What are the Most Common Dental Emergencies?
Some of the most common dental emergencies are also the most preventable. Whether you have a cavity or a knocked-out tooth, it’s important that you schedule an appointment with Dr. Langellier as soon as possible.
As an emergency dentist, Dr. Langellier will be able to diagnose and treat the source of your pain. He’ll also be able to see you the same day if you call our office by 10 am.
Here are the most common dental emergencies.
Toothache
There could be several . But you won’t really know for sure what’s causing the problem until Dr. Langellier has the opportunity to examine your teeth, gums, and other oral structures. We may also take X-rays during your appointment to detect any decay between teeth that’s not visible to the naked eye.
Your treatment plan will depend on the extent of damage to the tooth. For example, Dr. Langellier may recommend a filling to restore a tooth with a small cavity or a crown to restore a tooth with significant decay.
Related: How to Relieve a Toothache at Home →
Knocked-Out Tooth
Athletes who play contact sports have the highest risk of knocking out a tooth. That’s because they’re vulnerable to being hit in the face during practices and games. For this reason, Dr. Langellier recommends wearing a to protect your smile while you play. The protective material of the mouth guard absorbs the impact of being hit in the face, reducing your risk of serious injury.
If you knock out a tooth, it’s important that you call our office as soon as possible and follow the steps below.
Follow these steps if you’ve knocked out a tooth:
- Pick up the tooth by the crown (chewing surface), NOT the root. Touching the root will damage the cells needed for re-attachment.
- If the tooth is dirty, gently rinse it with water. DO NOT use soap, scrub the tooth, dry the tooth, nor wrap the tooth in a tissue or cloth.
- If possible, gently place the tooth back in its socket and gently bite down to hold it in place. If this isn’t possible, place the tooth inside your cheek to keep it moist. You may also submerge the tooth in a container of milk.
- Call our office for further instructions.
The sooner you act, the more likely we’ll be able to re-attach the tooth. It’s best that you see Dr. Langellier within 30 minutes of knocking out your tooth.
Cracked Tooth
There are many accidents that can crack a tooth, such as chewing ice, using your teeth to open bottles, or getting hit in the face. Whether or not your case is considered a dental emergency will depend on the extent of damage to your tooth and whether you’re experiencing any pain.
A large crack that is causing pain is a dental emergency. A small crack that doesn’t cause any pain is still cause for alarm. But you can wait until the next available opening in our schedule before seeing Dr. Langellier for treatment.
For a deep crack in your tooth, Dr. Langellier may recommend a dental crown to restore the tooth’s full function and appearance.
Schedule an Appointment With Dr. Langellier
Are you experiencing any of the common dental emergencies we described in this blog post? If so, it’s time to schedule an appointment for urgent dental care.
Dr. Eric Langellier is an emergency dentist in Wyoming, MI. He’s also accepting new patients and would be more than happy to see you right away. When you call our office by 10 am, we’ll be able to see you the same day!
To schedule an appointment for emergency dental care, please call Bowtie Dental at (616) 532-9003. For non-emergencies, you may also fill out our online contact form and someone from our office will reach out to you soon.