A dental emergency, such as a broken tooth or severe toothache, doesn’t have to lead to despair. If you know how to respond, you can save your smile – and the day.
Having contact information for an emergency dentist on hand is always a good idea, because you never know when an urgent issue may crop up. Additionally, you’ll want to gather the supplies needed for a first aid kit of sorts for dental emergencies.
It’s important to seek treatment as quickly as possible in order to minimize any damage and ensure that it can be treated as conservatively as possible, so don’t hesitate to call a pro for help!
Step One: Call The Dentist
In cases that obviously require immediate attention, such as those involving profuse bleeding or severe facial trauma, patients should proceed to their local emergency department. However, an emergency dentist can help with matters that are still urgent but less critical in nature.
An emergency dentist has a schedule that accommodates same-day appointments. Ideally, you will be able to be seen within a few hours of making the call. You can also call at any time of day, as these providers will have 24-hour coverage via an answering service.
Step Two: Be Prepared To Manage The Situation Until You Can Be Seen
While your dentist will schedule an appointment for you as quickly as possible, you still may find yourself waiting several hours until you can be seen. In such instances, you may need to be prepared to manage the situation on your own temporarily until you can get to the office.
Your dentist can give you some guidance about the actions you should take until you can be evaluated. It is also helpful to keep a dental first aid kit on hand so that you’ll have any supplies that you may need, like:
- Sterile gauze
- Tooth preservation media (along with a small container to hold a dislodged tooth)
- Floss
- Oral analgesics
- Temporary dental cement to hold loose restorations in place
- Dental wax for errant orthodontic appliances
Are you prepared to be the hero in a dental emergency? Feel free to call our office and ask any questions that you may have so that you can do everything necessary in a worst-case smile scenario.
