Dental emergencies happen by surprise and, understandably, most are not expected. You may experience a severe toothache at night, for instance, and might need to seek out prompt dental care for it. For this reason, having access to a team of trained professionals is necessary for such a situation, and that is what we are pleased to offer.
Here at Smile Family Dentistry, we treat every dental situation professionally to ensure that you receive treatment timely and correctly. In turn, this can both reduce your discomfort, as well as the chances of having another dental emergency.
A dental emergency depends on the individual’s perspective. It could be loose dentures for people who have noticed them slipping. It could also be a severe toothache, knocked-out teeth, an abscess, or bleeding. Some of these dental issues can be life-threatening, depending on the degree of the situation. Other dental emergencies need to be treated to avoid serious problems later.
For instance, crowns are used to cover and protect damaged teeth. If a crown goes missing or gets broken, the damaged tooth is exposed and vulnerable to further decay and discomfort. We recommend that you immediately visit us if any dental treatment you received has failed or gets destroyed.
For people with braces, if the metal wire gets broken, it can cause discomfort by poking on the cheeks, lips, or gums whenever there is movement. You can bend the metal so that it will no longer be poking you, and of course, you should also immediately visit us for treatment.
Dental emergencies arise from external events (that we cannot control) and internal issues (such as poor oral health). External causes can be accidents or an altercation. If you participate in sports, avoid dental emergencies by using a mouthguard. It will protect your teeth from chipping and being knocked out. Some dental emergencies can be prevented by improving your oral hygiene and having regular dental check-ups at our office.
One of the most effective preventive measures is to pay attention to what you eat. Hard foods are prone to chipping your teeth or making them loose. Also, using your teeth as a tool (like to open packaging) could damage the enamel and cause it to crack or chip. Always use the recommended tools whenever they are needed. Consuming sugary foods will make your teeth more prone to having cavities. If you do eat these foods, ensure that you brush and floss your teeth regularly to reduce the bacteria in the mouth.
When a toothache becomes unbearable, a temporary measure you can do is to rinse your mouth with warm water and apply a cold compress against the face to control the swelling. For knocked-out teeth, immediately return the tooth to the socket, if it is not broken. It is possible to replant the tooth if it is returned to the socket timely or placed in milk. These solutions will give you temporary relief as you make your way to our dental clinic.
Our doors are always open for you in times of emergency. Delayed treatment leads to complications or expensive dental treatments for most dental emergencies. Having a dentist in mind will make it easy to receive treatment immediately.
You can book an appointment with us here at Smile Family Dentistry in Concord, CA for a check-up by calling us at 925-825-1130 today!