Emergencies can strike without warning, and dental issues are no exception. When it comes to your oral health, preparation is key. Preparation and information can be your best defense against unexpected events. At Wesley Dental, emergency dentistry treatments are one of the general dentistry services we provide to the public in Greenville, TX.
Emergency care is essential, as you can damage your teeth without the proper steps and may even lose a tooth. However, knowing the steps to take in an emergency can increase your chances of a better outcome. Regardless of your dental emergency, we want to give you the right tools and information to protect your smile.
How Will I Know I Have a Dental Emergency?
In some situations, you can tell when you have an emergency. A knocked-out tooth can be a major giveaway. However, some scenarios might be more challenging. What is the difference between a mild toothache and one that needs emergency attention? Of course, if you know more, you’ll be better prepared.
We recommend that you treat a dental emergency as soon as possible to prevent worse dental problems. Emergency dental care is a part of preventive dentistry.
Common emergency dentistry problems we treat in our Greenville, TX office include:
Knocked-Out Tooth
Having a tooth come out of its socket can be distressing, to say the least. If your tooth gets knocked out, you must beat the clock to protect your smile. You should quickly get your tooth into a container of your saliva. This allows you to safely transport your tooth to the dentist while keeping it alive.
If we cannot reattach the tooth, we offer dental implants to secure crowns, bridges, and dentures. Whether you have one or multiple missing teeth, we can restore your smile.
Lost Filling or Crown
A dental filling or crown covers a part of your tooth to protect it from bacteria. Trauma and decay may be common causes for either of these restorations. As a result, these restorations become a necessary part of your smile.
If your filling or crown comes loose, you need to get to your dentist. This is because the inner part of your tooth is now vulnerable to harmful bacteria.
Swelling or Abscess
Swelling is not a normal part of your face or mouth. Typically, it indicates there is a much larger issue occurring. It could indicate a dental abscess if you notice facial swelling or painful bumps on your gums.
You must get to your dentist as soon as possible. A ruptured abscess can spread infection to other areas of your body.
Uncontrolled Bleeding or Soft Tissue Injury
The face contains many blood vessels. This means that an injury to this area can cause a lot of bleeding. As a result, you may need to see your dentist if you can’t get the bleeding under control.
Additionally, cuts or injuries inside the mouth may need more treatment. An open wound inside your mouth can lead to infection without the proper cleaning or medication.
Fractured or Broken Tooth
A chipped, broken, or cracked tooth can affect the look of your smile. However, it can also lead to pain and sensitivity. Without treatment, you are vulnerable to decay and further damage. Quick action is necessary to restore your tooth.
As soon as you break a tooth, try to locate any broken pieces. You can then transport the pieces to our office in a cup of saliva. At home, rinse your mouth and apply pressure to the tooth with gauze. In addition, take pain medication as needed.
In our office, we will try to repair your broken tooth. We will recommend bonding or crowns if we cannot repair your tooth.
Unbearable Toothache
Persistent and intense tooth pain can mean there is an underlying issue. You shouldn’t suffer in pain. Additionally, pain is generally an indicator that something is wrong.
It could indicate an infection or broken tooth. Urgent dental care will address the root cause to reduce pain and discomfort.
Before you visit our office, take pain medication. In our office, we will examine your mouth and consider other symptoms to determine your dental problem. We provide tooth extractions, root canals, and gum disease treatments if you have an infection. Our office can also fix broken teeth with bonding or crowns.
Should I Go to the Dentist or a Hospital for a Dental Emergency?
In some cases, severe injuries and excessive bleeding require prompt medical care. If you have physical injuries that cannot wait, we recommend going to the hospital. Once you are healed, you can visit the dentist. We want you to be as healthy as possible.
Problems that need prompt medical care include:
- Concussion or head injury
- Broken or dislocated jaw
- Severe bleeding
Don’t wait to treat these problems. Get immediate medical treatment. Then, we can fix broken teeth or replace lost teeth in our office.
What is Not a Dental Emergency?
While these dental problems will require an office visit, they are not dental emergencies:
- Dull toothache: If you have mild tooth pain or discomfort, take pain medication at home. Contact us if you notice any other symptoms. We will schedule a visit to examine your teeth and find the source of your pain.
- Small chip in a tooth: A small tooth chip does not need immediate treatment. You can wait to get your chipped tooth fixed. However, do not wait too long to treat your tooth because you can damage your tooth further.
- Object stuck between teeth: If you have something stuck between your teeth, floss first. Then, you can try a toothpick. Do not try to use anything else to remove the object. Call our office so we can remove the object for you.
Receive Urgent Dental Care
Get a same-day appointment and emergency dentistry treatment in our Greenville, TX office today. Call Wesley Dental at 903-270-5279. If you don’t know if you have a dental emergency, call our office and we can help you schedule an appointment.
If you have questions about dental emergencies, please let us know. We will help you handle your dental emergency.