When a dental emergency occurs, it can be hard to think about anything except the pain and discomfort you are experiencing. Even if you have good oral health overall, there are times when emergency dental care might be necessary.
Regardless of the severity of your dental emergency, one of the most important things you can do is to seek treatment immediately. A dental injury treated in the earliest stages helps to minimize potential complications down the road.
Our team at Aroma Smiles Dental is always here to help, offering convenient and fast emergency dental care. We invite you to call right away if you or a loved one is currently experiencing dental pain or any type of injury affecting the teeth or gums.
How Do You Know If You Need Emergency Dental Care?
One question our patients often ask is whether their dental condition is considered an emergency. While there are many routine issues that might not necessarily fall into the emergency category, you should never hesitate to reach out if you are wondering whether you need emergency dental care.
The main thing that differentiates a dental emergency from routine care is the severity of your symptoms. When the pain levels are high, there is a risk of infection, or you are facing permanent damage, then you shouldn’t hesitate to call our experienced team for an emergency appointment.
If you ever have questions about whether you need urgent dental care, then the simplest solution is to pick up the phone and talk to our staff members. We’ll ask questions about your injury and symptoms, and provide recommendations about the ideal treatments and timeline.
Examples of Dental Emergencies
There are a variety of reasons why it might make sense to call a 24-hour dentist. Here are some of the most common dental emergencies that we see in our office:
- Dental Pain: Whether you have a toothache or any other type of dental pain, you shouldn’t continue to suffer. A toothache won’t go away without treatment, which is why you need to reach out for emergency dental care.
- Knocked-Out Tooth: Did you know that the window of time to save a knocked-out tooth is only a few hours? Just because a tooth has been knocked out, doesn’t mean that you must live with a gap in your smile. Call us as soon as possible and we will provide immediate care instructions and meet you at the office for an emergency treatment.
- Broken or Chipped Tooth: If you have a chipped or broken tooth, then it’s essential to seek urgent dental care as soon as possible. Even if the damage isn’t bothering you too much, leaving it untreated can result in more severe complications in the coming days and months. It’s essential that you repair the damaged tooth right away.
- Swollen Gums: Sometimes, the symptoms might be minor with just a bit of swelling in one part of your mouth. Other times, you might notice a dental abscess forming around a painful tooth. Swollen gums are often an indication of an infection, and are common with other symptoms such as dental bleeding. It’s important to seek dental care quickly so that the infection can be treated and you can avoid gum recession and tooth loss.
Immediate Steps to Take When a Dental Emergency Happens
In the stress of the moment, you might not know what to do when a dental emergency happens. Everyone should know basic first aid to handle the injury while you are on the way to visit with an after-hours dentist.
The specific first-aid recommendations depend on the type of dental emergency that you are experiencing.
- Knocked Out Tooth: Carefully pick it up by the crown and avoid touching the root. Place the tooth in milk or saline and go to the dental office as soon as possible. You only have a few hours to save the tooth.
- Severe Toothache: You might be able to have dental pain relief by flossing around the tooth to remove any lodged food particles. If there is an infection in the tooth, then pain reliever medications can help to reduce the symptoms. But you still need to visit a dentist for emergency treatments.
- Broken Tooth: First, rinse your mouth with warm water. If you have any broken pieces, then save them so that you can bring them to your appointment.
Any time you have bleeding areas in your mouth, then it’s a good idea to apply gauze to control the bleeding.
FAQ
What to do for a severe toothache?
At-home recommendations include rinsing your mouth with warm water and flossing thoroughly to remove any food particles that are trapped between the teeth. Over-the-counter pain medication can help, as well as a cold compress to manage the swelling. Call an emergency dentist immediately.
How to handle a dental emergency?
The most important things you can do in a dental emergency are to stay calm and call our dental office right away. We’ll provide recommendations such as controlling the bleeding and preserving the tooth.
What are the best tips for finding an emergency dentist near me?
The best solution is to reach out to your regular dentist to see if emergency dental care is provided. We offer after-hours and weekend services for our patients as needed.
What should I expect for emergency dental care cost?
Your out-of-pocket costs will vary greatly depending on the types of dental services you need, as well as available insurance coverage. Emergency dental care typically costs a little more than a routine dental appointment since it’s outside of normal hours.
Do I have dental insurance coverage for emergencies?
Insurance coverage varies, which is why you should check your policy to anticipate your out-of-pocket costs.
Emergency Dental Care for the Whole Family
Don’t make the mistake of assuming that home remedies for toothache will be sufficient. You need to protect and preserve your teeth, which is why it’s always a great investment to visit with an emergency dentist as soon as possible.
Whether you are looking for routine dental services or a weekend dentist, Dr. Kawani and our team are here to help. We offer years of experience and complete dental services to help you maintain a healthy and happy smile. Reach out at your convenience to book an appointment and learn more about emergency dental care and general dentistry services.