Emergency dentistry is an area of dental care that deals with providing service for patients with sudden, severe dental problems. The most common emergency cases are dental injuries, toothache, and damage to the bone or gum tissue in the case of facial trauma.
One should never wait too long to seek urgent help from an emergency dentist, since some conditions can lead to more severe concerns or cause irreparable loss of a tooth. It is important to understand the difference between a dental emergency and regular dental problems by reviewing the following information. That way, you can always seek the appropriate care for your concern.
If you or your child is experiencing a dental emergency, call our Herndon, VA, office as soon as possible.
Toothache
Toothaches are most frequently due to tooth decay, cavities, or tooth infection. We can usually ease the pain and treat the problem by removing any decay and restoring the area with a filling or dental crown.
If you are experiencing excruciating pain, call our office immediately to schedule an emergency visit. During this appointment, we will make sure that no nerves have been damaged and alleviate your toothache with an appropriate treatment option; this may involve a filling, root canal, or tooth extraction.
Tooth Abscess
A tooth abscess is most commonly caused by an untreated cavity, cracked tooth, or old dental work that caused infection and pus accumulation at the base of the tooth. It commonly presents with severe pain and swelling in or around the affected area. Abscesses are formed when the bacterial invasion causes an immune response that results in pus-forming inside or around the tooth. The abscess is identified as the infection spreads under the gums to cause a swelling called a periapical abscess.
People who are suffering from an abscess should immediately schedule a visit to the dentist since without treatment it will likely worsen. This can lead to further complications such as damage of nearby teeth, severe pain, facial infection, fever, and spread of the infection to other parts of your body.
If you notice a small bump around any of your teeth that is accompanied by pain or swelling, call our office for an emergency appointment.
Broken or Knocked-Out Tooth
Broken teeth are among the most common dental emergencies. If a tooth is broken, make sure you handle the area with care and seek immediate attention by calling our office. Pain and swelling can be managed by holding an ice pack on the outer side of the cheek.
If a tooth has been knocked out, it’s important to find the tooth quickly and bring it with you to our office. Carefully pick up the tooth by the crown (do not touch the tooth root). Rinse the tooth under plain water and attempt to place the tooth back into its socket and bite down. If you cannot get it into the socket, transport the tooth in a cup of milk.
- If your child has lost a tooth, first determine if this is a primary or permanent tooth. Losing a primary tooth is not considered an emergency, though you may still contact us for an examination to ensure no surrounding teeth or tissues were injured.
Keeping Your Smile Safe
At GoSmiles Dentistry, our team is looking out for your family, so you can smile for a lifetime! When you are experiencing a dental emergency, you can depend on our team to deliver the care you need, so you reach the best outcome. Our goal is to get you an appointment as quickly as possible so you don’t have to worry or feel uncomfortable during this stressful time.
We are ready to serve and support you, whenever you may need us! There is no need for fear and anxiety when you have our team on your side – just call our office and let’s get you on the path to recovery! Call our office today!
