When you suffer from a dental emergency, you need care right away. Even if this occurs outside of normal business hours, please let us know right away. Your Des Moines, IA, dentist can find a time to see you quickly. In today’s blog, we’re looking at how to respond to common emergency situations, and how to protect your smile.
Examples of Dental Emergencies
Obvious examples include teeth that have been knocked loose or out completely. A cracked or chipped tooth, even if the damage itself appears quite minor, is a reason to seek treatment. But other examples include an object caught between teeth that you cannot remove with floss, or even a sudden and unexplained toothache. If your dental crown or filling comes loose or falls out, or if your restorations are damaged, this is also a reason to give us a call. Treatment could prevent complications like tooth decay and infection, and preserve your smile’s health and stability.
Getting Ready for Your Visit
When the issue happens, give us a call right away so our team can make time to see you right away. Afterward, you can take steps to ease discomfort until we can see you. For example, following an injury that chips, cracks, or knocks a tooth lose, use a cloth or piece of gauze to control bleeding. A cold compress or ice pack to the side of your face could stem any bleeding, and you should take an over-the-counter pain reliever. If a tooth is chipped, try to bring any pieces with you in a sealed container. If it’s knocked out completely, pick it up by the crown, not the root, and place it in a glass of milk or salt water, be sure to bring it to the office with you.
Protecting Your Smile
In between the injury and seeing us, try to avoid eating or drinking anything, as the damaged tooth could be very sensitive and you risk further damage to the tooth structure. When we see you, we will provide treatment. In many cases, damage can be prescribed in only one sitting. We could also discuss custom mouthguards and other options to help protect your smile from injury. If you have any questions about how to recognize and respond to a dental emergency, or about how we treat and repair smiles, then contact our team to learn more. Remember, we’re here to help. Even outside of normal office hours!
TALK TO YOUR DES MOINES, IA DENTIST ABOUT EMERGENCY DENTISTRY
Our team is ready to address minor or severe damage when it happens. To find out more about our solutions for chipped or broken teeth, then please contact your Des Moines, IA, dentist, Dr. Burds, by calling 515-244-9565.