Emergency Dentist in The North Shore Area
Whiting Dental Arts is located in Swampscott Massachusetts and serves patients throughout the North Shore. This includes providing emergency dental services. When an individual experiences a dental emergency either because of damage directly to the teeth and gums or because of issues with a dental implement like a filling or dental crown, they should see an emergency dentist right away. Not all dentists are able to provide emergency dental services. If you need an emergency dentist in the North Shore area, we would be happy to help. Give us a call to set up an appointment with our team. Read on below to learn more about dental emergencies and what to do when they happen.
Emergency Dentist On The North Shore
Give Us A Call To Set Up An Emergency Dental Appointment
What Is A Dental Emergency?
A dental emergency is any dental issue that is both not life threatening and requires immediate attention. For example, if a filling falls out, a tooth is cracked, or an individual is experiencing a severe toothache, these would all be examples of dental emergencies. One misconception about dental emergencies is that they are just in regards to knocked out teeth or cracked/broken teeth. Some of the most common dental emergencies include broken/loose fillings, issues with crowns, implants, or dental bridges, or symptoms in general. There are some oral issues that need to be handled immediately like a knocked out tooth or damage to a dental implant, and there are other dental issues that should be handled as soon as possible. Below we will discuss some of the most common dental emergencies and what steps you can take as an individual or as a family member. But one recommendation we have for everyone is to know the phone number of a local emergency dentist.
Our Dental Office in Swampscott MA
Should I See An Emergency Dentist or Go To The Emergency Room?
One common confusion is the difference between dental emergencies and other medical emergencies. Simply put, if an individual is experiencing a life-threatening injury you should call 911 and go to an Emergency Room. However, knocked-out teeth, injuries to the gums, loose adult teeth, or severe tooth pain can be handled by a dentist. In fact, it is often preferable to all parties that oral emergencies are handled by dentists. They often have the experience and tools to handle the dental emergency, it is often less expensive for the patient/family than using an ER, and it gives teams at Emergency Care Wings at hospitals more time to focus on other patients.
What Do I Do If A Tooth Is Knocked Out Or Damaged?
If a tooth is knocked out follow these steps.
Recover The Tooth: When handling a knocked out tooth, only touch the crown (the chewing surface) never touch the root (the portion of the tooth that is usually below the gums).
Clean The Tooth: If the tooth is dirty, rinse the tooth off carefully. Do not scrub the tooth, use soap, or wrap the tooth in cloth.
Reposition The Tooth: If possible, have the person who lost the tooth put the tooth back in their mouth. Gently place the tooth back in your mouth and into the socket if possible.
Bring The Tooth To A Dentist: If the patient cannot put the tooth in their mouth, submerge the tooth in milk or saline solution and bring it to the dentist. Do not use regular tap water. Some health kits have Save-a-Tooth kits that include a solution that the tooth can be placed in.
See An Emergency Dentist Within 30 Minutes: Getting to a nearby emergency dentist quickly is ideal. The recommended window of time is within 30 minutes.
A tooth can break in a variety of ways from a simple chip to a full break. If only the enamel chips off, an individual might not experience any pain. But if the tooth dentin and pulp is exposed to air, you might feel pain. In the latter type of break you will want to see a dentist right away as exposed tooth pulp can quickly lead to infection.
Avoid Putting Pressure On A Broken Tooth: If a tooth has broken, avoid placing any additional pressure on that tooth. Dental wax can cover any hard or jagged edges of a broken tooth to prevent a tooth from cutting your tongue or your cheeks.
Collect The Tooth Fragments: The tooth fragment should be picked up and brought to the dentist. Like with a knocked out tooth, only handle a tooth fragment by the enamel and clean it off by simply rinsing it.
Use A Cold Compress: If an injury like playing sports led to the damage, it is recommended that you use a cold compress to prevent swelling and help ease pain.
Do I Need To See An Emergency Dentist? If you are in pain, or you see exposed yellow dentin or red tooth pulp, see an emergency dentist immediately. If you are not in pain and the dentin/pulp is not exposed, it is recommended you see a dentist soon and discuss options on how to handle the chipped tooth.
If a tooth is cracked or chipped slightly, you might not have a dental emergency on your hands. If there is no pain and there isn’t any exposed pulp or dentin you might not need to see an emergency dentist. That said, you should follow these steps:
Use Dental Wax: If the remaining tooth is suddenly sharp, dental wax can prevent poking and damage to your gums, cheeks, and tongue.
Use A Cold Compress: If an injury caused the chip or crack in your tooth, you might need a cold compress or ice pack to prevent pain and swelling.
Avoid Pressure: If the tooth is cracked or chipped, avoid putting pressure on that tooth when eating/chewing. If you make a dental appointment later in the week, you should ask the dentist for advice, as they might recommend that you don’t eat hard foods until they can check the damage first.
Set Up A Dental Appointment: You should still see a dentist in the near future (don’t wait for your next regular checkup) to make sure the tooth is ok. The dentist might recommend smoothing the tooth or even cosmetic options if the damage is purely cosmetic.
What Should I Do If A Filling Is Leaking, Loose or Falls Out?
A filling can get damaged over time. One thing that many people do not consider is that a filling creates a potential area for plaque to grow. Part of the reason why it is so important to floss is because plaque and bacteria can grow between teeth unchecked. With a filling the space between the edge of the filling and the edge of the tooth is at higher risk for decay. As decay begins it can lead to a larger and larger gap between the the filling and the tooth. While you might not notice this it can eventually cause the filling to get loose and for a cavity to reform where the filling initially replaced the removed section of the tooth. This can also cause what is often called a “leaky filling”. Liquid can get into the space between the filling and the tooth and leak out.
If a filling is leaking, loose, or completely falls out, you should see an emergency dentist as quickly as possible. In the interim, avoid chewing on that tooth and handle any pain with a cold compress. After a filling falls out the tooth might have have exposed dentin or pulp. Exposed tooth pulp or dentin can quickly can infected by bacteria. If the filling is loose pressure could lead to the filling falling out. After a filling falls out, you should call a dentist, and set up an appointment. You should disinfect your mouth by gargling with salt water, similar to what you would do after wisdom tooth surgery. Mix warm water with salt and gargle it for a few seconds. If you are waiting a few days to see a dentist, gargle with salt water after meals, avoid chewing on the tooth, and brush gently in that area.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dental Emergencies
Find the tooth and rinse it gently in cool water. (Do not scrub or clean it with soap — use only water!) If possible, replace the tooth in the socket immediately and hold it there with clean gauze or a washcloth. If you can’t put the tooth back in the socket, place the tooth in a clean container with cold milk, saliva or water. Get to the Emergency Dentist immediately. The faster you act, the better your chances of saving the tooth.
Contact your emergency dental office as soon as possible. The baby tooth should not be replanted because of the potential for subsequent damage to the developing permanent tooth.
Contact your Dentist immediately. Quick action can save the tooth, prevent infection and reduce the need for extensive dental treatment. Rinse the mouth with water and apply cold compresses to reduce swelling if the lip also was injured. If you can find the broken tooth fragment, place it in cold milk or water and bring it with you to the dental office.
You need immediate emergency medical attention. Either go directly to an Emergency Room or call 911. Keep in mind that an emergency medical team might be able to reach you faster than you can get to the hospital. A severe head injury can be life-threatening.
Give a dental office a call, toothaches should be handled right away as they are often signs of underlying issues. In the meantime, over the counter pain medication for children can be used to alleviate pain before their dental visit. Additionally, an ice pack or cold compress can help alleviate the pain as well.