A dental emergency can leave you stressed. Here’s what you should do about the situation.
Accidents happen, often when we least expect them to. Maybe you were simply enjoying a snack when you cracked a tooth, or your tooth was knocked out while playing a game with friends. While we know just how stressful these scenarios can be, it is important that our patients know exactly where to turn for immediate dental care. Your Maspeth, NY, emergency dentists, Dr. Margaret Fitzsimons and Dr. Bronwyn Hagan, have been providing emergency dental care for years. We make sure you can get in to see us immediately so you can get the care your smile requires.
Here are the most common dental emergencies and how to best handle them:
Toothache
A toothache can be scary and painful. Sometimes they even cause headaches and fever, especially if there’s an infection. The best thing to do is to come into our office for emergency dental care. Our Maspeth, NY, emergency dentists can determine whether your toothache is caused by decay, trauma, or infection. To ease pain in the meantime you can choose to take an over-the-counter pain reliever or you can apply an oral numbing gel on the gums around the tooth for relief.
Bitten tongue or cheek
First, you need to gently clean the area with a clean cloth. If there is facial swelling, you can apply a cold compress to the area. Once you’ve cleaned the area, you’ll want to use a fresh strip of gauze to apply pressure to the bleeding tongue or cheek. If the bleeding doesn’t stop after 15 minutes, it’s time to make a trip to your emergency dentist.
Loose Tooth
If the tooth has shifted slightly forward or backward, gently try to reposition the tooth, but do not force it! Use a wet tissue to hold the tooth in place and come right to our office. We recommend coming in within 30 minutes of the injury for the best results.
Knocked-out Tooth
If you knocked out a permanent tooth, rinse it immediately, but do not scrub it. It’s best to keep the tooth in your mouth, as the saliva will help preserve it. However, this is not recommended in young children or those who may swallow or choke on the tooth. If holding the tooth in your mouth isn’t a possibility, store the tooth in a cup of milk and come to our office right away. A tooth can usually be saved if you seek treatment within 30 minutes to one hour.
Broken Tooth
Rinse your mouth out with warm water. If possible, find and collect any fragments of the broken tooth. Apply a cold compress to that side of the face to reduce swelling and discomfort. Once you’ve collected the pieces of the broken tooth, bring them into our office. If the pieces are big enough we may be able to bond them back to the tooth. If not, a dental crown will be placed over the tooth to preserve what’s left of the tooth’s natural structure.
If you are dealing with a true dental emergency, Dr. Fitzsimons and Dr. Hagan your Maspeth, NY, your emergency dentists at Fitzsimons & Hagan Dentistry are here to help. To schedule an urgent dental appointment, simply call us today at (718) 429-6931.