Common Dental Emergencies in Clear Lake (and What to Do)
Dental emergencies can happen any time of the day, but they always tend to pop up when you least expect them. Some of the most common Clear Lake dental emergencies that we see include scenarios like:
- Tooth pain or tooth sensitivity
- Abscessed teeth
- Damaged, chipped, or knocked out teeth
- Items stuck between the teeth
- Traumatic injuries
- Dental crown or filling coming loose
- Broken dentures
How To Handle A Dental Emergency
Try to remain calm if you are experiencing a dental emergency. It doesn’t matter if you have one or more teeth affected, the important thing is to quickly locate any broken teeth and call our Clear Lake dentist.
Should You Go To The Hospital?
One of the most common mistakes made by emergency patients is to go to the hospital for toothaches or broken teeth. While our Clear Lake dentist will be able to treat such issues, an emergency room can only provide pain relief. However, if you’re experiencing severe facial swelling, uncontrollable bleeding, or suspect a broken jaw, go straight to the hospital.
Managing Toothaches at Home
Most dental pain can be relieved until your scheduled appointment following the tips listed below. Some individuals may need to be seen by a dentist immediately. Call our Clear Lake dental office as we may need to see you for immediate treatment.
In the meantime, make sure you:
- Apply a cold compress on the affected side of your face. Put it on and take it off for 20 minutes at a time. This step can help reduce swelling and “numb” the affected area.
- Take Motrin or ibuprofen anti-inflammatory medication as directed, if you’re cleared to do so by your physician.
- Rinse with warm salt water to ease excess swelling and remove any possible debris or food inside your mouth. One teaspoon of table salt dissolved in an 8 oz. glass of water is adequate.
- Floss the area gently to make sure nothing is stuck below your gums or between your teeth. Consider tying a knot to your floss and pulling it through larger spaces, as this can pull out debris a little easier.
Knocked Out or Broken Teeth
For a completely knocked-out tooth, you can gently rinse it off as long as you don’t scrub or touch the root. If possible, try to place the tooth back into its socket. Apply pressure to the tooth socket by pressing down on it with a gauze or clean cloth. Broken tooth fragments or teeth that can’t be reinserted need immediate attention within the next 1-2 hours. Keep the tooth moist, covering it with contact solution, milk, or water with a pinch of salt and bring it to our office.
Are Toothaches True Emergencies?
Sometimes, yes. Other times no. Infected teeth such as large cavities or abscesses require timely treatment but a same-day appointment for emergency dental care may not be necessary. It’s better to visit our Clear Lake dentist as soon as possible to prevent further damage to your teeth. Avoid chewing on that side of your mouth at all costs.
Thankfully, early diagnosis and treatment are the best way to prevent serious issues like cracked or abscessed teeth.
When to See a Dentist the Same Day
You need same-day emergency dental care if you have severe tooth pain that is affecting your ability to eat, work, or do other normal activities. You should also seek emergency dental services if you have seriously broken or knocked-out teeth (small chips in teeth do not require same-day attention.)
Sometimes emergencies aren’t painful, but they’re extremely embarrassing. Like a crown falling off of a front tooth or breaking your denture, making it impossible to sound like yourself when you’re trying to talk to other people.
When in doubt, call our Clear Lake dentist for a professional opinion. The Rosas Family Dentistry team will discuss your situation and offer advice over the phone so that you can put your mind at ease and know what to do next. Even if you’re a new patient to our practice, we encourage you to give us a call. We do our very best to see you as quickly as we can or at the very least, offer guidance over the phone.
Clear Lake Emergency Dentist
Rosas Family Dentistry is available for any dental emergency. Our Clear Lake dental office can help you if you have tooth pain, a broken tooth, or an embarrassing issue that prevents you from going to work. If you are experiencing severe dental pain, we encourage you to contact our Clear Lake dentist