La Puente Emergency Dentist

We understand the discomfort and pain that new patients experience when a tooth falls out or an infection develops. That is why we educate our patients on effective ways to handle dental emergencies while they wait for their appointments. If you cannot come to our office right away, here is a list of convenient home treatments to make you more comfortable while you wait for treatment.

• Rinse the affected area with warm water to soothe sore gums and the teeth.
• Place an ice pack on the outside of your cheek.
• If your tooth is broken, do not touch the root.
• Place the tooth back into its natural socket or cheek pocket.
• Jaw problems can be treated with heating pads.
• To avoid further damage, avoid biting the affected tooth.
• Place a cotton bud on the sharp edge of the broken tooth to support and protect the soft tissues.

When you come in for emergency dental treatment, we will take steps to restore your smile correctly.

A dental emergency is a dental issue that needs immediate medical attention. Not all dental problems qualify as emergencies. You could have a dental emergency if you have bleeding that does not stop, if you have pain that does not improve with medication, or if you have fractured bones in your face. You need emergency dental treatment if you have any of the symptoms outlined.

You could be wondering what to do if you have a dental emergency. If you have a dental emergency, the first step should be to contact your dentist for more information. Many emergency dentists have a line you can call, even if it is outside of normal business hours. If you do not have an emergency dentist, you can visit an urgent care center or the nearest emergency room. Most dental emergencies, like a broken or knocked-out tooth, are treated by a dentist in their office. More severe injuries can call other specialists.

The most common dental emergencies include the following:

• Severe toothache.
• A severely broken tooth.
• When a tooth falls out.
• An extruded or partially moved tooth.
• Dental abscess or swelling of the face and jaw.
• Lost or damaged dentures.
• Severe soft tissue injuries, like labral tears or deep cuts.

Here is how to handle these dental emergencies until you can see your dentist:

Severe Toothache

First, rinse your mouth thoroughly with lukewarm water. You can use dental floss to remove stuck-on food particles. If your mouth is swollen, you should apply a cold compress to the outside of your mouth or cheeks. Take over-the-counter pain medication like naproxen, acetaminophen, or ibuprofen. Do not apply aspirin or other painkillers to your gums or teeth, as this can burn the gum tissue. Visit a dentist as soon as possible.

Severely Broken Tooth

Save and wash the broken part of the tooth. Rinse your mouth with lukewarm water. If bleeding occurs, apply gauze to the affected area for about 10 minutes or until the bleeding stops. Place a cold compress outside the mouth, lip, or cheek near the chipped tooth to alleviate pain and reduce swelling. Visit your emergency dentist as soon as possible.

When Your Tooth Comes Off

Remove the tooth, hold it by the crown, which is the part that is usually visible above the gums, and rinse the root of the tooth with water. Do not rub or remove the attached tissue pieces. If possible, try to put the tooth back into the socket. Ensure that the tooth is facing the right direction when you place it back. Avoid using force when placing the tooth in its socket.

If you cannot place the tooth back into the socket, place the tooth in a small container containing milk. You can also place it in a cup of water with a pinch of salt if you do not have milk. Alternatively, you can place the tooth in a cell growth medium product. In any case, please see a dentist as soon as possible.

Your dentist has the best chance of saving your knocked-out tooth if he/she can put the tooth back into the socket within an hour.

Protruding Or Partially Displaced Tooth

See a dentist immediately if you have a protruding or partially displaced tooth. To relieve pain, apply a cold compress to the outside of the affected area of the mouth or cheek until you arrive at the dentist's office. If necessary, take over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen, naproxen, or ibuprofen.

Dental Abscess

An abscess is a swollen area or pimple-like infection that occurs around the root of a tooth or in the area between the tooth and the gums. A dental abscess is a severe medical condition that can harm the tissue and nearby teeth. If not treated, the infection can cause swelling of the face and jaw and spread to other body parts.

If you have an abscess in your tooth, you should see a dentist as soon as possible. While waiting to see the dentist, rinse your mouth with mild salt water several times daily to relieve pain and draw pus to the surface. You can use 1/2 teaspoon of salt dissolved in 8 ounces of water.

Lost or Broken Dentures

Old dentures could fall out or become loose. If a filling breaks or is missing, apply sugarless gum to the cavity or use commercial dental cement. Sugar-filled gum can cause pain. Visit your dentist as soon as possible. If your crown or bridge breaks, see your dentist immediately and bring your restoration. If possible, place the restoration back in the tooth.

Severe Soft Tissue Injuries

Bleeding can occur when soft tissues such as the tongue, cheeks, gums, and lips are injured. You can control the bleeding by rinsing your mouth with a mild saline solution. Apply pressure to the bleeding area using damp gauze or a caffeinated tea bag. Leave it for 15 to 20 minutes. Tea contains tannic acid, which constricts blood vessels and helps slow bleeding. You can also apply a cold compress to the outside of the mouth or cheek in the affected area to reduce bleeding and relieve pain. Give it 10 minutes. If the bleeding does not stop, immediately contact your dentist or the hospital emergency room. Continue applying gauze pressure to the bleeding area until you see a dentist.

