What is Emergency Dentistry?
Sometimes, even when we take every precaution to practice good oral hygiene and prevent oral health problems, the unexpected happens. Whether you have a severe toothache, injure your tooth, or develop an abscess, these are issues that require urgent treatment.
Emergency dentistry is the provision of immediate dental care to save a tooth from extraction, prevent the spread of infection, repair damage, treat severe pain, stop bleeding, and treat oral lacerations.
An emergency appointment is when we accommodate patients right away who are experiencing serious oral health problems or injuries so we can prevent worsening oral health issues and complications. Contact us at Luminous Dental today to schedule an emergency appointment.
Did you know…
An untreated tooth infection can cause sepsis.
Same-Day Appointments
When a dental emergency occurs, you can’t afford to waste time googling dental practices that are open now. Even if you find one, they might be fully booked or not offer same-day appointments.
At Luminous Dental, we always leave room in our appointment schedule to accommodate emergencies so Hudson patients can get same-day treatment.
Benefits of an Emergency Dentist
Prevent Worsening Outcomes
Tooth decay can turn into an infection that can spread to other teeth or through the bloodstream. A dental problem that might seem like an inconvenience today could actually become a serious health problem tomorrow. By getting treated promptly, we can minimize the damage that occurs to your oral tissues, prevent complications, and restore your teeth to health to avoid extractions.
Relieve Pain
Pain from an infection-impacted tooth or dental trauma can be debilitating and may interfere with your ability to work or take care of your day-to-day responsibilities. On the extreme end, you may not even be able to eat or speak without shooting pain disrupting your day. We can numb your mouth during your treatment to provide temporary relief, and then we will remove the source of the pain.
Restore Tooth Functionality
It can be frustrating to deal with a loose, damaged, or missing tooth. Eating, speaking, smiling, and other tasks we take for granted suddenly become impossible. The sooner you seek emergency treatment, the sooner we can repair or replace your tooth so you won’t struggle anymore.
What To Do In a Dental Emergency
Stop Any Bleeding
If you’re actively bleeding, the first thing you need to do is take some gauze or absorbent material to stop the bleeding. Bite down on this to help form a blood clot.
Protect Your Mouth From Sharp Edges
Assess the severity of any tooth damage. If you have sharp edges from breaking or damaging teeth, you may want to go to the pharmacy and use some temporary dental bonding materials to blunt the sharp edges and prevent any cuts.
Contact the Dentist
You should call your Hudson dentist as soon as possible to let them know you’re dealing with a dental emergency. Calling ahead will allow them to prepare and accommodate you faster than if you just walk in.
Treat Swelling and Pain
Rinse your mouth with a warm saline solution to remove bacteria, food particles, and tooth fragments and reduce pain and swelling. Take anti-inflammatory pain medication to relieve discomfort and use a cold compress to control the swelling.
Go to the Dentist & Bring Tooth Fragments With You
If you have a knocked-out tooth or a broken tooth, you should bring it with you. Only hold the tooth by the crown side and clean it off with water if it’s dirty. Store it in a Ziploc bag with your saliva or milk and take it to the dentist. They may be able to reattach it. Many dental emergencies are time-sensitive, so get there as soon as you can.
Attend Follow-Up Appointments
If your dentist tells you that you need to come back to complete your treatment or the dentist needs to check on your progress, make sure you follow up on that appointment. Avoiding the follow-up can result in recurring damage or oral health problems.
