When In Doubt, Call Your Dentist
Dental emergencies can be excruciatingly painful – but responding appropriately and quickly can save you lots of pain and trouble. If the emergency is acute, then it should be simple enough for your dentist, Dr. Pickett to know what to do and whether you should come in immediately, the next day, or the emergency room. While life happens to everyone, here are some precautions you can try to follow:
- Always wear a mouthguard if you play sports
- Make sure you see your dentist for checkups
- Have your dentist’s emergency number handy
- Don’t eat certain types of food that are tough on your teeth
- Brush everyday and floss regularly
Tooth Gets Knocked Out: Call Pickett Family Dental Immediately
Having your tooth knocked out is quite an unforgettable experience. A painful one at that. That’s why it’s important to get help immediately! First things first, call our Keller, TX dental office and ask for guidance on what to do about your new holy smile. If you still have the tooth, put it in a glass of milk. Try not to touch the roots; pick it up by the top of the tooth or crown if there’s one on it. Don’t try to clean or rinse the tooth off, leave it alone. The longer the tooth stays out of the mouth, the harder it will be to save it so try to be at your dentist within 30 minutes of the accident or you might need a dental implant.
Broken and Cracked Teeth: Start thinking filling, crown, or root canal
As soon as you notice that your tooth is broken or cracked, rinse your mouth out with warm water. Grab an ice pack, some frozen meat, or something else in the freezer and keep it on the side of your face where the tooth broke to keep from swelling. Pain is likely, so take an OTC pain relieving medication and call your dentist. Depending on how minor the injury is, your dentist will either use a filling to fix the tooth or you may need a root canal or crown.
Toothache: Check to see if it gets progressively worse over two weeks, if so come in early
Having a toothache is the most common dental emergency. It can be caused from a possible cavity or even teeth grinding. If you happen to have a toothache, rinse your mouth out with warm water and floss the area to see if any food or anything else might be stuck that’s causing irritation. To reduce any swelling, use an ice pack – do not use something warm to press against it. Take pain medication if it worsens and call our dental office to see when you can make the next available appointment.
Loose or Missing Dental Crown: Call the dentist immediately, don’t swallow it
If anything, catch your dental crown before you swallow it. You’ll be able to put vaseline on the tooth to connect the crown for a temporary fix. Whether your lost or have a loose dental crown, make an appointment with your dentist as quickly as possible because your tooth will become more sensitive over time.
Broken Jaw or Jaw Pain: Call Dr. Pickett FIRST
Depending on what happened, especially if it’s a broken jaw, the best option is to see your dentist immediately. Take pain medication to ease the pain and put ice on your face to avoid swelling. It’s best to stay away from solid food until you see your dentist otherwise you’ll end up being in even more pain. In this dental emergency, it’s best for your dentist to guide you on what to do for a broken jaw or jaw pain.
Pickett Family Dental offers emergency dental care to help with all of the above conditions. If you find yourself in a dental emergency, please contact Dr. Pickett and Pickett Family Dental today!
