Do you have a dental emergency action plan?
There is never a good time for a dental emergency to occur; however, knowing how to best handle one can certainly help you stay calm and collected when it happens. Know that when an urgent dental situation arises that our Crystal, MN, emergency dentist Dr. Kimberlee Murphy is here to help. Here are some of the most common dental emergencies we deal with and how you should handle them,
Knocked-out tooth
If a permanent tooth has come out it’s important that you seek immediate medical care from your Crystal, MN, emergency dentist. If the tooth is treated within an hour of the accident, it can often be saved. It’s important to follow these rules when handling a knocked-out tooth,
- Never handle the tooth by the roots, only handle it by the crown
- Gently rinse the tooth off with water if there is any dirt or debris
- Gently try to place the tooth back into the socket
- If the tooth won’t go back into the socket, place it in a container with milk and head straight to our office
Toothache
A toothache can be a sign of everything from decay to a broken tooth, and it’s important to find out what’s going on so that we can treat the issue right away. After all, teeth do not heal themselves, so they will require a dentist who will be able to fix the problem either through a dental filling, crown or other restorative dentistry procedure. The sooner you seek treatment for a toothache (no matter how minor it might seem) the better.
Broken or cracked tooth
A chipped tooth is a rather minor issue and you may not need to rush right into our office; however, if you have a broken or deeply cracked tooth, this could cause damage to the dental pulp. Make sure to save any parts of the tooth that may have broken off. Rinse your mouth with warm water and apply a cold compress to your face if you are dealing with pain or swelling. Make sure to bring the broken pieces into the office with you; if the pieces are large enough, we may be able to bond them back on.
An abscess
An abscess is a pimple-like bump that forms on the gums or around the tooth roots when there is an infection present. At first, this bump may not seem like a big deal; however, it will continue to grow until it develops into a painful bump. Sometimes an abscess may even drain or ooze. It’s important that any sores in your mouth are quickly examined and treated by a dental professional.
Are you looking for an emergency dentist who can treat any and all of your dental problems here in Crystal, MN? Having a dentist that you can turn to for immediate care can certainly put your mind at ease. To deal with a dental emergency, or simply to schedule a routine visit, call Crystal Dental Care today at (763) 537-3655.