Having a dental emergency can be a very anxiety-inducing experience. At Comprehensive Dentistry, we offer a range of emergency dental services to provide relief from pain, to avoid infection, stop bleeding, save a tooth, or any other urgent concern.
Dental emergencies are situations that require immediate attention to stop bleeding from tissue damage, save a tooth that has been knocked out, alleviate unbearable pain, or to treat severe infection or abscess. Common dental emergencies include:
You need to be seen by an emergency dentist within 30 minutes of your tooth being knocked out, so call us right away at Comprehensive Dentistry.
Do not pick up the tooth by the root. This is extremely important, and here’s why: teeth are attached to the jaw bone via the periodontal ligament, which is also how teeth get their blood supply and their nerve sensation. The cells in the root can still regenerate if action is taken immediately after a tooth has been knocked out. Hold the tooth in place where it fell out after rinsing it. If the tooth is dirty, then do not use soap. Rinse it well to preserve those necessary cells for regeneration. Otherwise, there’s a risk of losing the tooth.
The moment your mouth begins to hurt is not necessary the moment you have an emergency. It may hurt a lot when you have a cavity and are eating or drinking foods and beverages that are either very cold or hot. But a cavity, while urgent, is not a life-threatening dental illness. Call our office to schedule a check-up to see how we can help.
The swelling will be normal after your procedure around the surgical site. This swelling will probably last for two to four days. It is highly recommended that the patients apply an ice pack for 20 to 30 minutes on the first day in order to reduce swelling. You may also want to try sleeping propped up since laying flat can increase swelling.
As for pain medication, you may be prescribed an anti-inflammatory medication as well as an antibiotic. Both of these are important for your healing, so make sure to take your anabiotic as prescribed until you finish the bottle. Over-the-counter ibuprofen pain medications, such as Advil and Motrin, are reliable pain relievers. But if you cannot take either of them, Tylenol is another good choice. Be sure to follow the recommended dosage on the bottle of whichever you choose.
Lastly, after any sort of emergency surgery, it’s important not to smoke, or drink out of a straw. This is because both of these require movement of the mouth that can break blood clots that are forming in your mouth that need to heal. Refrain from smoking for at least a few days after your surgery to improve and recovery.
Instead, you can eat soft fruits such as bananas and peaches, soft foods such as oatmeal and soups and pasta, or you can make milkshakes or smoothies. Stick to this diet for a few days until your wounds have healed enough for more solid food. Your Monmouth dentist will provide you a customized treatment plan with tips specifically for you.
