If you have ever had a cracked tooth, lost filling, oral laceration or broken denture, you know how serious the situation can be, especially if it’s accompanied by pain or blood loss. Dr. Nirav Patel, West Palm Beach emergency dentist, wants to empower his patients to act in the safest and fastest way to receive needed treatment in oral emergency situations.
What Comprises a Dental Emergency?
A dental emergency is an urgent issue involving your teeth, gums, jaw bone, restorations, tooth replacements, or any oral tissues. It often involves pain, bleeding, and loss of hard or soft tissue. It cannot wait, and you cannot resolve it alone.
However, Dr. Patel wishes you to understand that you can do dental first aid yourself and you can contact Smile Solutions Dentistry 24/7 for advice and a same-day appointment if necessary. You are not alone in your emergency!
Dental emergencies include any number of situations, including broken teeth, lost restorations and fractured jaws. A calm demeanor and quick-thinking is your best treatment strategy. When you experience a dental health problem, call the office first for recommendations. Here are examples of emergencies and what you should do.
- Avulsed (knocked out) tooth You slip on a wet sidewalk and fall, hitting your mouth. You lose a front tooth. Reduce bleeding by applying direct pressure on the empty tooth socket with a gauze pad, or clean handkerchief. Rinse the tooth with water, leaving remaining soft tissue in place. Put the tooth in a closed container or plastic bag covered with milk or over the counter tooth preservative. Or, if you can, replace the tooth in socket, holding it in place while getting to Smile Solutions Dentistry. Lost teeth can be reimplanted successfully if you act fast.
- Lost dental crown or filling Restorations deteriorate with time. If you bite into food and lose part of a filling, crown, partial denture or veneer, save the fragments. Cover the broken area with orthodontic wax, or try replacing the pieces and covering the site with toothpaste. The emergency dentist will repair or replace the restoration as required.
- Debris stuck between your teeth Maybe it’s a popcorn hull. Try removing it with dental floss. If you cannot, call the office for a recommendation and appointment.
- Possible jaw fracture You are really in pain and cannot close your mouth. Don’t wait. Get to the nearest hospital emergency room for treatment. Dr. Patel will handle any reconstruction or restoration after you receive medical treatment.
- Deep laceration You are bleeding from a cut to the lips, tongue or cheeks. Apply direct pressure for 15 minutes. If the bleeding does not resolve, go the ER for treatment.
- A throbbing toothache You notice some drainage, swelling of the jaw and a bad taste in your mouth, in addition to some serious pain. This could be deep tooth decay with dental abscess, or infection. Apply ice to your jaw, and contact the dental office.
Is There an Emergency Dentist Near Me?
Dr. Nirav Patel receives rave reviews from his patients. If you have a sudden dental problem, don’t hesitate to contact Smile Solutions Dentistry so we can triage your problem and get you the right care right away. Yes, there is a caring emergency dentist in the West Palm Beach area!