Emergency Dentistry in San Maros CA

Emergency Dental Care

A dental emergency, like any medical emergency, requires urgent care and attention. Don’t brush off persistent tooth pain, as it could be a sign of larger health problems. Left untreated, infections can spread, causing even more damage throughout the mouth and body.

Always trust dental care to a trained dental professional. Contact our office immediately if you experience any of the following common problems:

• Toothache

  – Toothache is often the first indication of damage, infection or gum disease. Contact your dentist right away if you are experiencing persistent toothache. Meanwhile, there are steps you can take at home to alleviate the pain. Note that these are temporary remedies aimed at reducing pain and in no way should be used to postpone or forego treatment. Rinse with warm water. Remove any food particles or other debris near the source of pain, provided you can do so without further agitating the tooth. Apply a cold compress to the outside of the mouth to reduce swelling and numb some of the pain. Do not take aspirin, as some painkillers may burn and further damage gum tissue.

• Damaged teeth

  – Save any pieces you can from a chipped or broken tooth. Rinse with warm water to rid the mouth of broken bits of tooth. Apply gauze for 10 minutes if you experience bleeding. If bleeding persists beyond 10 minutes, continue applying pressure. Change gauzes as needed. Use ice or a cold compress to reduce swelling and pain. Contact your dentist as soon as possible.

• Infection

  – Damaged teeth are more prone to infection. Bacteria thrive in cavities and open spaces. Infections near the root of a tooth are called abscesses. Abscesses are also found between teeth and in the gums and look like a pimple-shaped swelling on the gum. If not treated, an abscess can damage gum tissue and several teeth. Infections of any kind can spread to other parts of the mouth and body. Rinse with a mild salt water mixture to alleviate pain and rid the mouth of debris and food particles. Contact your dentist as soon as possible.

• Loose or missing teeth

  – If you knock out a tooth, handle the tooth by the crown side. Rinse the tooth gently with just water. Do not remove any fragments from the tooth. Use a small container of milk, salt water solution, or a product containing cell growth medium to store the tooth, and contact your dentist as soon as possible. A tooth can more easily be placed in its original socket if returned within an hour of falling out. If your tooth is only partially dislodged, avoid touching the tooth or surrounding area. Gently apply a cold compress to the outside of the mouth to reduce swelling and pain. Contact your dentist as soon as possible.

• Damaged braces, bands, and brackets

  – For loose braces, orthodontic wax can be used as a temporary measure of securing braces in place. Save loose bands and have a dentist replace it at the earliest opportunity. Broken wires should be repositioned and tied with orthodontic wax or a cotton ball to prevent the pointed side from scratching the mouth.

• Lost crown or filling

  – Use sugarless gum or over-the-counter dental cement to temporarily seal a tooth left exposed by a lost crown or filling. Place the crown in a sealed container and bring it with you to the dentist. A dental crown may be placed back on the tooth using a denture adhesive, toothpaste, dental cement, or other adhesive approved for oral use, but this is only a temporary solution. You should still see a dentist as soon as possible to properly replace the crown.

• Soft-tissue injuries

  – Injuries to the tongue, gums, cheeks, and lips which result in pain or bleeding are called soft-tissue injuries. Rinse with salt water to help stop bleeding. Gauzes may also be applied. A cold compress may reduce swelling when applied to the outside of the mouth. Should bleeding persist, go to the hospital emergency room.

As with any emergency, assess the situation to determine if a trip to the emergency room is warranted before visiting your dentist. If you are experiencing a dental emergency, contact our office right away at 760-745-1100 and we will fit you in as soon as possible.