A dental emergency means you have a damaged or aching tooth, and treatment is necessary to avoid the onset of major complications and discomfort. We know these rarely happen during convenient work hours, which is why we offer emergency dental care to families in Dallas, TX. Even if the issue occurs at night or on a weekend, please give us a call so we can schedule a time to see you and offer repair! In today’s blog, we’re going to talk about how to approach common dental emergencies.
When to Call 911
When you sustain an injury that is potentially life threatening, or appears to be severe, you should immediately call 911 or proceed to the nearest emergency room. Dental emergencies involve damaged or missing teeth, but not issues that could potentially cause death or severe complications!
Give Us a Call
Otherwise, when you sustain a cracked or chipped tooth, or one is knocked out or loosened, let us know. Other potential emergency issues could include sudden tooth pain or an object lodged between your teeth that cannot be removed with floss. Cracked or chipped Invisalign® aligners could also be problematic, as could damaged or missing crowns or fillings. When these issues occur, even outside of normal business hours, then call our office. We have evening hours and can also see you outside normal business hours to address you concerns. Our team is also fluent in Spanish, Vietnamese, and Thai as well!
Your Initial Response to Ease Discomfort
Now, after you give us a call and arrange for a visit, you need to address our discomfort, or help the member of your family suffering from a broken or fractured tooth. First, you can always rinse with warm water and then administer an over-the-counter pain reliever for kids and adults, just make sure you follow the directions on packaging. If there is bleeding, you can stem this using a bit of cloth of gauze. A cold compress or ice pack against the side of the face could also help control facial swelling. If a tooth is damaged, we suggest trying to recover the lost pieces and bring them with you in a sealed container. If this isn’t possible, then don’t worry, we can still restore the tooth. If an object is caught between the teeth, only use floss to try and dislodged anything. Using anything else could cause damage to your gum tissues and teeth!
If a tooth is knocked out, pick it up by the crown, never touch the root, and gently rinse it under running water to remove dirt (but not tissues). You can place it in a glass of milk or salt water, or put it back into the socket and bite down gently to hold in place. Should you have a crown or filling that is loose or lost, then try to avoid hot or cold foods and drinks, or items high in sugar, as the exposed tooth is very sensitive. You could chew a piece of sugar-free gum and use this to essentially cover the tooth until we see you.
Repairing Fractured or Broken Teeth
If you have a chipped tooth, we could offer repair in one visit with dental bonding. Essentially, we use the same tooth-colored composite resin employed in our fillings to repair the damaged structure, rebuilding your smile. For more severe injuries or fractures, we could craft a lifelike and custom-made crown, one that looks natural, protects the tooth, and provides a durable and long-lasting chewing surface. We could also gently remove objects caught between the teeth, or restore your knocked out tooth.
Replacing Missing Teeth
When possible, we always strive to repair your teeth, or put your knocked out tooth back into your smile. However, in some cases severe injury or lack of timely treatment means the tooth needs to be extracted, or that it cannot be placed back into your smile. As a result, you now have a gap in your smile. But don’t worry! Our team offers an array of natural-looking and durable dental prosthetics to address minor or severe cases of tooth loss. We can place bridges and single tooth dental implants for individual missing teeth, or secure a full or partial denture. Addressing tooth loss helps prevent complications, and ensures you continue to enjoy a whole and beautiful smile for years to come!
Protecting Your Smile Future Injuries
First, talk to our team about an athletic mouthguard. If you play sports, we can create a mouthguard that provides smiles of ages with a strong layer of protection, one that shields your smiles from chips, cracks or knocked-out teeth. We could also address issues that weaken teeth, such as teeth grinding or tooth decay. Often, simple care each day to maintaining good oral hygiene could keep teeth strong and limit the risk of injuries and pain. You should brush and floss daily, avoid sugary foods and drinks, and see us for checkups and cleanings every six months. We don’t want poor oral health or an injury to cause problems for your long-term oral health. Instead, we want to protect your smile, and provide repair that keeps you smiling without hesitation. If you have any questions about how we approach dental emergencies, or about our preventive options to avoid injuries and health complications, then contact our team today to learn more. We would love to see you and your family for a checkup and cleaning visit!
Your Dallas, TX, Dentist Repairs Smiles of All Ages
Emergency care could often be the difference between painful cavities and infections, or a strong healthy smile, which is why you should let us know right away if you develop an injury! For more information on avoiding injuries and preventing major discomfort initially, then please schedule a consultation by calling the Viva Dental Family Dentistry office nearest you at (214) 337-7800 (Dallas) or (972) 437-6000 (Richardson). Should you sustain an injury, or have an aching tooth, please let us know right away! Our team is still practicing strict health and safety protocols to safeguard your family against COVID-19, so don’t let your pandemic concerns stand between you and a strong, healthy smile.
