No matter how proactive you are with your oral health, dental emergencies can occur, and it seems that they always happen after normal business hours. We know that there’s nothing more frustrating – and possibly excruciating – than waiting to see a dentist until their office opens the next day. If your child has a dental emergency, you can feel especially helpless while waiting to get treatment.
At Deep River Dentistry, we know that a dental emergency usually means that something serious is going on, and prompt treatment is needed. We don’t want you to spend a moment longer than necessary waiting to get in to see us, and we have a plan in place so that you can reach us even after hours. Simply call our main number at any time, follow the directions on the recorded message, and we will get back to you as quickly as possible.
Dealing with a Dental Emergency
It’s good to know that emergency treatment is available, but it’s also important to be aware of what you can do until you can get in to see us. The steps you take can actually make a difference between saving and losing a tooth.
Note: If you experience dental trauma that includes injury to the jaw or head, go directly to an emergency room or call 911.
Knocked Out Tooth: Contact our office immediately. Do not touch the root of the tooth. Gently hold the crown of the tooth and rinse carefully in water if it’s dirty. Do not scrub the tooth because you may inadvertently remove attached tissue fragments. If possible, try to gently place the tooth back in its socket. Otherwise, place the tooth in a cup of milk so it does not dry out before you get to our office.
Broken Tooth: Rinse your mouth with warm water to make sure the area is clean. A cold compress on and off every 20 minutes can help reduce swelling and keep you comfortable.
Lost Filling or Crown: Losing a filling or dental crown may cause pain but can also weaken your tooth. Contact our office immediately to avoid the possibility of further damaging the tooth.
Severe Toothache Pain: Severe pain indicates a serious problem and should be addressed immediately. Toothache pain may be the result of a lost filling; decayed, cracked, or broken teeth; or advanced periodontal disease. A bump on your gum may indicate that your tooth is abscessed and requires root canal therapy. Ice packs placed on and off the area at 20-minute intervals will provide some relief until you get to our office.
Dental emergencies should be dealt with quickly to increase the likelihood of saving the tooth. The members of our team are trained to handle dental emergencies, and we are available to provide relief and make sure you get the prompt treatment you need.
Your comfort and peace of mind is as important to us as your oral health. If you experience a dental emergency, please contact our High Point dental office immediately at (336) 883-1371.