What does an emergency dentist do?
An emergency dentist treats dental and mouth injuries that need immediate attention. Most dental emergencies are situations in which you might lose a broken or knocked-out tooth for good. Visiting Advanced Restorative Dentistry as soon as you can after your injury, preferably within 30 minutes, could mean the difference between saving and losing your injured tooth.
When should I call an emergency dentist?
If you’re worried about a severe mouth injury you or a family member has sustained, it’s the right time to call an emergency dentist. Immediate need calls for immediate action. Some situations that are considered dental emergencies include:
- Knocked-out teeth
- A loose permanent tooth
- Extreme mouth or tooth pain
- Bleeding inside your mouth from your gums, cheeks, or tongue
- An injury to your mouth or face
- Swelling in your tongue, gums, or mouth
- A badly cracked or broken tooth
- A cut or tear on your lips
If a tooth is slightly chipped and doesn’t hurt, though, you might not be dealing with a dental emergency. Even so, you can’t go wrong by calling Dr. Nishime at Advanced Restorative Dentistry. He’s trained to handle dental emergencies and can walk you through what to do with your tooth until you can visit the office.
What do I do with a knocked-out tooth?
A knocked-out tooth is no laughing matter. It’s one of the most severe dental emergencies. If you put off going to the dentist, there’s a chance you’ll lose the tooth. To try to save the tooth, start by cleaning the injured tooth and the inside of your mouth. Rinse your mouth and tooth with warm water, being careful not to touch the tooth by the roots.
Hold the tooth by the crown (the smooth white top part) as you rinse it. If it’s possible, place the tooth back in your mouth and into the gum where it was knocked out. Close your mouth slowly. Hold the tooth in place with your fingers or gently bite down on it to help it stay in place until you can visit Advanced Restorative Dentistry. Call immediately, or have someone call for you to explain the situation.
If you are unable to place the tooth back into its socket, put your tooth in a small cup of milk to help preserve it until you get to the dental office. In the event of a dental emergency, call Advanced Restorative Dentistry for expert assistance.