Emergency Dentistry

Emergency Dental Services

At Main Street Dental, we offer emergency dental services to make sure patients are seen and evaluated immediately. This is crucial because an emergency, such as an infection, can spread or an injury can continue to get worse.

Why A Patient Should See A Vista Dentist During An Emergency?

For severe injuries that need immediate attention, please call 911. However, for chipped or cracked teeth, pain around a tooth, or loss of tooth, a dentist can help. While an ER doctor is skilled at treating medical emergencies, he or she is not familiar with oral care. Therefore, ER providers are well-qualified to handle some health problems. However, they lack the experience and training to take care of an injured or damaged tooth. An emergency room doctor can provide you with medicine to take care of the pain, he or she cannot determine the cause of the pain. That is why it is essential to schedule an appointment with your dental provider.

The Main Types Of Dental Emergency Procedures

• Damage – The two main areas that are addressed during dental emergencies are damage and toothache pain. Usually, dentists see patients with tooth damage after an accident. The injury may occur during a car accident, in the workplace, or during a sporting event. Usually, emergency care focuses on taking care of a tooth or teeth that have been cracked, knocked out, or chipped.
• Dental Bonding – If you require an immediate restoration, we often can apply dental bonding. This process uses a resin that is placed on a tooth’s surface. It is molded and cured using a dental light. In turn, a chipped or cracked tooth can be restored in one visit. Other solutions are available and include the placement of dental crowns or veneers. When these restorations are made, it usually takes two dental visits to complete.
• Toothache Pain – The other emergency we frequently see is one concerning toothache pain. In fact, most people cannot wait to see the dentist when they have this type of pain. However, you do not have to wait until the pain is unbearable. Fortunately, some signs alert you beforehand. Typically, patients experience pain when they bite down on food or complain of sensitivity to hot or cold. They also suffer irritation when they brush or floss their teeth.

Take Care Of The Problem Before It Worsens

If you experience any of the above symptoms, you need to contact us right away. Make sure you set an appointment before the pain worsens. We can check for decay or infection and treat the problem before it becomes debilitating. Our staff at Main Street Dental will work with your schedule to set an appointment that will accommodate your immediate dental needs.

All Inclusive Dental Services

Root Canals

Typically, a tooth is severely decayed or is infected when a toothache occurs. To resolve the problem, we usually perform root canal surgery. Since the pain results from an infection, we remove the infected area to stop the pain. A restoration is usually made in the form of a filling or crown. Either the repair can be applied during the emergency visit or a second visit will be scheduled to complete the procedure.

How To Communicate During A Dental Emergency?

Even if you practice good dental habits, emergencies occur. When they do, it is essential to take care of the problem immediately. That is why you need to depend on a dental provider who provides all-inclusive dental services – services that extend to emergency visits. We are committed to providing you with the highest level of service, whether you are seeking cosmetic, general, or emergency care.

How to handle severe pain

If you are in pain, refrain from taking ibuprofen or aspirin, as either of these two drugs can cause excessive bleeding. Instead, relieve any discomfort by taking acetaminophen. Pain often results from food debris embedded beneath the gum line, infection, a lost restoration, such as a crown or filling, or a chipped or cracked tooth. The only and best way to determine the source of the pain is to contact the dentist so a diagnosis can be made. In the interim, apply to a cold compress to the site every 15 minutes to alleviate the pain.

How To Avoid Dental Emergencies?

You can reduce your chances of a dental emergency by following some dental safeguards. According to the American Dental Association (ADA), it is essential to know what to do when a dental emergency occurs to save or prevent from losing a tooth.

Taking Precautions to Avoid Emergencies

Taking certain precautions must also be emphasized. For example, you can lessen the risk of a dental emergency by practicing the following: To avoid cracking a tooth, stay away from popcorn kernels or hard candy. To tear open a package or cut paper, use scissors, not the teeth. When practicing in recreational pursuits or sports, wear a mouth guard.

Prevent Future Emergencies

Understanding more about dental emergencies also helps patients learn why visiting the dentist is essential. The sooner a dental problem is spotted, the more likely the treatment will be more straightforward, more affordable, and efficient. Making routine appointments prevents certain dental conditions, such as abscesses or deep cavities, from developing.

Always Contact the Dentist When You Experience These Symptoms

We at Main Street Dental want you to schedule an appointment right away to reduce the chance of a future emergency. Contact us when you are experiencing the following symptoms: Your teeth are especially sensitive to hot or cold. Your gums are puffy or bleed when you brush or floss. You experience persistent halitosis (bad breath). You have swelling or pain in your mouth or the neck or facial area. You have difficulty swallowing or chewing. You often have dry mouth. Your jaw pops, or hurts, when you open or close it, or when you are chewing. You have a sore in your mouth that is abnormal, which does not heal.

