When you have cracked or chipped a tooth, or one is knocked loose or out completely, then you need to see us right away. Dental emergency care means we can help, even outside of normal business hours. In today’s blog, your Rowlett, TX, dentist talks about our approach to treating common dental emergencies.
Common Examples of Dental Emergencies
What is a dental emergency? Simply put, this is any damage or discomfort in your teeth and gums. The concerns need attention to not only stop discomfort, but protect you from major oral health complications. If they’re potentially life threatening, then proceed to the nearest healthy emergency room or call 911. Otherwise, contact our team so we can find a time to see you and administer treatment, even outside of our normal business hours. But in the meantime, you can take a few steps to minimize further discomfort or injury until you can see us for treatment.
Steps to Ease Discomfort
When you have an aching or injured tooth, rinse with warm water and use cloth or gauze to control any bleeding. A cold compress or ice pack to the side of the face can reduce swelling too. If a tooth is damaged, try to recover any pieces if possible and bring them with you. If the tooth is knocked out, then put it in a sealed container of milk or salt water and bring it with you. Don’t touch the roots, only the crown! If something is stuck between your teeth that floss can’t remove, don’t try anything else to dislodge it, as you could damage your teeth or gums. If a restoration, such as a crown or filling, is damaged or missing, let us know and avoid very hot or cold items, or sugary foods and drinks, as the exposed tooth is sensitive. You can also take an over-the-counter pain reliever to ease discomfort.
Treating Your Smile
When you arrive, we will carefully examine the tooth in question to assess the severity of the issue and to plan treatment. For minor damage, we could repair the tooth in one visit with a dental bonding procedure, or for more substantial injuries, we could place a custom crown. We can replace damaged restorations or prosthetics, and can restore knocked out teeth into their proper positions. If you have any questions about our approach to treating dental emergencies, then contact our team today. We want to help you avoid complications, and we can discuss custom mouthguards to provide additional protection.
SCHEDULE YOUR EMERGENCY APPOINTMENT TODAY
Our team wants to help you avoid complications related to dental damage, such as tooth decay and dental infection. To learn more about how we repair your smile, call Rodem Tree Dental in Rowlett, TX, today at 972-475-2321.
