What to Do for a Dental Emergency

Although dental emergencies can be stressful, Optima Dental is here to help you find a solution. The first thing we recommend is to remain calm. Panic will only make the situation worse! Then call us for emergency dental care. But to prepare beforehand, here’s a helpful guide about a few common emergency situations:

Broken or Chipped Tooth

Unless there is pain present, you may not need to be seen immediately, but we will get you scheduled so we can fill or repair your tooth soon. Tooth damage can happen from a variety of causes, such as while eating something hard, falling down, or getting hit in the mouth with a person or a ball when playing sports. Avoid eating hard foods like popcorn kernels, jawbreakers, sticky candy, and ice; wear a helmet when riding a bike, rollerblading, and skateboarding; and get a custom-fitted athletic mouthguard to protect your teeth during contact sports.

Knocked-Out Permanent Tooth

Call us as soon as this happens! We may be able to save your tooth if you make it to our office with your tooth within one hour after your injury. But sooner will increase your tooth’s chance of survival! Keep it moist in a glass of milk or a tooth preservation kit. If you don’t have those available, use your saliva. If there is a lot of blood after your injury, apply a cool compress like a washcloth to help stop the bleeding. You may need to visit an emergency room for stitches if you have a lip laceration. To help prevent a knocked-out adult tooth, always wear a protective mouthguard during activities that can involve contact with other people, equipment, or the ground.

Mouth or Tooth Pain

A toothache can be caused by a variety of issues, like a stuck piece of food, an untreated cavity, an infection, or thin tooth enamel from chronic teeth grinding. First, try brushing your teeth, flossing, and rinsing your mouth with a mixture of one teaspoon salt and one cup warm water. If you’re experiencing intense tooth pain, we want to see you as soon as possible before the issue gets worse. For example, tooth decay can lead to tooth loss; an abscess or infection can cause fever, swelling, and severe pain upon eating; and nighttime teeth grinding can increase your risk of decay and chronic sensitivity. Don’t put off giving us a call about your tooth pain! However, if you have trouble breathing or a high fever, go to the emergency room.

Emergency Dentist In Lake Oswego, OR & Portland, OR

Call our expert Optima Dental team ASAP if you have a dental emergency, which can range from the aforementioned issues to broken dentures, a lost crown, and more. Don’t put off fixing your dental problems, as they will only get more painful, serious, and expensive over time. We are here to answer any questions you may have. Call us today!

Categorised in: Emergency Dentist