Like it or not, most of us will find ourselves(or a loved one) in the midst of an foreseen dental emergency at some point in our lives. It’s easy to respond to these unsettling situations with panic and fear, but a few practical tips will help make the best of a tough situation.
A chipped tooth or a situation where minimal pain is observed, usually means the patient can wait a day or two to see their dentist. If a crown falls off, there’s over the counter dental cement that can bond the crown as a temporary fix to the problem. Many situations aren’t as “emergency” as we may think. However, if there’s severe pain, swelling, or bleeding, then an emergency room visit should be made.
- Don’t assume the ER can provide the same care that your dentist can. If bleeding is not stopping and the face has trauma, go to the emergency room. But if at all possible, call your dental emergency hotline, follow the protocol given and avoid the ER.
- Stay calm. Drink water (if you can) and use ice packs to keep swelling down.
- Avoid Ibrofen and aspirin, opting for acetaminophen instead.
- If there’s visible blood, hold a cold compress against the mouth to stop the bleeding. Remember that the mouth bleeds a lot. That doesn’t, necessarily, make it an emergency.
- Stay seated (laying down or standing up may cause fainting).
- If a tooth is knocked out, try to find it and rinse it off in cold water. Avoid touching the root of the tooth in case it can be saved.
No matter what time of day or night, weekday, weekend or holiday, please call our office if you find yourself in an emergency situation. If your situation occurs outside of office hours, follow the directions given on the voicemail for how to proceed. We will make sure to get you in as quickly as possible and offer some helpful tips to implement in the mean time!