Dental emergencies tend to occur when patients are least expecting them, making them a major source of stress and anxiety. It’s important to know some basic things you can do to manage your dental emergency until you are able to see a dentist. Our dentists reserve special times throughout the day to treat patients with emergency dental needs. We are here for you when you need us the most. Please contact our Severna Park, MD dentist office directly if you are currently experiencing a dental emergency.
Here are some tips on how to handle common dental emergencies:
Stay Calm
Remaining calm when you suffer from a dental emergency will help you navigate through the basic tasks that you need to complete to restore your dental health. For example, if you suffer from a knocked-out tooth or a permanent tooth that becomes unexpectedly dislodged, instead of panicking, try to locate the dislodged tooth. If possible, retrieve the tooth, holding it by the crown, and avoid touching the tooth roots. Lightly rinse in the tooth in water to remove any dirt, but do not scrub or remove attached tissue fragments. It is best to store the dislodged tooth in a cup of your own saliva or milk. Knocked-out teeth have the best chance of survival if they are returned to the socket within one hour of being knocked out. This means that you should head straight to our office once you have retrieved the tooth. This means that if you remain calm, retrieve the tooth, and see a dentist ASAP – there is a good chance that we can save your tooth!
Take Over-The-Counter Pain Medication
Dental emergencies often cause pain or discomfort. To manage your pain while you wait to see a dentist, take over-the-counter pain medication to manage your symptoms. This will help especially with jaw pain or toothaches. Tooth pain can be caused by many things and should be evaluated by a dentist even if the pain eventually subsides. Often, tooth pain indicates that you may be suffering from dental decay or even minor dental damages like chips or cracks that are causing increased sensitivity. A cold compress to the inflamed portion of your jawbone will also help reduce swelling and discomfort. Do your best to relax and rest, avoiding eating crunchy foods, until your tooth pain subsides. Then, call our office and schedule an appointment to have your tooth pain evaluated.
Call Your Dentist
Even if you are unsure if what you are experiencing is considered a dental emergency, it never hurts to call your local dentist and get it checked out. The thing to remember about dental concerns is that they often only get worse the longer they remain untreated. By seeking prompt attention for your dental emergency, you could potentially save yourself from requiring costly restorative care later on. We would rather all of our patients be safe, rather than sorry, and contact our office for guidance on how to navigate through any dental discomfort.
If you are experiencing a dental emergency and it is during regular office hours, contact us at 410-647-1875. If your emergency is taking place after office hours, please call our office answering machine for the name and number of the dentist on call.