Emergency Dental Care – Know What to Do and Who to Call

A dental emergency doesn’t wait until your dentist’s normal office hours. Accidents and injuries can happen on weekends and in the wee hours of the morning. Being prepared for a dental emergency includes knowing if a problem can wait a few hours or days for treatment, or requires a trip to the emergency room. It’s also wise to have contact information on hand for your dentist and another local emergency dentist. With a solid plan in place, you can ensure that neither you nor your family members ever lose a tooth because of a bad dental emergency decision.

What to Do for Cracked, Broken, and Knocked-Out Teeth

Cracked and broken teeth often result from biting a hard piece of food or using your teeth on non-food substances. A knocked-out tooth may be due to a sports-related injury or an accident involving facial impact, such as a fall. With a small fracture or a chipped tooth, you can sometimes wait to see your dentist until normal office hours. But if the crack is large, a piece of tooth is missing, or the tooth has been completely removed from its socket, emergency dental treatment is necessary. Try to place a knocked-out tooth back into its socket until you can get to an emergency dentist. If this isn’t possible, rinse the tooth, and place it into your mouth or in a glass of milk.

How to Determine if You Need Emergency Dental Care

Not all dental emergency situations are as clear-cut as broken or knocked-out teeth. If you have severe tooth pain, swelling, or signs of an abscess and think you need emergency dental care, call your dentist immediately. Even if the office is closed, call to obtain emergency numbers or to reach an answering service that may be able to direct you to a local emergency dentist, or help you determine if the problem requires a trip to the hospital.

To get the dental care you deserve from an affordable dentist in Owings Mills, call Valley Dental Associates today at (443) 898-1240 or make an appointment.