Dental emergencies are nothing close to fun!
What to do in a dental emergency:
Needing to go to an emergency doctor is always a stressful situation. Between adrenaline, concern, and lack of working knowledge of dental emergency care, dental emergencies can be worrisome, to say the least. To help make this situation a little easier, we wanted to spread the word about what you should do in a dental emergency. Step one: locate the best emergency dentist Arlington, TX has to offer.
Points to remember:
- Stay calm
- Determine the type of emergency you’re having
- Call your emergency dentist
- If you are bleeding and it won’t stop, go to the ER immediately
Once you’ve located your reliable and trustworthy emergency dentist, you need to asses the type of emergency you’re having.
Types of dental emergencies:
Pain
Dental pain can be the result of any number of emergencies. However, if you are suffering from a severe toothache and can’t determine the cause, you should start by rinsing your mouth with warm water and gently flossing between your teeth. You can also try NSAID pain relievers.
However, since it’s likely that you’re past this point if you’re reading this blog, then you should see your emergency dentist right away. Severe or persistent pain can be a result of:
- Infection
- Decay
- Chipped or broken tooth
To make sure that you aren’t dealing with a more serious underlying issue, visit your emergency dentist. Persistent or severe pain is never normal.
Broken or chipped tooth
If you know that you’ve broken or chipped a tooth, you should be careful to, if possible, to save the pieces of your tooth.
What to do:
- Rinse your mouth with warm water
- Apply a cold compress to the area
- Be careful not to cut your tongue or gums with any sharp edges
- Visit your dentist as soon as possible
Knocked out tooth
If you or a family member has knocked out a tooth, it is important that you protect the tooth. Very gently remove any visible debris from the tooth by rinsing it with warm water, and place it back in its socket or in a glass of milk until you can get to your emergency dentist.
- Gently clean the tooth with warm water
- Put the tooth back in its socket or a glass of milk
- See your dentist within 30 minutes for the best chance to re-implant your natural tooth!
The chances are pretty good that you are in a lot of pain. Get to your emergency dentist as soon as possible. Knocking out a tooth does not necessarily mean that you have lost your tooth for good! Saving your tooth is possible with timely treatment.
Something is stuck in your teeth
Our teeth are really good at holding onto things—bacteria, plaque, food particles, etc. If there is something stuck between your teeth and you can’t remove it with floss, visit your emergency dentist for appropriate removal.
- DO NOT use something sharp to try to remove it.
Visit your dentist as soon as possible to avoid infection and damage to oral tissues.
If you are bleeding and it will not stop, go to the emergency room.
Dental emergencies can be scary. If you aren’t positive that you’re having an actual dental emergency, call your dentist.
Finding a reliable emergency dentist is essential in establishing a dental home. If you are looking for a reliable emergency dentist in Arlington, TX, look no further. Call us with your emergency today!
We never turn away a patient in pain.
If you’re experiencing a dental emergency or looking for a trusted Arlington emergency dentist, call our office at (817) 484-5588. We look forward to serving you.