Accidents happen, and we understand that you can’t always plan for
them. From getting a raging toothache out of nowhere, to chipping a tooth
during a sports game, we’ve planned for just about any situation. When
you call us with a
dental emergency, we’ll do everything in our power to see you the same day you call.
In the meantime, one of our knowledgeable staff members will walk you
through some basic first aid until you can come see us.
Contact us if you
have a dental emergency.
When you experience a dental emergency, you should call Dr. Nameth’s office first and foremost. However, we’ve provided some basic tips below to help you handle your situation until you make it to our office.
Your toothache might be caused by a piece of food getting stuck in between
your teeth. Try rinsing your mouth out with warm water to dislodge it. If
that doesn’t work, your discomfort may be the result of severe decay
that has reached the sensitive inner portions of the tooth. If that’s
the case, you might need root canal therapy to relieve your pain.
First things first, rinse your mouth out with warm water to get rid of any
debris. To cut down on pain and swelling, apply a cold compress to the
affected cheek. If the crack or chip is small, dental bonding may be able to
do the trick to fix it. If, however, the damage is severe, extraction may be
the only option.
Once a tooth is knocked out, you have about an hour before the chances of it
being successfully reattached are slim to none. After calling Dr. Nameth and
his team, the most important thing is to keep the tooth wet. Gently grab it
by the crown, carefully avoiding the roots. If you can, place it back in the
socket. If not, keep it between your cheek and your gums. You could also
store it in a container of saltwater or milk to keep it moist.
If the crown is still in one piece, you might be able to place it back over the tooth. First, gently wash out the inside with water. Then, apply denture adhesive, dental cement, or even petroleum jelly and slip it back on over your tooth. Although this may work for a little while, it’s always best to call us as soon as the crown comes off to schedule a professional reattachment.
You can’t always tell when an emergency is going to happen, but you can do a few things to lower their chances of occurring. Those things include:
A lot of factors can go into deciding how much treatment for dental emergencies costs. It might range from a simple prescription of antibiotics to more serious procedures like tooth extraction. Whatever the problem, our team will help you figure out your financial options and maximize your insurance benefits, so you don’t pay a cent more than you need to.
If you think you’re experiencing a dental emergency, don’t hesitate to contact your emergency dentist in Worthington so we can get your smile back on the right track on the same day you call.
Dr. Randall Nameth wants to do everything he can to not only help you if you are experiencing a dental emergency, but educate you on the best ways to manage it prior to your arrival to the office. The better you understand what’s happening inside your mouth during a dental emergency, the more effectively you can handle dental emergencies if they happen to you or a family member. Below, you can find the most common questions our office has received regarding dental emergencies for your convenience.
Unless you’re a child who’s baby teeth are still waiting to fall out, there is no reason why your tooth should be loose. Whether it’s your natural tooth or a dental implant, a loose tooth is a sign of either bone loss as a result of gum disease or because of recent physical trauma. Regardless of the cause, you should call our office right away to get your tooth looked at more closely.
A chipped tooth should still warrant a visit to our office no matter what as damaged teeth can easily break down further if they are already fractured. However, there are instances where a tooth is only cosmetically chipped, meaning that they can be restored at a later date rather than right away. If you feel any pain or discomfort whatsoever after your tooth has been chipped or fractured, call our office. Furthermore, you should call us if the tooth is fractured and the crack extends below the gum line, even if there is no pain.
If you are a parent who has many active children or you simply care about being prepared at all times for medical and dental emergencies alike, it’s always a good idea to have the right medical supplies available in case a dental emergency does occur. A few items you’ll want to have in your dental emergency kit include but are not limited to nitrile gloves, dental cement, temporary dental filling, cotton balls, gauze pads, oral swabs, hydrogen peroxide, salt, dental mirrors and acetaminophen.
While many dental emergencies can be handled by a dentist, there are some circumstances where it may be better to visit the emergency room first, then our office. For example, if you are experiencing severe oral bleeding that does not stop or you have a broken jaw, an emergency room visit would be more appropriate. Once you have stabilized, call our office and we’ll do our best to get you seen as soon as possible.
When you teeth feel sensitive, it is not typically considered to be a dental emergency. This is especially true if the sensitivity is not chronic or it only occurs when exposed to hot and cold temperatures, such as hot soup or iced water. If this sensitivity ever turns into discomfort or pain that becomes impossible to ignore, it should be treated as a dental emergency. Furthermore, sensitivity is an issue that Dr. Nameth will want to examine in closer detail regardless, so call our office to schedule an appointment when you can.
