If you have a dental emergency, fast pain relief is available from Dental Concepts & Orthodontics in north central Texas. Our emergency dentists offer same-day appointments to treat a range of urgent cases in order to restore oral health and prevent lasting problems. Besides alleviating severe pain, emergency dentistry also plays a crucial role in saving teeth, staunching heavy bleeding, and halting the progress of severe oral infection.
Common Dental Emergencies
Emergency dentistry addresses various issues including dental trauma caused by a blow to the face. Our emergency dentists are often called on to provide priority treatment in urgent cases such as:
- Broken tooth.
- Soft tissue injuries such as damage to the tongue and inner cheek.
- Loose tooth.
- Knocked-out tooth – emergency treatment may enable your dentist to reinsert the tooth in its socket.
- Acute toothache.
Emergency dentistry also provides immediate treatment in cases of severe bleeding, including:
- Persistent bleeding after tooth extraction.
- Pain and bleeding caused by broken braces.
Furthermore, emergency dentists treat oral infections such as an abscess.
Dangers of a Dental Abscess
If you’re in a lot of pain, have a fever, and your face is swollen, you could have a dental abscess. An abscess develops when pus resulting from infection builds up beneath the gum line. Without prompt treatment, it can be potentially life threatening. Infection can circulate throughout the body, causing septicemia (blood poisoning). Your emergency dentist can avoid issues like this by draining the abscess. If a decayed tooth has caused the abscess, you may need root canal treatment, or the tooth may have to be extracted.
What Isn’t a Dental Emergency?
Oral health problems that may appear to the average person to be an emergency don’t always require same-day attention.
Issues not generally regarded as a dental emergency include:
- A chipped tooth that’s not painful and has no sharp pieces that could damage your mouth.
- Mild toothache.
- Dislodged filling or crown.
Emergency Dental Treatment
Emergency dentists carry out initial treatment in cases of acute pain, severe infections, and oral injuries. Emergency dental treatment may include:
- Prescribing antibiotics and painkillers.
- Applying a dressing to a damaged tooth.
- Extraction if a tooth is beyond repair.
- Referral to a specialist healthcare service.
Whatever your dental emergency, you’ll probably need follow-up care. Emergency treatment avoids the risk of irreversible dental damage by optimizing the likelihood of a full recovery with comprehensive, longer-term treatment.
What To Do in a Dental Emergency
Taking some simple measures can help get you through a dental crisis while waiting to see your emergency dentist. Firstly, try to keep calm and avoid panic. Your situation may be distressing but most dental emergencies don’t pose a serious health threat, and prompt professional treatment avoids the risk of long-term damage. In the event of a dental emergency, call our Irving emergency dentist right away (972-869-7572). Depending on the type of your dental emergency, you may be able to take certain steps to ease discomfort and stress while you wait a few hours for your emergency appointment.
If you have severe toothache, including pain from a broken tooth, take anti-inflammatory medication such as ibuprofen. It’ll relieve pain and reduce swelling. Rinse your mouth with warm water and hold an icepack or cold compress to your face. Any bleeding can be staunched by applying a gauze dressing. If you have a tooth that’s been knocked out, keep it in a sealed container of a saline solution or milk. Your emergency dentist may be able to put it back in place. If you’ve bitten or burnt your tongue badly, it can bleed profusely and become infected. Suck on an ice cube and pack the area with gauze to minimize bleeding. Severe facial swelling can indicate a serious oral infection. While you wait a few hours for emergency dental treatment, drink plenty of water and avoid lying down. In the case of head or neck damage as well as dental trauma, go to your nearest emergency room.
Can You Avoid a Dental Emergency?
You can never tell when a dental emergency may happen through unforeseen events like an accident. However, there are many things you can do to minimize the risk of a dental emergency. For example, looking after your teeth and gums will help safeguard yourself against a dental emergency arising from infection.
- Brush your teeth twice a day. A soft-bristled brush will avoid damage to your gums, and a fluoride toothpaste will strengthen dental enamel – the outer, protective layer of a tooth.
- Floss daily to remove food debris from between your teeth, where your toothbrush can’t reach.
- Schedule regular dental checkups so your dentist can monitor your oral health and diagnose and treat any developing issues promptly.
- Get regular professional dental cleanings to remove plaque and tartar from on and around your teeth. Only a dentist or dental hygienist using special instruments can eliminate plaque that has calcified to become tartar.
- If you experience a dental problem between checkups, don’t delay seeing your dentist.
- Wear a mouthguard for sports.
Same-Day Appointments at Your Irving Emergency Dentist
In most cases, a dental emergency is far less serious than other medical emergencies. But it can still be a stressful ordeal. This is why access to emergency dental care is vital. It not only provides fast pain relief but also avoid potential complications. The American Dental Association (ADA) says the dentist best placed to deal with an oral health emergency is your regular dentist. But not all dental offices provide emergency care.
Irving dentist Dental Concepts & Orthodontics offers same-day emergency dental appointments both during and outside office hours, including weekends and public holidays, and we accept most insurance plans. Call our Irving dental office at 972-869-7572. Or phone our Allen practice at 972-808-5221.
Keep these numbers handy. You never know when a dental emergency may develop. And the last thing you need is to be frantically searching online for “emergency dentist in Irving TX”. As well as booking you in for treatment as soon as possible, we’ll also offer advice on self-care measures you can take ahead of your emergency appointment.
