist of half a teaspoon of table salt to eight ounces of warm water.
Dislodged Tooth: If your tooth has become dislodged, this is a case when you should make an appointment to see your dentist as soon as possible. To help with pain and swelling, you can take an over-the-counter pain medication and use a cold compress on your face.
Knocked-Out Tooth: If your tooth has been knocked out, it is important to handle it by the crown, or the part that is visible above the gums. Immediately rinse the tooth off with water, but don’t try to scrub the roots. If you are able, try to put the tooth back in the socket and make your way to the dentist immediately. The tooth has the best chance to be saved if you can get to the dentist within an hour. If the tooth isn’t able to be placed back in the socket, place the tooth in a small glass of milk while you make your way to the dentist.
Lost or Broken Dental Restoration: It’s possible that a dental restoration, like a filling or crown, can crack or break. If your dental restoration breaks or gets lost, see your dentist immediately so it can be fixed. In the meantime, visit a pharmacy for dental cement and, if possible, put the restoration back into place.
Severe Toothache: If you have a severe toothache that won’t go away, make an appointment to see your dentist as soon as possible. In the meantime, there are a few things you can do to help relieve the pain. First, rinse your mouth with warm water, which can help remove any pieces of food that might be lodged in between your teeth. You can also use dental floss if you think a piece of stuck food is what is causing your toothache. To help relieve the pain, you can take an over-the-counter pain medication, as well as apply a cold compress to your face to help with swelling.
Soft Tissue Injury: A soft tissue injury is any type of dental emergency that happens to the soft tissues in and around your mouth, like the gums, lips, tongue, and cheek. If you can’t get the bleeding to stop from a soft tissue injury by rinsing your mouth with a salt water solution, get to your dentist or an urgent care facility as soon as possible for treatment.
Visit Luminous Smiles for all your dental needs.
Not all dental needs are the same, but Dr. Desai at Luminous Smiles is available to help you in your time of need. Dr. Desai is an experienced dentist who holds some of the highest accreditations out there. She is one of only 500 dentists across the country who is accredited by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry—and the only female dentist in the Newport Beach area to hold this distinction! If you are experiencing a dental emergency, give our office a call to see if Dr. Desai can help you.
