Dental Emergencies
We place a high priority on dental emergencies. Call us in the morning and we will make every effort to accommodate you. Please do not wait, as dental infections can present serious problems that can get complicated enough to require hospitalization.
Toothache
Toothache can be caused by a wide variety of conditions. Common causes are advanced decay, root canal problems, gum disease, wisdom teeth, and infections. What to do:
- Get a dental appointment right away!
- If you have a throbbing pain, you will find that it is throbbing in time to your heart beat. Elevate your head, so you reduce blood pressure in the tissues that are throbbing.
- Consider applying ice packs, unless that makes the pain worse.
- Consider taking a pain medication, such as over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medicines, like ibuprofen, Orudis, or Alleve. Be very careful with to follow manufacturer's directions with any medicine!
Swelling
Swelling is often a sign of infection. This is very serious, so do not waste any time. What to do:
- Get a dental appointment right away!
- If you cannot get to a dentist right away, go to a hospital emergency room.
- Do not apply heat to a swollen area, as heat can cause an infection to accelerate dramatically.
Broken Teeth
Broken Teeth range from small chips to major fractures and vertical fractures that can extend to the roots of teeth. Do not let a broken tooth go without treatment, as many broken teeth are at risk for decay. Sometimes it can hurt to bite on a tooth, but no fracture is visible. Some of these teeth have the cracked tooth syndrome, and once again, do not postpone care, as a fracture can propagate far enough to cause loss of a tooth.
Dental Injuries
Dental Injuries often occur when people have accidents, but care is sometimes postponed as other medical care is completed. We recommend early diagnosis when dental injury is suspected. Some dental signs and symptoms appear sometime after an accident; another good reason to have regular checkups.
by Keith Collins, DMD
