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Are You Having a Dental Emergency?

It’s important for you to understand the difference between a normal dental issue that can wait a day or two, and a dental emergency that may be life-threatening. To determine whether you are having a dental emergency ask yourself these 3 questions:

• Do I have severe pain, swelling, or bleeding?
• Have I lost a tooth?
• Do I have loose teeth?

Dental emergencies usually occur when a tooth or teeth have suffered severe trauma or tooth decay. Severe swelling or bleeding that may occur from an abscess or injury will also constitute a dental emergency. If you have any of these symptoms you will want to see our dentist as soon as possible.

There are many reasons why you may be having a dental emergency, some of these include:

• Permanent tooth knocked out
• Broken, loose or cracked tooth/teeth
• Severe tooth decay or toothache
• Impacted wisdom teeth
• Object caught between teeth
• Swollen abscess on your gums

Knocked-Out Tooth?

If you have suffered from a knocked-out tooth due to trauma or decay, remember that the faster you act the better the results your dentist can provide for you. You should try your best to get to our dental office within 30 minutes of the tooth being removed. When possible, insert the tooth back into the socket and bite down softly so that it does not fall out. If you are not able to do this or the tooth is broken, put the tooth in a glass of milk and bring it to our office immediately so that we can try to save the tooth for you.

What to Do In Case of Dental Emergency

Dental emergencies can bring excruciating pain from one second to the next. That’s why it’s important to remain calm and not make things worse by panicking. The next thing you should do is find a pain reliever. If you’re bleeding, you’ll want to avoid ibuprofen or aspirin because they are anticoagulants that can cause more bleeding. Instead, Acetaminophen is a good alternative for pain relief if you are bleeding.

Another good thing to do in a dental emergency is to rinse your mouth out with saltwater. Saltwater helps to reduce any swelling that occurs due to injury or other oral health problems. If you feel that you are suffering from a life-threatening dental injury, please do not hesitate to call 911 immediately.

We’re Here to Help You With Your Dental Emergency

At East El Paso Dentist, we know that dental emergencies happen. When they do, you want the best emergency dental care possible quickly. That’s why we’re available for same-day and next-day appointments. We’ll even stay open late to provide you with the emergency dental care you need. Whether you’re suffering from a toothache, a broken or cracked tooth, a knocked-out tooth, or a broken dental crown, we’re here to help and answer any of your questions.

Call us at our East El Paso office on Edgemere off of Zaragosa today at (915) 621-2880, or fill out the form below to schedule a dental emergency consultation. We are here to help!

5 Tips for Handling a Dental Emergency

Dental emergencies happen, and knowing what to do when one occurs may mean the difference between saving a tooth or losing one.

No matter whether it’s a broken tooth, abscess, lost filling, or just a toothache—you should reach out to our dentist in El Paso, TX for help. Dental emergencies can sometimes lead to more serious oral issues or the loss of a tooth. In this article, we’ll go over 5 tips to help you in case of a dental emergency. Whatever you do, don’t ignore the problem or dismiss addressing the issue, even if the pain subsides.

Stay Calm

If you have just suffered from a dental emergency, the first thing you should try to do is stay calm and remember the following tips:

• Only touch the crown of the tooth. Do not touch the roots.
• Try to place the tooth into the socket.
• Place the tooth in a glass of milk, store it in a cup of spit, or keep it safely under your tongue and get to a dentist. Your tooth has the best chance of survival if it’s returned to the socket within an hour.

Act Quickly for a Knocked-Out Tooth

Teeth will begin to die within 15 minutes of being knocked out of the gum. Dentists agree that there is about a 30-minute window of time in which there is a good chance of saving a removed tooth. That is why it is essential to act quickly and get to our emergency dentist or endodontist as soon as possible.

Rinse with Warm Water

Try to rinse your mouth with a warm or room-temperature salt-water solution. Use a moistened piece of gauze, tea bag, or paper towel to apply pressure to the affected and bleeding site. Hold in place for 15 to 20 minutes.

Use a Cold Press and Apply Pressure

To control bleeding and relieve pain, hold a cold compress to the outside of the mouth or cheek in the affected area until you get to a dentist to reduce swelling.

Call Us Immediately!

As soon as you experience an oral injury or dental emergency, contact our East El Paso Dentist team immediately. We’ll set you up with a same-day dental appointment to make sure you can get the care you need. Call us at (915) 621-2880, or send us a message through our Contact Us page.