Dental emergencies often occur due to accidents that are difficult to prevent. However, by keeping your teeth as strong and healthy as possible, you can protect them from the destruction caused by many dental emergencies. Dental emergencies are hard to avoid, but you can confidently handle most dental emergencies by strengthening your teeth. It will also help you know what to do in a dental emergency.

Preparation is the key. Your teeth are strong and can withstand the stress of daily chewing and biting. The tooth enamel is strong, but only when it is healthy. You can maintain healthy tooth enamel by practicing proper hygiene habits. For example, you should brush and floss at least twice a day.

You can also increase the strength of your teeth by ensuring that your diet is rich in calcium and phosphate. These minerals make up tooth enamel and keep teeth strong. Unfortunately, even the most robust teeth can be subject to accidental trauma. Depending on the severity of the damage, restoring your smile after a dental emergency will require various steps, from a dental crown placement to a complete replacement with an implant.

If you have a tooth injury, immediately schedule an emergency visit with your dentist. With prompt response and expert care, your dentist usually has a perfect chance of restoring the health and beauty of your smile.

Here are some proven ways of preventing a dental emergency:

Use a Mouthguard

Are you a sports fan?

You can show your love for the game without risking your teeth. Avoid rough play that could injure your face or mouth or cause your teeth to chip or fall out. You can protect yourself from dental emergencies by wearing a face mask before going to the field.

Be Careful With What and How You Eat

Human teeth are strong, but it is surprisingly easy for them to break or chip. Hard sweets and chewing ice are just some ways that strong, straight, beautiful teeth can break. Thinking before you bite is the best way to avoid chipped or cracked teeth. If you are looking to indulge your love of sweets, do not. It is not worth the risk of chipping your teeth, besides the cavities caused by excess sugar.

Avoid Chewing Hard Objects

Many people habitually bite their nails, pen caps, or other non-food objects. You would be surprised to learn that these bad habits could cause your teeth to crack and chip. Avoid these bad habits by ensuring your hands are busy or chewing sugar-free gum. Chewing sugarless gum also has the added benefit of enhancing saliva production and cleaning bacteria from the mouth.

Dental emergencies should be treated immediately to minimize the risk of severe medical complications or long-term problems. It is easy to overlook dental emergencies and assume they can be resolved without consulting a dentist. However, there could be times when you need dental treatment that only a professional dentist can provide.

Here is why you need to treat dental emergencies quickly:

Determine What is Going On

If you have a dental emergency and fail to seek help from a dentist, you might not know precisely what is happening. As a result, you will not know what actions are required to resolve this issue safely. Your dentist can accurately diagnose the problem and provide the ideal treatment and advice. Seeking prompt treatment stops the problem from getting worse.

Prevent The Problem From Worsening

If a dental emergency is not resolved quickly, the problem can worsen and negatively impact oral and general health. For example, if you were hit in the face and your tooth fell out, you should see a dentist immediately and bring the remaining tooth soaked in milk. Your dentist will stop the bleeding, replace the missing tooth in your mouth, and advise you on proper aftercare.

If these steps are not taken promptly, the missing tooth will not be saved in time and can cause further pain, discomfort, swelling, and bleeding. If you do not see a dentist immediately after a dental emergency, other problems can occur, such as tongue tears, gum inflammation, and damage to the soft tissues in your mouth. These are all preventable problems as long as you see your dentist as soon as possible.

Save Your Teeth

Responding to dental emergencies quickly can prevent further damage to your teeth and gums. Ignoring a dental emergency, for example, a broken tooth can lead to issues like enamel erosion and tooth loss.

You could feel like your dental emergency is not severe enough to see an emergency dentist. However, eating and chewing can put unnecessary pressure on your teeth and worsen the situation.

Relieving Pain And Discomfort

Patients who experience a dental emergency experience excruciating pain in their teeth, gums, jaw, or even neck. This can be highly uncomfortable, preventing you from eating, sleeping, and daily activities. Severe tooth pain cannot always be treated with over-the-counter medications. This is why you should resolve dental emergencies quickly and seek professional help.

Reduce Your Risk Of Infection

Ignoring a dental emergency puts you at risk of infection that can quickly spread to other parts of your body. This can cause severe symptoms, including fever, an increased breathing rate, and abdominal pain, which can lead to life-threatening complications.

Relieve Anxiety

Some patients do not go to the dentist immediately because they worry about how a dental emergency will affect their health. However, it is always right to seek professional help from your dentist. Your dentist will provide compassionate care to calm your nerves and resolve underlying issues.

Ignoring potentially serious dental problems could make you feel even more anxious. In addition, ignoring dental emergencies can cost you more money in the long run. Failing to address a dental emergency can also cause permanent damage. If further damage occurs, you would need complex and expensive dental treatment, for example, surgical removal or root canal treatment. The sooner you see a dentist, the sooner your dental emergency will be resolved.

Get Help With Previously Undiagnosed Illnesses

Immediate evaluation of a dental emergency is very helpful in understanding if there is an underlying medical condition. For example, some patients can experience mouth bleeding when brushing or flossing their teeth. If this happens often, it could be a sign of periodontal disease, also known as gingivitis.