Quick Dental Treatment for Oral Emergencies
Dental emergencies never happen on your schedule, but they demand immediate treatment. Whether you have a serious toothache, a pulled-out filling, or have suffered oral trauma like a chipped or cracked tooth, it is critical to see an emergency dentist in Carmel Valley like Dr. Bancroft right away. With proper dental care, you can save your tooth, eliminate your pain and discomfort, and get back to your day-to-day life.
Which Emergencies Require Dental Treatment?
The Most Common Dental Emergencies
Many different conditions count as dental emergencies. Here are a few common dental emergencies that we handle in our dentist office:
- Severe toothache – A serious, prolonged toothache that lasts more than a day or two could indicate an infected tooth that needs to be treated with a root canal. If left untreated, the pain will get worse, and the infected tooth will eventually die.
- Pulled-out filling or crown – If a crown, filling, or another piece of dental work falls out, it is important to get help immediately. The enamel around your lost dental restoration is likely quite weak and vulnerable and could be subject to further decay or damage if you don’t get help.
- Loose or knocked-out (avulsed) tooth – A tooth that has been loosened or knocked out by an oral injury must be treated immediately. Knocked-out teeth require treatment within 1-2 hours at most, and loose teeth should also be splinted as soon as possible to ensure they can be properly re-attached.
- Chipped, cracked, or damaged tooth – Even minor tooth damage from oral trauma or biting a non-food object could result in a crack that exposes your enamel. This can cause a tooth infection if left untreated.
- Object/food stuck between teeth – If you have some kind of object or food stuck between your teeth and you can’t get it out, this counts as an emergency, particularly if it’s lodged near your gums.
- Oral lacerations – Serious cuts to the lips, tongue, cheeks, and gums due to oral trauma, such as biting yourself during a slip-and-fall, may require stitches. If your mouth does not stop bleeding within 1-2 hours after your injury, seek help from an emergency dentist or urgent care facility.
How Can A Dentist Save My Tooth?
Preserving Knocked-Out Teeth
If your tooth has fallen out or been knocked out, recover your tooth by grabbing it by the crown (top chewing surface). Do not touch the delicate root. If the tooth is dirty, rinse it with warm water and place it back in the socket, if possible. If this is not possible, put it in a small bag of cold milk and bring it with you to our dentist’s office. It is important to come in for a dental checkup immediately. In ideal circumstances, your tooth should be re-implanted within one hour, though it may still be saved if you see Dr. Bancroft within two hours.
Same-Day Appointments Available at a Dentist Near You
At Carmel Valley Dental, we always have same-day appointments available for our patients. If possible, we ask that you give us a call at (858) 758-8867 to know when to expect you and prepare. However, we also accept walk-ins for emergency appointments at 12750 Carmel Country Road Suite 206, San Diego, CA 92130.