What constitutes a dental emergency? When should you see your dentist? We consider any damage to your teeth or gums that is not life threatening to be a dental emergency, and urge our Brighton, MA, patients to see our team as soon as possible. In today’s blog, we’re looking at emergency situations, how one should respond, and why ignoring treatment could put your smile in danger!
Common Emergency Scenarios
Sudden, unexplained pain in your teeth could be a sign of trouble and worthy of a visit. Often, pain could indicate the presence of a severe cavity or infection. If you have food stuck between your teeth that you cannot dislodge with floss, let us know. Also, any damage to the teeth, such as chips or fractures, could benefit from immediate care. The same goes for a knocked-out tooth too! If a filling or crown falls out or becomes loose, contact our office.
How to Respond
If you have sudden toothaches, take an over-the-counter pain reliever and see us as soon as possible. If something is stuck between your teeth, never use anything other than floss to try and remove it, otherwise you risk damaging your gums. If you chip a tooth, a cold compress against the side of the face could reduce swelling and gauze or cloth could control any bleeding. If you can, try to bring any pieces of the tooth with you. Should you knock out a tooth, rinse it off to remove dirt and foreign debris, then place the tooth in a glass of milk or salt water (or better yet, back into your socket) and bring it with you right away. For a loose or lost restoration, see us as soon as possible and try to avoid sugary foods and drinks, as these could cause severe discomfort for your exposed tooth.
Don’t Put Off Treatment!
Remember, ignoring a dental emergency could leave your tooth exposed to harmful bacteria. In addition to discomfort, your damaged teeth or loose/lost restorations may mean the onset of a cavity or a dental infection, threatening the health, comfort, and stability of your smile. When trouble occurs, always feel free to contact our office. We can schedule a visit to see you and offer restoration to repair your smile. If you have any questions about addressing common dental emergencies, then please contact our team today.
Do You Have a Dental Emergency?
At Brighton Family Dental Group, our team offers prompt emergency treatment for patients with damaged smiles. You can schedule an appointment or consultation with Dr. Villani or Dr. Kondrat by reaching out to our office at (617) 562-5210. We are proud to offer a range of dental services to patients from Brighton, Watertown, and all neighboring communities.
