Accidents happen. You may be out riding your bike, playing basketball with friends, or simply walking around. All of a sudden, you fall off your bike, take an elbow to the face, or fall on some stairs. You then see your mouth is bleeding. What do you do? If you have damaged your tooth or tooth restoration, or you have otherwise damaged your mouth, you’ll want to set an appointment with an emergency dentist as soon as possible.
There are other times when dental emergencies happen without an accident occurring. If this is the case, you don’t want to wait around for your next checkup. Contact an emergency dentist and see if you need immediate assistance.

What is a Dental Emergency?

A dental emergency isn’t just one thing. There are different types of emergencies. If you have bleeding, pain, or other issues that are severe and distressing, you’ll want to contact a dentist to see if you are having a dental emergency and check if an appointment is available.
Below are a few examples of dental emergencies:

  • Oral bleeding
  • Sore and swollen gums
  • Broken fillings
  • Extreme or sudden sensitivity
  • Damaged orthodontics
  • Broken or bent dentures
  • Cracked, chipped, broken, or knocked out tooth, teeth, or dental restoration
  • Damaged or loose crowns
  • Painful teeth or jaw
  • Dental infection

If you are experiencing any of the issues above, you’ll want to contact your dentist and let them know you are having an emergency. If you are experiencing other issues that seem drastic, reach out to 24/7 Dental. We’ll let you know if you need immediate assistance. If not, we’ll make sure to book you an appointment to take a look at your teeth, gums, and jawbone then resolve the issue.

Emergency Dental Treatment Options

There are a variety of different treatment options that may be available for your dental emergency, and what treatment your dentist chooses will reflect the kind of emergency that has occurred. In general, the pain will be managed, bleeding will be stopped, and the root cause will be addressed. If there is an infection, antibiotics may be used to treat it. Your dentist will walk you through what form of emergency treatment is right for you when you visit them with your dental emergency.

How to Find an Emergency Dentist

If you are having a dental emergency, seek treatment. If you aren’t sure how to find an emergency dentist, consider the tips below:

Reach out to 24/7 Dental

24/7 Dental offers emergency dentistry services. If you have a cracked tooth, chipped tooth, a tooth that has been knocked out or has fallen out, extreme pain, bleeding, or any other dental issue, contact us today. If we can, we will get you in for an emergency appointment.

Check Online

If for some reason we are unavailable, another option will be to check online. Make sure you search locally and check the ratings of the dental office. You will also want to see if they take your insurance. If no emergency dentist in the area takes your insurance, you’ll need to pay out of pocket. While the costs may seem high, it’s better to take care of the emergency instead of letting it progress.

Ask for a Referral

If the offices you are contacting are unavailable or don’t take your insurance, ask for a referral. There may be other dentists in the area that they can refer you to.

What to Expect

If you need emergency treatment and you have set an appointment, you may be wondering what to expect. Some of the things you should expect at your appointment include:

  • A long-term treatment plan.
  • Pain relief recommendations.
  • A comprehensive re-assessment of your oral health with the help of an oral health exam.

24/7 Dental will do everything we can to ensure your comfort and address any immediate concerns. We’ll then put together a plan of action that will help to address the oral health issue in the long term.

What to Do if You Have a Damaged or Knocked Out Tooth?

If you have a tooth that has been broken, damaged, or knocked out, you’ll want to contact your emergency dentist for an appointment. Below is what you should do to care for the tooth in the meantime:

  • If you have a tooth that has been knocked out, rinse the tooth with water. Hold the tooth by the crown. Don’t hold it by the root. Do not scrub away or remove soft tissue. If possible, put the tooth back in the socket. Hold it in place and bite down gently. If you are unable to, place the tooth in a small container with milk. Try to protect the tooth and have it re-implanted quickly.
  • If you have a broken tooth, rinse the debris away with warm water. If you are able to find fragments of the tooth, collect them and save them. Use an ice pack for the swelling.

The faster you take action, the better!

Prevention

There are some dental emergencies you simply can’t avoid. If your tooth is chipped, cracked, or knocked out due to an accident, you may not have been able to take protective measures beforehand. In order to avoid other dental emergencies, do the following:

  • Brush your teeth at least twice a day, every day
  • Replace your toothbrush often
  • Floss at least once daily
  • Schedule routine check-ups and teeth cleanings
  • Avoid sugary foods and drinks and maintain a healthy diet
  • Drink lots of water
  • Use a mouthguard whenever necessary

Reach out to 24/7 Dental Today!

If your tooth is cracked, chipped, damaged, or has fallen out, or if you have other oral health issues that need immediate attention, reach out to 24/7 Dental today. We’ll check to see if there is availability for an emergency visit. We will then get you into the office immediately.

If you have any questions, contact us today. We’d be happy to answer any questions you may have about emergency dentistry.