Emergency Dentistry
Dental emergencies are an unfortunate interruption. You’re eating something crunchy and suddenly a tooth cracks or you wake up in the morning with swelling and pain in your jaw.
If you experience a toothache, lost filling or crown or if you experience pain or discomfort, contact our clinic as soon as possible. We can help.
Common Dental Emergencies
What are the most common reasons that people need emergency dental care?
Sudden Tooth Pain – Tooth pain should never be ignored. Many serious conditions can cause tooth pain including:
- Cavities that have penetrated deep into the tooth
- Advanced gum disease
- An abscessed tooth
- Exposed tooth roots
- An impacted tooth
These conditions should be treated promptly to prevent further damage to the tooth or spreading of the infection.
Chipped or Fractured Teeth – Chipped or broken teeth can be caused by sudden trauma to the mouth or by simply biting down on a hard object. Sometimes this happens because you had a cavity and didn’t know it, and the internal structure has been weakened. If possible, keep the chip or piece that broke off of the tooth and bring it with you to your appointment.
Lost Teeth – Whether your tooth was knocked out due to an injury or you lost a tooth for no apparent reason, losing a tooth is a dental emergency. In some cases, we can replace the tooth if we can get to it fast enough, but sometimes a lost tooth will have to be replaced with a dental implant or a bridge.
Our chances of saving the tooth are best if you retrieve the tooth and quickly rinse it with cool water, avoiding the root area. Try to replace the tooth back in the socket, but don’t force it. If the tooth can’t be replaced in the socket, keep it in a glass of milk.
Other Dental Emergencies
Some of the other reasons we would need to see you quickly include:
- A tooth has become dislodged (but not fully knocked out).
- An object is stuck between your teeth that can’t be removed with brushing or dental floss.
- A filling or crown has fallen out.
- You are experiencing a dental abscess (infection).
- You have injured your gums or palate.
Call our surgery to book an appointment for any dental emergency. We welcome new patients on an emergency basis and will help restore your oral health and your smile.
