Dental emergencies are, by nature, stressful and unpleasant. Our Santa Monica emergency dentists are here to give you the guidance and information that you need to get through an unexpected dental trauma. Let’s get started!
The first thing that you should do is to determine who you will call in a dental emergency. Does your dentist provide emergency care? Or do they recommend that you contact another emergency provider? Once you know to whom you will turn in an emergency, make sure that the contact information for that dentist is easy to find on your phone or posted in your house.
When faced with dental trauma, keep in mind that it is generally best to retain as much natural dental material as possible. In other words, if you have loose oral tissues or nerves, try not to disrupt them, as this can lead to further damage.
If you lose a tooth, there is a chance that the tooth can be reinserted into your smile so that it will take root again. In order to increase the likelihood of this treatment being successful, you want to keep the tooth viable until you get to the dentist’s office. If possible, gently reinsert the tooth into the gum tissue from which it was lost. If this is painful, or if the tooth does not fit, do not force it, rather keep the tooth (along with any attached nerves and oral tissues) in a glass of milk. For the best treatment prognosis, you want to see your dentist within an hour or two of losing your tooth.
Our dental team also gets a lot of questions about how people should deal with unexpected dental pain. You can always use an ice pack to numb any sensitive or painful areas of your mouth. Over-the-counter pain medications can also be helpful in certain situations. However, it is not a good idea to apply medications or topical agents directly to your teeth or oral tissues, as doing so may unintentionally damage your smile. Reach out to your dentist if you experience pain that does not seem to be improving.
Our Santa Monica emergency dentists are happy to give you more information about how to deal with dental trauma. Contact our team to get started!