Having a dental emergency? Dentalways can help!
Trauma, infections, accidents and complications...they know no bounds and they respect no time. They aren’t planned and they certainly aren't convenient. Whether you were playing a sport and broke a tooth, were involved in an accident leaving your mouth in pain, or a toothache showed up, resulting in great pain and discomfort, you need immediate treatment and relief. If left untreated, pain caused by dental emergencies always gets worse and dental issues can quickly compound and jeopardize your overall health.
Knocked out a tooth? Give us a call
If a tooth has been knocked completely out of your mouth, you need to see family dentist, Dr. Khullar immediately. When a tooth exits the mouth - nerves, tissues and blood vessels instantly become damaged. If the tooth can be placed back into its socket within an hour, there is a good chance the tissues will grow to support that tooth once again.
If this happens, take the following steps:
- Call us at 501-954-9330
- Pick up the tooth by the crown and rinse it under warm water. DO NOT touch the root.
- If possible, place it back into its socket. If not, tuck it into the cheek pouch.
- If the tooth can't be inserted back in the mouth, put the tooth into a cup of milk, saliva or, as a last resort, water. It's important to keep the tooth from drying out.
- Get to our office, quickly and safely.
Dentalways will try to replace the tooth in its natural socket. In some cases, the tooth will reattach, but if the inner mechanisms of the tooth is critically damaged, root canal therapy may be required.
Filling or crown leave your mouth? Get immediate help
Typically, a filling or crown comes loose when eating. Once its out of your mouth, the distressed tooth can be incredibly sensitive to temperature change and to pressure. Crowns commonly become loose because of decay of the original tooth. The decay causes shape changes in the teeth, therefore, the crown no longer fits.
If a crown has dropped out of your mouth, make an appointment with Dentalways as soon as possible. Keep the crown in a safe, cool place as there is a distinct possibility your dentist can reinsert it. If the crown is out of the mouth for longer periods of time, your teeth may shift or sustain further damage.
If you can't get to our office immediately, take these steps:
- Apply clove oil to the tooth to alleviate pain.
- Clean the crown and attach it onto the tooth with dental cement (purchased at your local pharmacy).
- If the crown is lost, smear the top of the tooth with dental cement to ease pain and discomfort.
- DO NOT use any kind of glue to reattach the crown.
Dr. Khullar will check the crown to see if it still fits. If it does, it can be reattached to your tooth. Where decay is noted, it will be treated and a new crown will be made.
Call immediately if you've chipped or broken a tooth
While your teeth are incredibly strong, they are still prone to breaks, fractures and cracks. While some fractures are fairly painless, if the crack extends down into the root, there's a good chance the pain will be extreme.
Fractures, breaks and cracks can take several different forms but are generally caused by trauma, biting and grinding. If a tooth has been cracked or fractured, there is no other option but to see Dentalways as soon as possible.
Where a segment of tooth has been broken off, here are some at-home steps to take:
- Call us at 501-954-9330
- Rinse the fragmented tooth and your mouth with lukewarm water.
- Apply gauze to the area for ten minutes if there is bleeding.
- Place a damp, cold dish towel on your cheek to minimize swelling and pain.
- Cover the affected area with over-the-counter dental cement (purchased from your local pharmacy) if there is no way to immediately see Dentalways -your Little Rock family dentist.
- Take a topical pain reliever.
The nature of the fracture will determine what we are able to do. If a crack or fracture extends into the root, root canal therapy may be the only effective way to preserve the tooth. In the case of a complete break, we will generally affix the fragment back onto the tooth as a temporary measure.
Loose tooth? Barely hanging on? Don't wait
When a tooth has been loosened or entirely dislodged from its socket by decay or trauma, it might be possible to save it. If the tooth remains in the mouth and attached to the nerves and blood vessels, there is a good chance root canal therapy won't be necessary.
It is important to immediately call us at 501-954-9330 and make an appointment. In the meantime, use a cold compress and over-the-counter medication to alleviate pain. Dentalways will reposition the tooth and to stabilize it, will add splints. If the tooth fails to heal, root canal therapy may be required.
We ALWAYS answer emergencies
Have you ever tried calling an "emergency" number, only to be ignored, put on hold for an eternity or asked to leave a message? We hate that too. When you have a dental emergency, the last thing you need is to waste time on the phone or sit around waiting for a call back. When you call Dentalways, we PROMISE to respond to your situation immediately.
