Are you ready for a dental emergency? Accidents happen, and knowing what to do when one occurs can mean the difference between 
saving and losing a tooth. Dr. Joseph Reed at Arlington Dental in Arlington, TX, offers a full range of dental services, including emergency care. Read on to find out how to deal with a dental emergency.
Knocked-Out Tooth
A knocked-out tooth is an emergency that requires urgent attention. If your tooth has been knocked out, pick up the tooth and rinse it off to ensure that it's clean. If you can, gently place the tooth back into the socket. If you can't put the tooth back in the socket, put the tooth in a small container. Call your Arlington dentist right away. Seeing a dentist quickly is critical for saving a knocked-out tooth.
Loose Tooth
If you have a loose tooth, you should call an emergency dentist right away. In the meantime, you can try to put the tooth back in its original position using your finger with light pressure. Your dentist may splint the tooth to the surrounding teeth to keep it stabilized. Your dentist may be able to save your tooth by splinting it. In certain cases, loose teeth cannot be saved and require a dental extraction.
Cracked Tooth
A fractured or cracked tooth is a dental emergency. If you have a cracked or fractured tooth, call an emergency dentist immediately. If the tooth pulp is damaged, your tooth may need root canal therapy. If the tooth pulp is not damaged, the tooth might only need a dental crown. Rinse your mouth thoroughly with warm water. Take acetaminophen to alleviate your pain. If the fracture is caused by facial trauma, apply a cold compress to the area to reduce swelling.
Severe Infection
An abscess in the mouth or severe infection can be life-threatening and should be dealt with right away. Your dentist might be able to perform the first stage of a root canal to open and drain the tooth and allow the abscess to drain. If you have swelling in your face and a fever and you can't reach your emergency dentist, go to an emergency room. Also, go to the emergency room if you have trouble swallowing or breathing.
Tissue Injury
Any type of injury inside the mouth, such as puncture wounds, tears and lacerations to the lips, mouth, cheeks and tongue, are a dental emergency. If you experience any type of tissue injury, it's important to clean the area immediately with warm water. Call an emergency dentist right away. To alleviate the pain associated with tissue injury, you can take acetaminophen. Never take ibuprofen or aspirin for a dental emergency because they are anticoagulants, which can cause excessive bleeding.
So, what are you waiting for? If you are experiencing a dental emergency, call our office today! Call Arlington Dental in Arlington, TX, at (817) 303-5700 right now to get your pain relieved quickly. Any dental emergency is serious and should not be ignored. We will make sure you receive quality care and are seen as soon as possible. We want to get you out of pain and on with your life.