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A tooth infection can spread to other parts of your body if left untreated.
Even though you may feel like panicking due to the pain and stress of your injury, do your best to remain calm. Almost any dental issue can be treated and resolved by a dentist. You can take comfort in the fact that our team is here to help get you back to a healthy smile as soon as possible.
After you’ve taken a few deep breaths, assess the situation and the extent of your injury. Slow any bleeding by placing a strip of gauze on the afflicted area. Bite down on the gauze to apply gentle pressure, which will slow the blood flow for about an hour.
Over-the-counter medications such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen can temporarily reduce swelling and get you out of pain. Be sure to avoid any blood-thinning medications such as aspirin, which prevents natural clotting. For additional pain relief, place an ice pack or cold compress on the cheek near the affected area.
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When a dental emergency strikes, it’s important to contact us as soon as possible. Don’t hesitate to give our Elma dental team a call once you’ve regained control of the situation. We’ll help you assess the severity of your dental injury and get you the care you need immediately.
Dr. Finney knew she wanted to go into the medical field from a young age. In fact, after needing her first fillings and having her wisdom teeth removed, she shadowed her dentist and quickly realized it was the career path she was meant to follow.
She graduated Summa Cum Laude from SUNY New Paltz for her undergraduate degree, and went on to graduate as salutatorian at University at Buffalo, earning her DDS. She completed her general practice residency at University of Colorado, and has extensive training and experience in dental implants and complex oral surgeries.
Looking for immediate care? Same-day dentistry gets you in our office right away, so you can quickly get back to a healthy oral state. During your visit, your Elma dentist will examine the dental injury and craft an immediate plan to heal and restore your smile that very same day.
While every dental emergency is different, there are a variety of common procedures that can alleviate pain and restore the form and function of your smile.
At your appointment, the dentist will perform an exam to assess the severity of your unique situation. They’ll also outline all recommended treatment options to nurse your smile back to health. For example, a broken, damaged, or decayed tooth can be restored with a dental crown. If you’re struggling with a severe toothache and an underlying infection is causing your pain, root canal therapy may be recommended by your dentist.
Another common restorative procedure is tooth splinting, which stabilizes a loose or knocked-out tooth to allow for proper healing. Your dentist will avoid a tooth extraction if possible, but it can be a necessary procedure if you are experiencing a severely damaged tooth that can’t otherwise be fixed.
Over five million teeth are lost in America every year!
You may be inclined to panic, but the best thing to do is to remain calm. If you can find your tooth, hold it by its top, or crown, to prevent further damage. Gently rinse the tooth with warm water and place the tooth back in its socket if possible, but be careful not to force the tooth back in place. You can also put the tooth in a container of cold milk to keep it from drying out while you are heading to your emergency appointment.
It’s extremely important to call your dentist immediately after experiencing a dental emergency. A knocked-out tooth has only about 1-2 hours in which it can be saved, replaced, and splinted by your dentist. Give us a call right away to schedule an appointment, then head to our office to get the emergency care you need.
If your dental crown, filling, bridge, or other appliance happens to fall out, there’s no need to panic. Simply place your dental work in a container or plastic bag so you can bring it to your emergency dental appointment. Then call us to schedule an emergency visit so we can treat your issue right away.
Losing a dental appliance exposes your teeth and gums to bacteria, which can cause an infection, further decay or damage, and lead to even more issues down the line. A loose, broken, or missing dental appliance is considered a dental emergency and warrants a same-day appointment. Contact us as soon as you can to schedule a visit.
A severe toothache that lasts for several days may be caused by a tooth infection, which is a serious dental emergency. Fortunately, root canal therapy can be used to restore your tooth and soothe the pain.
Call our office immediately If you’re experiencing a lasting toothache. To alleviate any discomfort before your appointment, take over-the-counter pain relievers, place a cold compress on your cheek, or apply a topical numbing gel to the painful area.
If a broken or cracked tooth is left untreated, it is at risk for infection and other complications. Don’t hesitate to give us a call so we can help guide you on the next steps, and see if your injury requires immediate treatment.
If one or more of your teeth becomes loose due to oral trauma, call our office right away for a same-day appointment. It’s crucial to get emergency dental care soon, as the nerves that run through and support your tooth could die, leaving the tooth unsalvageable.
After calling our office for your emergency appointment, try to keep the tooth as stable as possible. Avoid touching the loose tooth with your tongue or fingers, as this can lead to further damage and increase the risk of infection. Once you’re at our office, your dentist will apply a splint that stabilizes the tooth, providing support and allowing the tooth to heal and reattach to your gums.
Did you know cavities are actually the most common childhood infectious disease? About 60% of children have a cavity by the time they are 5! While it’s true that baby teeth will eventually fall out, it is still important to treat cavities on baby teeth. Baby teeth, also known as deciduous teeth, hold the place for adult teeth. If these teeth are lost early your child will lose space in their mouth, leading to limited space for the adult teeth to come in properly. This leads to increased need for orthodontics (braces) later on!
Additionally, when baby teeth become infected not only will your child develop pain, but it can permanently damage the adult tooth coming in underneath it. Therefore, we try to treat cavities on baby teeth early while they can be simply pulled rather than when they need extensive work like crowns or to be pulled.
If you’ve knocked out your tooth, place it in a container of cold milk to preserve the root while you head to your emergency appointment.
