Dental emergencies are not something you should ever put off. A tooth which may only require a simple filling today can easily worsen over time, resulting in the need for a dental crown later. Our dental office is more than equipped to help you treat you and your family’s dental emergencies, regardless of how minor or serious they may be. At Smiles Dental, we’ll do everything we can to get you seen the same day. Call our dental office now to get your emergency dentistry needs handled!
Why Choose Smiles Dental for Emergency Dentistry?
How to Handle Dental Emergencies
Dental emergencies typically fall into two categories. This includes long-term damage to teeth as a result of decay or infection, and short-term damage caused by physical trauma. Dr. Niraja can treat both types of emergencies, which is why you should always start by calling her dental office first. This way, you can get scheduled for an emergency appointment. However, until you arrive, here’s what you should do to better prepare for your visit.
Toothaches
Check if any food debris is caught in between your teeth where the pain occurs. If pain persists, take an over-the-counter painkiller like ibuprofen, but avoid aspirin. Aspirin can easily cause a burning sensation if it comes into contact with your tooth. When you arrive, our dental office may perform decay removal or prescribe antibiotics to remove an infection as part of your treatment.
Chipped/Broken Teeth
Chipped or broken teeth that are minor and do not cause any pain can be handled during normal business hours. However, if pain is present or the tooth is in danger of harming your lips, tongue, cheeks or gums, take an OTC painkiller and use either sugarless chewing gum or wax paraffin to cover the tooth temporarily. Use a cold compress to reduce any swelling. Our dental office may recommend cosmetic bonding or a dental crown depending on the extent of the damage. Save any pieces of tooth that you can to bring to our dental office.
Knocked-Out Tooth
Knocked-out teeth need to be handled with extreme care. Do not remove any tissue still attached and only touch the tooth by the crown. After rinsing out your mouth and gently rinsing any debris off of your tooth, attempt to place it back into your socket. If not possible, place the tooth in a container of milk, saltwater or saliva to keep it preserved. Get to our dental office as soon as possible to have the tooth reimplanted. We may also discuss dental bridges or implants to replace the tooth if needed.
Lost Filling / Crown
If you still have the restoration, rinse out your mouth and attempt to place it back onto your natural tooth. Applying clove oil to the tooth beforehand can help reduce discomfort as well. Adhere the restoration to the tooth using either a dental cement or denture adhesive to protect the exposed area. If the crown is not salvageable, we will most likely replace it entirely.
How to Prevent Dental Emergencies
Dental emergencies are largely prevented via daily brushing and flossing as well as routine visits to our dental office for cleanings and exams. This allows us to confirm the condition of your current oral health and make sure no underlying problems that could lead to a dental emergency currently exist. However, those who participate in contact sports will need to wear a mouthguard for additional protection. If you grind your teeth, a nightguard will be needed to prevent unintentional damage and even cracked teeth. You should also avoid using your teeth as a tool and chewing ice – both of these activities can end in an emergency situation.
Cost of Treating Dental Emergencies
The cost of treating your dental emergency can vary depending on the severity of your issue. In many cases, decay removal and a dental filling is all that’s needed to treat a toothache, but other cases require long-term antibiotic use to treat an oral infection that’s causing pain. Other times, more restorative treatments like crowns, implants or periodontal therapy are needed. The only way to know for sure what your treatment will cost is to receive a more detailed examination at our dental office.