A dental emergency is defined as anything that negatively affects your oral health and cannot or should not be put off until tomorrow. However, it can be difficult to know if your problems are severe enough to qualify for this definition. So, in today’s blog, your Conroe, TX, dentist will explain some situations in which you might need emergency dentistry, and how we handle these cases in our office.
Signs Of an Emergency
If you fell off of your bike and broke or lost a tooth from the impact, you can probably guess that you would need to contact your dentist right away because you are experiencing a dental emergency. But, some issues are less obvious for the average person to understand as an emergency situation. Signs that you may need emergency dentistry include:
- A persistent toothache that is either severe, long lasting, or both
- A chip or crack in your tooth that has occurred for any reason, but especially as a result of physical trauma and especially if accompanied by discoloration or pain
- An extremely loose or lost “adult” (permanent) tooth
- A broken tooth
As a good rule of thumb, you should always contact our office if you are experiencing any kind of discomfort or pain. However, While some of the above situations may seem more serious than others, all are serious, and none should wait until tomorrow.
How We Help In Our Office
When you call our office to set up an appointment for emergency dentistry, our staff will be ready to schedule you for the soonest appointment as well as to give you some advice for managing your emergency before your appointment. If you are in pain, we may suggest that you try using an ice pack on your face to numb the area, or that you take non-prescription pain medication to relieve some of your discomfort. Of course, if you are bleeding, we will recommend trying to stop the bleeding by applying pressure and gauze, and if you have broken or lost a tooth you should bring any pieces with you (soaking in milk or salt water), as this will give us the best chance of restoring your natural teeth. Once you are able to come in for your appointment, we will address your situation calmly and carefully. If your emergency resulted from physical trauma, we will begin the process of restoring your tooth. If you have severe pain with no trauma, we will work to diagnose the root cause of that pain and eradicate it, perhaps with root canal therapy or a dental filling if the issue is tooth decay. Whatever the case, we will work to get your smile back to normal as quickly as possible.
Call Us Right Away!
If you break a tooth or experience any other kind of dental emergency, we are here for you. Dr. Richards is committed to helping you bounce back after dental issues arise, and uses innovative technology to make that process even quicker. If you think you may be experiencing a dental emergency, schedule a visit with the Dental Centre of Conroe by calling (936) 441-4600. We serve patients from Conroe, TX, and the neighboring communities.
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