Across America, businesses are closing or working limited hours due to the COVID-19 pandemic. At our dental office, we’re still offering emergency dentistry for our patients of record. Dr. William Huckin, a dentist in Dallas, TX, discusses what a dental emergency is and what you can do to help before you can be seen in our office.
What to Do During a Dental Emergency
The first thing you should do if you’re experiencing a dental emergency is to call us immediately. We’ll want to get you into the office as soon as possible. Following are common dental emergencies and what you can do to assist until you get into the office:
Severe Tooth Pain
Sudden and severe tooth pain isn’t something you should ignore or wait for it to get better. Tooth pain can have a variety of causes and most can’t be determined until it’s professionally evaluated. Causes can include tooth decay, an abscess, or an infection. Use over the counter pain medication to help with the pain and a cold compress to assist with any swelling before you’re seen in the office.
Knocked-Out Tooth
It’s easy to want to panic if one of your adult teeth gets knocked out. However, it’s crucial that you stay calm. If possible, retrieve the tooth that was knocked out. Avoid touching the tooth root and only pick it up by the crown. Gently rinse it off, but avoid scrubbing it at all. Place it in a cup of milk or your own saliva to help preserve it as much as possible. It can also be stored between your cheek and gums to keep it hydrated.
Bring your tooth with you to the appointment. Dr. Huckin will evaluate and determine if it’s able to be reused. If not, you don’t have to worry. We offer multiple forms of replacement for missing teeth. Dr. Huckin recommends dental implants especially, as they’re the most natural and stable tooth replacement option.
Broken Dental Bridge or Dental Crown
Unfortunately, restorations can occasionally break or fall out. If you lose or break a dental crown, don’t try to put it back in your mouth on your own. You can bring it to your appointment, but dental crowns can rarely be replaced. Dr. Huckin will evaluate, but in most instances will have to make you a new restoration.
If you break a dental bridge, bring all of the pieces to the appointment. If it’s slipping or not fitting the way that it’s supposed to, you should also call for an emergency appointment. Dr. Huckin will examine the restoration and determine if it’s something he can fix and reuse, or if you’ll need to get a new restoration.
Your Dentist in Dallas, Texas
We’re here to take on your dental emergencies during this pandemic. Make sure that the stress of the crisis hasn’t taken a toll on your smile, too. Call us or schedule an appointment online for the future to get a checkup when all of this is over. We hope to see you soon!