How To Handle Specific Emergencies?

Caring for a Broken Jaw

Pain can also result from a broken jaw. To secure the jaw, tie it with a towel or handkerchief, tying it snuggly over the top of your head. Cold compresses can be used to reduce and improve the pain. In this case, visit a hospital emergency room right away.

Handling Emergencies Involving the Teeth

Emergencies involving the teeth can result from the following events:

• A chipped tooth. In this instance, save the pieces of the tooth, if possible, and thoroughly rinse your mouth with lukewarm water. Also, rinse the pieces, if they are not clean. Place the pieces of the tooth in a small container, covering them with water. Add a pinch of salt.
• A loose tooth.
• Debris between the teeth. If you cannot gently remove the debris with floss, contact the dentist.
• A knocked out tooth.
• A lost restoration, such as a filling or crown.

When a Tooth is Knocked Out – What You Should Do?

If the tooth is a baby tooth, it probably cannot be saved if it is completely detached. In this case, you will just have to wait until the permanent tooth emerges. If the tooth is a permanent tooth, re-implantation can be performed, provided you notify the dentist immediately.

In the interim, practice the following steps:

• Rinse the mouth with lukewarm water. Apply gauze to the site, using firm pressure. Try to locate the missing tooth.
• To reduce swelling, apply a cold compress to the site after the bleeding subsides. If the bleeding will not stop after using firm and continual pressure for 10 minutes, scheduled an appointment with the dentist.
• Place the tooth in a container, covering it with water. Add a pinch of salt. If the tooth is partially broken, carefully place it back into the socket of the gum, positioning it as it usually appears in the mouth. If this cannot be done, put the broken piece into a container with water and add a pinch of salt.

Losing a Filling or Crown

If your crown or filling loosens or is lost, schedule an emergency dental appointment immediately. You can alleviate any pain affecting the exposed portion of the tooth with clove oil. Directly apply the oil with a cotton swab. Place an ice pack on the side of the face where you are experiencing pain.

If you find your filling, keep it in a safe place and take it to your dental appointment. As a temporary measure, apply tooth cement or tooth wax, which is available at a drugstore. If you locate your crown, temporarily replace it until your dental visit. First, gently remove and clean any debris from within the restoration. Then apply a dental cement or denture adhesive to the inside before placing the crown back over the tooth.

How to Relieve a Toothache

If you are experiencing the throbbing pain of a toothache, clean and rinse your mouth with lukewarm water. Gently floss the area around the tooth to remove any trapped food particles. If this measure does not help, contact the dentist immediately.

Caring for Injuries to the Gums or Tissues Biting Your Lip or Tongue

If you have bitten your lip or tongue, gently wipe the site with a soft cloth or gauze. Apply a cold compress to reduce swelling. A smaller cut, about 1/4 inch, generally will heal on its own. If the cut is more significant than 1/4 inch, immediately go to the emergency room.

Burning the Roof of Your Mouth – How to Lessen the Pain

If you burn the roof of your mouth, it usually will heal on its own. However, if the injury has not improved after ten days, call the dentist. In the interim, rinse your mouth with a salt-water rinse that is made up of eight ounces of warm water and 1/8 teaspoon salt. If you need pain relief, use an oral anesthetic that can be applied topically. The product can be purchased at your local drugstore. Acetaminophen should be taken as well.

Taking Care of Mouth Sores

Mouth sores usually develop from new braces. Either apply a topical anesthetic or take acetaminophen, following the label’s directions.

Managing Abscess Pain and Swelling

If your gum swelling and pain is originating from an abscess, you need to contact the dentist immediately. An abscess is a type of infection that develops at the root around the gum tissue. Gums can become swollen or painful for one of the various reasons. Therefore, the condition should be evaluated by a dentist. If an abscess ruptures, a foul-tasting and malodorous fluid will flow from the site. If this happens, immediately rinse your mouth with warm water.

Preserving a Knocked-out Tooth

One emergency dental tip provided by the ADA for a knocked-out tooth follows: If a permanent tooth has been knocked out, try using a tooth preservation product that is recommended by the ADA. When approved by the ADA, a product, such as Save-A-Tooth, is shown to escalate the survival rate of a tooth that has been traumatized. The tooth should be placed into the container, with the top tightly secured. This type of preservation system can save a tooth for up to 24 hours.