Dental Emergency in Bullhead City or Area

1.  What do you do when a tooth is knocked out? 

When a tooth has been entirely knocked out of it's socket, fast action can save the tooth. 

Placing the tooth back in within 15 minutes often results in a good prognosis of the tooth. 

1. Pick the tooth up by the top of the tooth not the root. 
2. Gently rinse the tooth with milk or filtered water and do not touch the root. Keep the tooth moist and do not scrub or rub the tooth. 
3. Immediately after rinsing gently place the tooth into the socket with careful finger pressure. Keep light pressure on the tooth and contact us right away. 
4. If the tooth cannot be placed back in the socket, put it in one of the following: Milk, Mouth (no biting or chewing on it), Emergency tooth kit, or if nothing else is available, water with a pinch of salt. CONTACT US RIGHT AWAY 
5. Ideally, a tooth should not be out of the socket for more than 30 minutes. It still may be possible to save a tooth that has been out longer, if it is treated properly. 

2.  What do you do when you have a broken or fractured tooth? 

Teeth may break due to many reasons. It is very important to see your dentist regularly to detect problems before they become an emergency 

1. Stop any bleeding by applying direct pressure to the bleeding area with gauze, cotton, or paper towels. Do not press directly on a tooth if the area around the tooth is bleeding. 
2. Get to our office immediately. The quicker you see a dentist the better the outcome. Call us as soon as possible. 
3. A broken tooth exposes the nerve and may cause extreme pain. Do not take aspirin or related drugs. Do not place any medicine directly on the tooth. Contact us for advice on relieving the pain. 
4. It may be possible to save the tooth with root canal treatment or other restorative methods. 

3.  What do you do with a broken bridge, denture, or partial? 

1. Bring all the pieces with you. We may be able to repair it or use it as a temporary appliance until a new one is made. We need to se how it broke in order to best advise on how to prevent this from happening again. 
2. We will work as quickly as possible to repair or make you a new denture, bridge, partial or crown. 

4.  What do you do if you have a swelling or abscess? 

Swellings and abscesses are symptoms of a mores serious problem/infection and should be treated immediately 

1. Make an appointment immediately. It is an infection and it needs treatment. Don't attempt to treat this yourself or you may aggravate the situation even more. These situations are very serious requiring immediate professional treatment. 
2. Do not use ice! 
3. do not place asprin on a tooth! 
4. Do not rely on over-the-counter medications! 

5.  What do I do if I have a tooth ache? 

Tooth aches can be caused by many things. It is best to schedule an appointment with us right away or call us for emergency treatment. 

1. Do not place apsrin or any other medicine on the tooth or gums surrounding the tooth. 
2. Do not take aspirin or aspirin related drugs. 
3. Take non-asprin pain relievers purchased over the counter and as directed in package. 
4. Do not place ice on the tooth. 
5. Call our office 928-758-8887 right away for an appointment or emergency visit. 

6.  What do I do if I have a cut or laceration? 

 Cuts and lacerations are serious and can leave cosmetic deformities, excessive blood loss, or even death if left untreated. Contact us or the emergency room at the hospital Right away. 

1. Place gauze, tissue, paper towel, towel, or clean bandage material on the wound and apply firm pressure. Contact our office or go directly to the hospital emergency room right away. 
2. Do not place anything into the cut. 

7.  What do I do if I have an emergency not listed in any of the other questions? 

Call our office at (928) 758-8887 as soon as possible and remain calm. 

8.  How do I care for myself after surgery? 

1. You have just undergone a surgical procedure. The extent of the discomfort and swelling which you experience is, in a large part controlled by you. 
2. It is both normal and expected to experience bleeding and some discomfort following a dental extraction. If a tooth is surgically removed or sectioned for removal, then swelling of the cheek can be expected. 
3. Swelling should reach it's maximum in 24 - 48 hours and diminish after that. 
4. The most discomfort which you will experience will be during the period when sensation returns to your mouth. Take all medication as directed. The medication is prescribed principally to control pain and prevent infection. Most minor discomfort can be controlled with two over the counter Ibuprofen or Tylenol every 4 hours. 
5. Bite on the gauze placed in your mouth at the end of the procedure for at least 30 minutes. If bleeding continues at a significant rate, place another gauze in your mouth over the surgery site and bite down on it again until the bleeding is stopped. No damage results from biting on the gauze for periods of time up to 24 hours. Minor bleeding or oozing for the first 12 to 24 hours is to be expected. 
6. Apply ice to the face over the operative site if instructed by the doctor. Place ice cubes into a plastic bag, wrap this in one layer of towel and hold to the face for 20 minutes out of the hour on the day of the surgery only!!! The ice will diminish the swelling, but not prevent all swelling. 
7. Diet varies from patient to patient. It is usually best to start with soft foods and liquids and return to a normal diet as tolerated. Do not eat until feeling is back in the mouth, and NO STRAWS. 
8. An adequate fluid intake of at least two quarts of fluid a day is essential. 
9. You should refrain from spitting or heavy rinsing of the mouth for two days, also NO SMOKING for two days and no alcoholic beverages for two days. This is to prevent a loss of blood clot and dry socket. 
10. Fever, swelling or increase in pain after two days is not normal and you should call us at (928) 758-8887 immediately 

9.  How do I care for myself after a root canal? 

It is possible that your tooth and it's surrounding gum tissue may be somewhat tender for several days due to the previous condition of your tooth and manipulation within the root during treatment. There is no cause for alarm since this is a perfectly normal reaction. Any pain medications or antibiotics prescribed by the doctor may be taken to help the body's response to treatment received. While the tooth is tender, avoid chewing in the area. Generally, discomfort between visits does not affect the successful outcome of the treatment. If you have any questions or problems concerning you treatment, or if swelling develops, do not hesitate to call our office any time. 

10.  How do I care for my denture or partial? 

Your dentures are more than an expense for you. They are your means to eat and speak with, also a source of your appearance. As such they should be cared for carefully. Here are some items you should know 

1. Don't soak your dentures in bleach. This will destroy your dentures. 
2. Do not try to adjust your dentures yourself. This will lead to destruction of your dentures and cause possible discomfort. 
3. Do not keep your denture in place where your pets can have access to them. Pets love to chew on them and is a common cause for denture remakes. 
4. Do not keep your dentures in your mouth all the time. Your tissue in your mouth needs time to rest. Keep the dentures out while you sleep. SOAK THEM IN A MOUTHRINSE OR DENTURE SOLUTION. 
5. When dentures make your mouth sore come see us. 
6. Do not try to repair a denture yourself. You will save money, time and hassles if you let us fix it correctly for you. 
7. Brush your dentures daily like you would your own teeth. This will keep them looking good and free of tarter. 
8. Even with dentures you still need annual dental visits to check for oral diseases and fit of the denture.