When you or your child have chipped a tooth or knocked one out, then immediate care is essential for avoiding complications and keeping your smile whole. Which is why you should contact us right away for emergency dental care. At our Greensboro, NC, dentist’s office, our team talks about how to respond to dental emergencies and when to see us.
Examples of Common Dental Emergencies
When should you see us for a dental emergency? This refers to any injury or sudden pain that isn’t life threatening, but requires immediate attention. Examples could include a cracked or chipped tooth, a sudden toothache or an object caught between your teeth, a knocked loose or knocked out tooth, or even issues with your restorations or prosthetics, such as injury, or one becoming loose or lost. When issues like these occur, we recommend you contact our team right away, even outside of normal business hours, so we can reach out and arrange for a time to see you and offer care. In the meantime, you can take steps to ease the discomfort and prevent complications!
Easing Your Initial Discomfort
To begin, you can take an over-the-counter pain reliever to ease discomfort, and also rinse with warm water. Use a piece of cloth or gauze to stem any bleeding, and apply a cold compress or ice pack to the side of the face to control swelling. If a tooth is chipped, try and recover any pieces and bring them with you. If one is knocked out, pick it up only by the crown, never touch the root, and place it in a glass of milk or salt water and bring it with you. If a crown or filling is loose or lost, avoid very hot or cold foods and drinks or items high in sugar, as the exposed tooth will be very sensitive. If a prosthetic is damaged or ill-fitting, bring it with you.
Treatment from Our Team
Our team will carefully examine your smile with digital imaging systems, such as digital x-rays, to assess the cause and severity of your emergency, and to plan treatment with precision. For damaged teeth, we could repair them in one visit with bonding, or even create a custom and lifelike crown. We can insert knocked out teeth into place again, and also replace compromised restorations or prosthetics. We could discuss custom mouthguards to protect your smile if you play sports or martial arts, limiting the risk of future injuries. If you have any questions, then please reach out to our team today.
Talk To Your Greensboro, NC Dentist About Emergency Dentistry
Our team wants to help you avoid serious complications by addressing your dental emergency quickly. To learn more about our approach to dental emergencies, then call our Greensboro, NC dental office at (336) 854-9270.