What Should You Do In A Dental Emergency?

The best way to avoid dental emergencies is to be proactive in the care of your teeth. At Dental Care of Boca Raton, we use the latest diagnostics and highest quality materials and workmanship to help you avoid emergencies. But, no matter how conscientious you are, dental emergencies can happen — often at the most inopportune time.

What Is a Dental Emergency?

Here are some questions you can ask yourself about your dental situation to help determine if you can wait for a regular appointment or if you should make an emergency visit to our office:

Are you in severe pain?

Severe pain is often a sign of an emergency. While a minor toothache can usually be scheduled for treatment, a severe ache, especially if it is spontaneous, warrants immediate attention. A chipped tooth, for example, can usually be scheduled for repair. However, if the crack is deep enough to reach the sensitive pulp tissue, the pain should warn you to seek emergency treatment to prevent serious complications.

Is there bleeding from the mouth that won’t stop?

Minor bleeding is a common sign of gingivitis, and while you want to treat it quickly, a regular appointment is sufficient. Persistent bleeding could signal the need for immediate help.

Have you lost a tooth?

Quick action can potentially save a tooth that has been dislodged. Handle the tooth by the crown. Try not to touch the root because that can damage cells necessary for bone reattachment. Rinse to remove dirt, but do not scrub the tooth. Wrap the tooth in gauze or a clean cloth and immerse in milk, or saliva if milk is not available, to keep the tooth moist. If a knocked-out tooth can be reinserted in the socket within a half-hour, the chances are good that it can be saved.

Do you have an infection?

If you notice swollen gums or pimple-like knots, swelling around the face, or sore or swollen lymph nodes in your neck, seek emergency treatment. You could have an abscess and the infection could spread to other areas of your body.

Don’t Hesitate to Call Us

Basically, any dental problem that requires treatment to stop bleeding, relieve severe pain, or save the tooth could be considered an emergency, and if you are in the Boca Raton, Florida, area, you should call us immediately. We set aside time in our schedule for dental emergencies, so if you have a sudden dental issue, we will get you an emergency appointment the same day!

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