What is a Dental Emergency?
Unexpected dental emergencies can be stressful. If you find yourself in a situation that needs immediate attention, such as a chipped tooth or lost crown, Cedar Ridge Dental is here to help.
Seeking dental care immediately for your emergency can help preserve your natural tooth, prevent infection, and alleviate any discomfort you may be experiencing.
Below are common dental emergencies that you should have treated right away:
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Lost Crowns
Crowns are built to last, but they can occasionally fall off your tooth, or be knocked off as a result of impact. If this happens to you, don't panic. Call our office right away. Ideally, you should receive dental care the day your crown falls off, but we understand this isn't always possible.
Try to find your missing crown. If you do locate it, rinse it with warm water, and place it in a container to bring to your appointment. In many situations, we can reattach the crown and save you the time and money associated with having a new one created.
If a dental crown falls off, the interior of the tooth may be exposed, resulting in sensitivity and even pain. If your uncovered tooth is causing you discomfort, you can cover it with a temporary dental cement or wax from a pharmacy to alleviate some of the discomfort and sensitivity you might be feeling.
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Lost Fillings
If a filling falls out of your tooth, call us to make an appointment as soon as possible. Your filling was used to cover a hole created by a cavity, and once that hole is exposed, food and debris can get trapped. As a result, your tooth will become susceptible to tooth decay.
Keep the area as clean as possible and avoid chewing on the affected side until you get the filling replaced.
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Chipped or Broken Teeth
If you have a chipped or broken tooth, try to find the missing piece and put it in a clean container to bring to your appointment. Your dentist can potentially reattach it. Whether the piece is found or not, call our office right away to have your damaged tooth repaired.
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Knocked-Out Teeth
If you have a knocked-out tooth, call our office as soon as possible. The sooner you can be treated after a tooth has been knocked out, the better the chance your dentist will have of reattaching it.
If you can locate your knocked-out tooth, pick it up by the crown, not the root, and rinse it with warm water before re-inserting it into your tooth socket. This will help keep the tooth viable while you make your way to the dentist. Once in place, gently bite down to hold your tooth in place. If doing this causes too much pain, you can hold the tooth between your teeth and cheek.
If your tooth cannot be saved, we offer restorative treatment options, such as bridges, that can be used to replace your missing tooth.
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Swelling, Pain or Discomfort
If you are experiencing moderate to severe swelling, pain, or discomfort in your mouth or jaw area, call us as soon as possible and follow these steps to alleviate pain in the meantime here are a few things you can do to try to reduce the pain:
- Apply a cold compress to your cheek, on the area where you are feeling pain.
- Take an over-the-counter pain medication.
- Use salt water to flush the area that is in pain.
Please note that if the swelling is impacting your ability to breathe, you should seek emergency medical care at a hospital as soon as possible.
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