Tooth problems always seem to happen at the least convenient moment. A chipped tooth, lost filling, or mouthful of pain that hits you like a ton of bricks. It’s enough to ruin a family vacation or cut your long weekend short.
The last thing you need is to be left scrambling to find an emergency dentist near you. Especially if you’ve just had a tooth knocked out in a game of touch football in the back yard on Labor Day Weekend, you need quality dental care, fast.
Let’s take a look at what you should do in a dental emergency. (Spoiler: Call us for emergency dentistry in Sebastopol, CA! We’re conveniently located in Sonoma County, especially if you’re in Monte Rio, Guerneville, or the surrounding areas.)
What qualifies as a dental emergency?
Any amount of tooth pain or injury to the mouth can be alarming. But what qualifies as a true emergency? Honestly, it can be a little hard to tell!
If you’re ever in doubt, don’t hesitate to call us. We’ll help you figure out whether you need emergency dentistry, or if your issue can wait a day or two. In some cases, we can call in a prescription for antibiotics to start resolving your issue right away.
Here are a few dental first aid tips to get you through until you can see an emergency dentist!
Cracked or Broken Tooth
A broken tooth can be scary, not to mention painful. Depending on how deep the fracture goes, it could even mean losing the tooth.
What to do:
- Rinse with warm water to remove any debris.
- If you can, try to save the pieces so we can look at them.
- If your tooth broke from an impact or injury, apply a cold compress to the outside of the cheek or lips.
- Put a little orthodontic wax on any sharp edges to keep them from cutting your cheeks, lips, or tongue. Sugar-free gum works in a pinch.
- Take over-the-counter pain relief if needed.
- Call us for next steps!
A broken tooth doesn’t always need emergency dentistry, but it’s always worth a call to get seen as soon as possible!
Lost Filling or Crown
When you lose a filling or crown, it leaves parts of your tooth unprotected and vulnerable. Decay and broken teeth could follow if you don’t get it fixed fast. We do same day crowns at Oak Tree Dental.
What to do:
- Keep the restoration. In many cases, we can put your crown back on and save you the expense of a new one.
- Rinse your mouth with warm water and keep the area clean until you can see a dentist.
- If the tooth is very sensitive, you can cover it with dental wax to protect it. DO NOT USE GLUE to put your restoration back in. That can cause permanent damage to your tooth. You may be able to use dental adhesive, but talk to your dentist first.
- Avoid hard, crunchy, and sticky foods until you can get the tooth fixed.
- Call us to have your restoration repaired or replaced.
Infection or Abscess
A dental abscess is a bad infection with pus buildup that needs to be drained ASAP.
Go immediately to the Emergency Room if you have a dental infection with:
- Swelling in the face, neck, eyes, or gums that has spread beyond the area of your toothache.
- A fever over 101°F.
- Difficulty breathing or swallowing.
- Headache, nausea, vomiting.
- Swollen lymph nodes.
- Rapid heart rate.
- Difficulty speaking.
What to do:
- Rinse with salt water to help draw out pus, which could reduce your pain.
- Apply a cold compress to the outside of the cheek.
- Take over-the-counter pain medication.
- Call us immediately. An abscess is a serious condition that can become a life-threatening medical issue without prompt treatment.
Knocked-Out Tooth
You have about 30 minutes to possibly save a tooth that’s been dislodged from the socket. Whether the tooth is completely or partially knocked out, you need to see an emergency dentist immediately.
What to do:
- DO NOT TOUCH THE ROOT OF THE TOOTH. Only pick it up by the crown (the part that you can normally see in the mouth).
- Rinse the tooth very gently with clean, tepid water, but do not scrub or wipe it.
- If possible, gently put it back in the socket, being sure it’s turned the right way. You can hold it in place by GENTLY biting on a piece of gauze.
- If you can’t put the tooth back in the socket, put it in a clean container and completely cover the root in milk. You can also use products like Save-a-Tooth. In a pinch, you can hold the tooth inside your mouth by tucking it into the base of your cheek, or use plain water as a last resort.
- Immediately get in touch with an emergency dentist near you. We’re always available by phone if you’re in the Sebastopol area!
Toothache
Not all toothaches are emergencies, but it can be hard to tell how urgent a toothache is. If it doesn’t get better with over-the-counter pain killers, wakes you up at night, or you also have swelling, fever, or a bad taste in your mouth, you may need an emergency dentist.
What to do:
- Rise with warm salt water to clean the area around the tooth.
- Floss gently to remove stuck food that can create pain and pressure.
- Apply a cold compress to the outside of the face.
- Take over-the-counter pain killers if needed. But NEVER HOLD ASPIRIN AGAINST YOUR GUMS as it can cause burns.
- Call us to figure out what could be causing your toothache and how urgent it might be.
Now that you know a little dental first aid, let’s look at what to expect at an emergency dental visit.
What to Expect from Emergency Dentistry
If you’ve never been to the emergency dentist, here’s an inside look at how it usually goes.
Check In – You’ll fill out the usual medical history forms and explain what’s going on with your emergency situation. The office staff will get you set up.
Dental Exam – The dentist will thoroughly examine your mouth, teeth, x-rays, and whatever else is going on to pinpoint the issue.
Treatment Plan Talk – Next, we’ll go over our recommendations, answer your questions, and review cost estimates.
Fixing the Issue – The actual treatment will vary by each case. It may involve a filling, extraction, root canal treatment, or antibiotics. At Oak Tree Dental, we provide same-day CEREC crowns so you can get back to your routine as quickly as possible.
Post-Visit Instructions – We’ll send you home with clear instructions for follow-up care, prescriptions, and managing symptoms.
Follow-Up Appointments – Many emergency treatments require multiple visits over days or weeks to fully fix the problem. We’ll get you set up with any necessary follow-ups before you leave.
Our focus is on taking care of the urgent issue first. Any regular preventive dental care will have to wait until things stabilize and you can make a regular check-up appointment.
Don’t Sit On Serious Dental Emergencies!
Severe dental pain, injuries, or sudden issues are legitimate emergencies that need quick treatment. Ignoring them or putting off dental care can allow small problems to blow up into huge, expensive disasters.
Dr. Anthony Grados at Oak Tree Dental provides extended weekday and weekend hours, minimal wait times, and advanced technology for precise diagnosis and treatment. His friendly, compassionate team works to make emergency dentistry affordable while providing personalized care.
If you’re dealing with a dental emergency, we’re here for you. Save our number, (707) 823-1029, so you have it on hand when an unexpected dental emergency comes up!
