Responding To Your Dental Emergency

A dental emergency could mean a loose filling, chipped tooth, or even a sudden ache in your teeth. Addressing these issues quickly helps protect your smile from serious discomfort, as well as tooth decay and dental infection. In today’s blog, we’re talking about how our Omaha, NE, patients should respond to their dental emergencies, and when they should give our team a call.

What If Your Restorations Become Lost?

Should a filling or crown become loose, or fall out, let us know. Compromised restorations could expose the inner tooth structure to bacteria, increasing the risk of decay and infection without treatment. Prior to seeing us, try to avoid any sugary foods and drinks, as this could cause sensitivity and discomfort! To limit sensitivity, you could chew a piece of sugar-free gum and place it over the tooth while in route.

Addressing Your Chipped Teeth

Our teeth are strong, but not invincible. Which means fractures and chips happen, whether due to a sports accident or biting down on a very hard piece of food. Fortunately, we have options for repairing your chipped tooth, often in one visit. If you can, try to recover and bring any pieces of the tooth with you. If this isn’t possible, don’t worry, we can still repair your tooth. You should use a cold compress against the side of your face to reduce swelling, and employ a piece of gauze or cloth to stop the bleeding. A pain reliever will help ease discomfort. Be sure to see us quickly, as even minor damage could expose inner tooth structure to bacteria and lead to cavities.

Don’t Panic If Your Tooth Becomes Knocked-Out

If you knock out a tooth, don’t lose it! Pick up your tooth by the crown (the visible part) and never touch the root. Rinse the tooth under gently running water, you want to remove dirt and debris but leave any tissue in place. You can return the tooth to the socket and bite down to hold it in place. You also have the option of placing the tooth in a glass of milk or salt water. See us as soon as possible! If you can’t find your knocked-out tooth, we can discuss bridges and other options to fill the gap in your smile. If you have any questions, please contact our team today.

Pacific Hills Dental Offers Emergency Care

At Pacific Hills Dental, we want to help you by treating your dental emergency. Talk to our team about addressing damaged teeth or restorations. To make an appointment for yourself or for a family member, call our Omaha, NE, dental office today at (402) 330-2243. We proudly treat individuals in Omaha, NE, and all of the surrounding areas, including Papillion, Elkhorn, and Millard.