What qualifies as a dental emergency?
When we hear the term dental emergency, that's a pretty broad category. For the most part, I classify anything that's going on in your mouth that doesn't feel like it's normal or it should be that way as a dental emergency. This can take the form of pain, which is pretty easy to identify. Obviously, if something's hurting, that's usually a dental emergency, as things shouldn't be hurting in a healthy and happy mouth. Another form of a dental emergency could be something that's broken, or at least feels broken, meaning a tooth doesn't feel the way it normally does. It could also involve the soft tissue. If you're feeling something unusual on your cheek, tongue, lips, gums, or the roof of your mouth, such as a change in texture, swelling, or discoloration, it could be a problem. Sometimes these issues aren't necessarily a problem, but sometimes they are. Either way, the best thing to do when you feel like you have a dental emergency is to give our office a call. Our staff can definitely talk you through what's going on, and if we feel there's a need for you to come in, we'll get that done as soon as possible.
Can you treat a broken tooth in one visit?
A lot of times people will break teeth, often at the most inopportune times. Not to worry—if that happens to you, please give our office a call. Many times we can take care of it in one visit, or at least start the process of taking care of it. Depending on the situation, it may take multiple visits, but either way, the best thing to do is to give our office a call so we can help you out.
What should I do if I lose a tooth, say in an accident?
If you've lost a tooth, either because it was knocked out or fell out, and the tooth is still relatively healthy, there's sometimes a chance we can put the tooth back in and stabilize it. This way, it can reattach to your gums and bone. If that happens, try to keep it as healthy and vital as possible by keeping the tooth in your mouth or soaking it in milk. However, if the tooth is broken, unhealthy, or infected, you won't want to put it back in your mouth. In those cases, we need to focus on keeping you comfortable and healthy and work on trying to replace the tooth with something better.
What if my dental emergency is after hours?
We have a voicemail at the office that will answer if we're not in. The voicemail message includes my cell phone number. If you have a problem or need something after hours, you can call that number, and I will do my best to call you back and talk you through handling your after-hours emergency.
What can I do to manage my tooth pain at home until I'm able to get into the dental office?
Many people experience tooth pain and can't see us right away. There are a couple of options. Usually, I recommend a combination of ibuprofen (Advil) and acetaminophen (Tylenol). The best way to manage pain over-the-counter is to use these two medications in tandem. For example, take one or two Advil at the first hour, and then an hour or two later, take a Tylenol, and keep alternating. Both medications work well together for managing pain. I know some people can't take ibuprofen due to liver or kidney issues. In those cases, you can try naproxen or just Tylenol by itself. These tend to be the best ways of managing pain. There are also topical gels and pastes you can apply to the area if it's hurting. Unfortunately, these are not as long-lasting and often only address surface pain. If something is deeper, they might not help much, but they can provide temporary relief. Either way, the best thing is to try and see us as soon as possible, so please give us a call.