How to Identify a Dental Emergency

An emergency that involves someone’s health can feel extremely stressful. But when it comes to dental emergencies, we don’t want you to panic; we want you to feel prepared! The first step to this preparation is to learn how to identify a dental emergency.

There are a number of different situations that can warrant an urgent visit to our office:

Knocked-Out Tooth

Perhaps the most urgent dental emergency is when a tooth is completely knocked out of the mouth, usually due to some sort of trauma. If this happens, it’s crucial that you call us and get to our office ASAP. This will give your natural tooth the best chance of survival. In the meantime, gently handle the tooth only by its chewing surface. Gently rinse any debris off with milk or water. If possible, put your tooth back in place, holding it there by biting down on gauze. You can also keep it moist in milk, in your saliva, or between your gums and cheek.

Cracked or Broken Tooth

Depending on the severity of a break or chip, this emergency may not need immediate care. However, it’s still a good idea to call us as soon as possible. We’ll ask you several questions (about the circumstance of your injury, your current symptoms, and so forth) and give you guidance about when you need to come in.

Pain & Swelling

Two things to never ignore: persistent pain and/or swelling. Your body uses these warning signs to indicate that something is wrong! You could have a tooth infection, cavity, or other dental issue that could jeopardize your health if left untreated.

Emergency Dentist in Hot Springs Village, AR

When an emergency happens, the best success rate comes when you can get care quickly. That’s why Lefler Dental leaves time open in our schedule to address such issues should they arise. Save our number in your phone in case you or a family member needs us in a pinch!

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Categorised in: Dental Emergencies