Dental emergencies can be scary mostly because they’re not talked about. Everyone knows where to go if you’re having a heart attack or break a leg, but what do you do if you’ve encountered a dental emergency and how do you handle it until you get to where you need to go?
In order to answer these questions, it’s helpful to have an idea of some of the most common dental emergencies Dr. Dokhanchi sees on a regular basis.
Broken Tooth
Just thinking of a broken tooth can make someone with even the strongest stomach wince. And rightfully so. Enamel is the strongest substance in the human body. To break it takes a lot of force.
Oftentimes we see broken teeth when someone is playing sports or their tooth has been hit at just the right angle. If you experience a broken tooth it’s important to give our office a call right away. We can get you in and do our best to save the tooth.
Typically, when a tooth is broken blood flow is interrupted and the tooth dies. With proper intervention the tooth can sometimes be saved. If it can’t, a root canal is often performed to keep the tooth, but halt decay.
Knocked Out Tooth
If you find yourself with a tooth that’s been knocked out your first line of defense after you stop any bleeding is to get the tooth in a cup of milk or a moist paper towel. This gives it the best chance of being saved and kept alive.
Give us a call and bring the tooth in immediately. This gives us the highest probability of saving the tooth and making sure your smile is restored. Patients who cannot have their teeth saved have other options like removable prosthetics (dentures) or permanent prosthetics like implants.
Jaw Swelling
Swelling is the body’s natural way of responding to injury or irritation. The cause might be visible at the surface level or require more extensive testing or imaging like x-rays. The minute you see any swelling it’s important that you give us a call so that we can determine if you need to come in or if you can treat yourself at home.
Painful Toothache
Any pain in your teeth is not normal and should be addressed. If you’ve tried over the counter medications and don’t notice a difference, touch base with us. Pay attention to any swelling or other signs of infection. The most important thing is to observe your symptoms and report them to us.
If you find yourself in a dental emergency, don’t wait to get treatment. Get in touch with us, follow the care steps above, and come in to get taken care of.
