Emergencies can happen to everyone. Generally, you know what to do in case of an emergency. If you have a medical emergency, you call 911. If there’s a fire, you get out of the house. But what do you need to do when you’re having a dental emergency?
Dental emergencies could range from a toothache to a knocked-out tooth but they all have one thing in common: they hurt. At 1st In Smiles we are proud to offer same-day emergency dental appointments in Plano, TX.
If you are suffering from dental pain, you should not wait to schedule your dental appointment. Your dental pain may be caused by a small problem that can develop until a much larger problem if left untreated. That can cause you more pain, and require more expensive treatments to correct.
If you’re currently having a dental emergency, call our office right now at 972-905-9266. The sooner you call, the sooner we can schedule an appointment for you. If you are bleeding a great deal from your dental emergency, or are in otherwise critical condition, get to a hospital right away.
In today’s post of our dental health blog, we’re going to share some tips on how you can best handle a dental emergency. We will discuss the best ways to handle a toothache, gum pain, an injury to a tooth, a broken tooth, a missing filling, and a knocked-out tooth. Time is of the essence with dental emergencies, and following these tips may be the difference between losing a tooth and restoring it to health.
Toothaches are most commonly caused by infections or an abscess. If your dental pulp (the soft material inside your tooth) is infected, you may experience sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures. You’ll need to schedule an appointment right away so we can determine the cause of your pain.
If your tooth is infected, you may require a root canal to clean the infection out of your tooth. To relieve your pain in the interim, use a cold compress on your face to reduce any swelling you are experiencing. You can also take an over-the-counter pain reliever such as Tylenol. Avoid products containing aspirin.
If there is pain or swelling in your gums (or the formation of a pocket), your gums may be separating from your teeth due to a buildup of plaque. This is one of the latter-stages of gum disease and requires immediate attention. Do not apply a topical painkiller or rub alcohol on your gums, as this could lead to an infection. Take Tylenol as needed until you can get into our office.
If you’ve broken a tooth, save any pieces of the tooth that you can. Place them in a cup or container for safe-keeping. We can often use them while repairing your tooth. On occasion, a broken tooth won’t cause you any pain. Even if you’re not in pain, you should still contact us right away because the tooth can fracture and break if you eat or otherwise apply any pressure to it.
If you’ve had a tooth knocked-out, save the tooth! If you get into our office soon enough, we can often place the tooth back into the socket and save it. Take care when handling the loose tooth, you’ll need to hold it by the crown (upper portion) and avoid touching the root. Leave any tissue attached to the tooth, and place it in a glass of milk or Save-A-Tooth. If you can get to our office on the same-day you lose the tooth, your chances of having it restored are greatly improved.
At 1st In Smiles in Plano, TX, we want to be there for you in case of a dental emergency. We offer early morning hours, evening hours, and Saturday hours to allow you to receive quick treatment. If you are nervous or fearful about visiting the dentist, we have sedation options such as laughing gas available for all our procedures.
If you’re worried about affording dental work, you may be interested in one of convenient payment options. Speak to a staff member or call the office for more information.
Make An Appointment
Don’t let a dental emergency prevent you from living your life! Call us at 1st In Smiles in Plano, TX for a same-day emergency appointment. You can reach our office at 972-905-9266.
