In times of high stress, such as the current pandemic, dental emergencies can become more common. People often do things like grind and clench their teeth when they’re stressed more than normal, which can lead to issues with their teeth. Dr. Dhara Patel of Best Dental Spa, a dentist in Hoffman Estates, IL, gives tips on how to handle it if you experience a dental emergency.
Taking On a Dental Emergency
The first thing you should do if you find yourself suffering from a dental emergency is to call us. We want to make sure we can get you seen in the office as quickly as possible. Below is a list of common dental emergencies and what you can do to help before you’re seen in the office.
Severe Tooth Pain
Tooth pain isn’t something you should try to ignore, especially if it’s sharp or comes on suddenly. The pain can be caused by many different conditions, like extreme tooth decay, an abscess, or an infection. With many of these problems, they can’t be diagnosed unless an experienced dentist looks at the tooth. Use over the counter pain medications to ease pain and a cold compress if you have any swelling.
Knocked-Out Tooth
While you might want to panic when an adult tooth is knocked out, try to remain calm and retrieve the tooth. Take care to only pick it up by the crown and avoid touching the tooth root. Gently rinse off any dirt that accumulated on the tooth and place it in a cup of milk or your own saliva. This can help preserve the tooth. Never try to put your tooth back in the socket on your own.
Bring the tooth with you to your appointment. Dr. Patel will examine it to see if it’s still viable for replacement. If not, it’s important not to worry too much. Our office offers many options for replacing missing teeth. For example, we offer dental implants, often considered the gold standard of tooth replacement. They both look and feel the most natural in the mouth.
Broken Dental Restoration
While dental restorations are often made to last, accidents happen. What you should do depends on the type of restoration. If you lose or break a dental crown, retrieve the pieces just in case. Never try to glue the crown back on yourself. Often, the crown can’t be replaced. Dr. Patel will have to create a new dental crown for your tooth.
If you break a dental bridge or denture, make sure you get all of the pieces and bring them with you. Dr. Patel will take a look at what you bring in to determine if it would be better to repair your broken restoration or replace it entirely.
Your Dentist in Hoffman Estates, Illinois
If you have a dental emergency, call us immediately. For other dental procedures that aren’t considered emergencies, call us or schedule an appointment online today!
