Emergency
Dental Care

KNOW THE SIGNS

What is Considered a Dental Emergency?

While most people know when they should go to the emergency room for a health issue, many patients find it more difficult to determine when they should see a dentist for an oral emergency. Essentially, any situation that causes pain and you cannot treat on your own is considered a dental emergency. This includes: Loose Tooth If you have a loose adult tooth, it’s important to get help from Kissing Camels Family Dentistry right away.
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If your tooth is loose due to an injury, such as a slip and fall or a hard hit in a contact sport, it may need to be splinted and stabilized to save it and ensure it can be reattached properly to your jaw and gum tissue. Teeth may also become loose due to untreated periodontal (gum) disease. If this is the case, you will need to have your teeth and gums cleaned. You may also need oral surgery to restore the health of your gums and ensure the root of your tooth can reattach to the underlying tissue. Knocked Out (Avulsed) Tooth Knocked out teeth must be reimplanted in 1-2 hours. If you wait too long, your mouth will reject the tooth when we try to replace it, and we won’t be able to save it. Because of this, the very first thing you should do after you lose a tooth is call Kissing Camels Family Dentistry and let us know you’re coming in for an appointment.
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Next, recover the tooth. Hold it by the crown (upper part of the tooth) and rinse away any debris with warm water. Put it back into the socket where it used to be, or in a small baggie of cold milk. You can bite down on gauze or cotton balls to help with bleeding. Above all else, come see us as soon as possible fro the best chance of saving your tooth. Chipped/Cracked/Damaged Tooth Even a minor chip in your tooth can be a dental emergency. A chipped or damaged tooth may weaken the enamel and cause the pulp inside your tooth to become infected. If your tooth is damaged by an accident, like a slip and fall, or biting a nonfood object, you should come in right away.
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If your mouth is bleeding and your tooth hurts, you can use gauze, cotton balls, and paper towels to help with bleeding. Applying an ice pack externally can help with discomfort until you come to our office and you can also take medicine like Tylenol (acetaminophen) or Motrin (ibuprofen). Serious Toothache If you have a persistent toothache that lasts for more than a day or two, you need to come in for an appointment right away. Your tooth may be infected, indicating that you need a root canal. An infected tooth will eventually die and may fall out of your mouth or even require extraction and replacement with a dental bridge, partial denture, or dental implant.
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If your toothache is causing you serious pain, discomfort, and is accompanied by signs like discoloration of the tooth or the nearby gum tissue, sensitivity to heat and pressure, or fever, you need to contact us right away for an emergency appointment. Damaged or Pulled-Out Filling/Crown Fillings and crowns can be pulled out when eating chewy, gummy foods, or simply because the restoration is very old and beginning to fail. Recover your filling or crown, put it in a plastic bag, and schedule an emergency appointment immediately.
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You need to get treatment quickly because the enamel below your crown or filling is very vulnerable to damage. If you don’t get your dental work replaced right away, it could lead to further decay and infection. By coming to Kissing Camels Family Dentistry, you can avoid more invasive repairs, saving you both time and money.