Blog
02/12/2018
Are you suffering from tooth pain that won't go away? Do you have a chipped or broken tooth due to injury or trauma? Do you have another issue that you think might be a dental emergency? If you answered yes to any of these questions, relief is just a phone call away. The caring, experienced team at Alpha Plus Dental Center in Brookline, MA will give you the emergency dental treatment that you need. Whether we are repairing a broken or chipped tooth, or eliminating a tooth infection, we will give you the care you need, when you need it. In many cases, we're able to see dental emergencies the same day.
Emergency dentistry is the use of restorative or general procedures to alleviate pain during an emergency. Our goal is to provide our patients with a fast solution that gives quick relief and eliminates discomfort and suffering.
Reasons patients may need emergency dentistry
The following are examples of dental emergencies that we treat:- Tooth pain – Tooth pain can be caused by many factors, such as injury or infection. We will assess your tooth to determine the cause of your pain and then offer emergency services to alleviate that pain.
- Injury – Injuries can occur in sports or as the result of a fall or accident. If you experience an injury that causes you pain, or a broken or loose tooth, it's important to seek emergency dental care as soon as possible.
- Loose tooth – If a permanent tooth becomes loose, emergency services can potentially help save the tooth before it falls out.
- Failing dental work – If you lose a filling, dental crown, or other type of dental work, it can often cause a dental emergency. Having the failing dental work evaluated quickly can often solve the problem.
What you should do in a dental emergency
If the tooth has a large crack, there is a big piece missing, or the tooth has fallen out, you should seek immediate emergency care. However, in the meantime, there are some things you can do to help save the tooth.- Broken tooth – Begin by rinsing your mouth with warm water. If there is bleeding, use a piece of gauze or a moist tea bag and apply pressure until the bleeding stops. An icepack on the cheek can help with swelling and pain. If you can't get an appointment right away, temporary dental cement from the drugstore can be used to protect the tooth.
- Knocked out tooth – If your tooth falls out, it's important to touch it as little as possible and avoid touching the root altogether. If you can, try to get the tooth back in the socket and bite down on damp gauze to keep it in place, being careful not to swallow it. If you can't get the tooth back in the socket, rinse it gently and keep it in a container of milk. Biting down on a cold compress can help control bleeding.