What to Do in a Dental Emergency

It is important to know how to handle a dental emergency before it hits. Because adrenaline and worry may start to arise when you find yourself in these situations, we want to help prepare you. Here is some simple information to remember if you experience a dental emergency:

STEP 1 – Remain Calm

Dental emergencies include a range of scenarios, from severe toothaches to lost or broken teeth, crowns, fillings, and dentures. They can happen quickly and unexpectedly, or be the end result of untreated damage, decay, or infection. If you or your child experience an urgent dental situation, the first step is to stay calm and not panic.

STEP 2 – Call Us

Whether or not you’re certain that your situation is an emergency, call us right away at Wagner & Langston Family Dentistry. We will ask you questions and assess your next steps. We always reserve space on our schedule for emergency appointments and we will get you seen as soon as possible. Losing an adult tooth and other urgent matters will need to be addressed quickly, so don’t delay calling our dental office in Jonesboro, AR!

STEP 3 – Prepare for Your Emergency Appointment

For mouth pain that won’t subside, you can take an over-the-counter pain medication, use a cold compress on your affected cheek, and rinse with a warm saltwater mixture. If you’ve lost a tooth, crown, or filling, hold onto any pieces and bring these with you to your appointment. For a lost tooth, you’ll need to keep it moist (in milk or between your cheek and gums) and see us less than an hour after injury for your tooth to survive. You can also try re-implanting a lost tooth yourself. Gently hold it by the crown end (the chewing surface) and try gently placing it back within the gumline. Bite down lightly to see if it will stay.

STEP 4 – Prevent the Next Dental Emergency

Unfortunately, sometimes emergencies happen no matter what you do. But there are steps you can take to protect yourself and reduce your risk for a dental emergency. For example, always wear an athletic mouthguard when participating in sports and contact activities, and a nightguard if you grind your teeth during sleep. Avoid chewing ice and hard candy, and never open packaging with your teeth. Additionally, maintain a superb dental hygiene routine that includes twice daily brushing for two minutes each time, daily flossing, and routine dental visits. Notify us about any unusual oral health changes, such as chronic dry mouth, bad breath, sensitive teeth, new or worsening tooth pain, or bleeding gums. Letting us know about any dental issue early allows us to address the problem before it worsens.

Emergency Dental Care in Jonesboro, AR

If you have questions about our emergency services, or are experiencing a dental emergency, call us at 870-224-4264. We are here to help!

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Categorized in: Dental Emergency