How to Respond When You Have a Dental Emergency

Life circumstances are like visitors. They can drop in unexpectedly.

A dental emergency is the same. They’re unexpected or the result of an accident or moment of trauma.

A healthy outcome depends on the type of injury. The risk to your oral health is also reduced by how your respond.

Your best response

Any emergency requires action. The longer you delay the more you increase your risk of health related complications.

The best response is a prompt and immediate one.

But how do you respond when you have a dental emergency?

Your teeth, gums, jaw, and mouth are vulnerable to injury like any other part of your body. Timing is an essential response element for dental trauma as well.

A prompt response when experiencing tooth or mouth injury can reduce the risk of permanent damage. Fast action can save you treatment costs too.

Common situations and what to do

A broken tooth!

You can break a tooth while eating, biting down, clenching your teeth, or during sports to name a few. Often a tooth breaks or fractures without pain and without you being aware.

Feeling a jagged edge with your tongue can indicate that something is wrong. If possible, locate and save any substantial pieces of your tooth.

Rinse your mouth with warm water. And if you experience pain or swelling apply a cold compress to the exterior region of your mouth where the tooth damage has occurred.

Call our Roswell dental office. Provide us information about your tooth and we will advise you what to do.

A knocked-out tooth!

If possible, locate your tooth. Gently rinse it with water and keep any attached tissue intact.

Replace the tooth into the gum socket if you can. Keep it in place until you arrive for dental treatment as soon as possible.

You can also place your dislodged tooth in a cup of milk or warm water. Contact our dental office, make arrangements for treatment as soon as possible, and bring your tooth to your appointment.

A lost dental crown or filling!

Sticky foods are common culprits for dislodging a crown or filling. Over-the-counter dental cement or adhesives can temporarily reattach a filling or crown.

Keep in mind that this is a temporary fix. Contact your Roswell dentist to restore your crown or filling permanently.

Swelled, painful, or infected gums!

Gum swelling can be an indication of a deeper and more serious dental issue. An abscess could be occurring.

Temporarily treat it by rinsing with warm salt water. Contact our dental office as soon as possible to treat the cause and eliminate the infection.

A toothache!

Tooth and mouth pain are symptoms of other dental issues. Rinse your mouth with warm water or gently floss the painful area to attempt to dislodge the potential cause of irritation.

Contact us about the location of your tooth pain. We can recommend other remedies or schedule a dental examination to provide treatment and relief.

Seek help when you encounter a dental emergency. Contact your Roswell dentist immediately and we will advise you about next steps.