If you’ve had an accident and hurt your gums or knocked out teeth, it’s important to seek emergency dental treatment at your Sutton West dental office as quickly as possible. Even if you’re not a patient at the office, they will likely accept you as a new patient if you have an emergency.

When You Lose a Tooth

If your tooth has just been knocked out, it’s important to move quickly so it can be re-implanted. Don’t clean the tooth, just give it a quick, light rinse with water or milk. Scrubbing could damage the tooth, making it harder to re-implant.

The way you transport the tooth can make a big difference. It’s best if you can place it back in its socket for the trip to the dentist. If you’ve lost more than one tooth, there’s immediate swelling, or if you’re in intense pain, it may be impossible to place the tooth back into its proper place. In that case, keep it in your mouth under your tongue until you can get emergency dental treatment. As a last resort, transport the tooth or teeth in a small, clean container that’s filled with saline solution or milk.

Ideally, you will reach our Sutton West dental office within 30 minutes. If you can make it within this time frame, there’s a greater chance of merely re-implanting the tooth. The longer the trip takes, it will decrease the  chance for re-implantation.

If your dentist can’t re-implant the tooth, ask about dental implant surgery. It can give you a replacement that looks as natural as your actual teeth.

Toothaches

A toothache can make it hard to think. You may immediately start thinking of root canals and the worse case scenario but a toothache can have a simple cause that you can address at home. Check the area for food that may be stuck between the teeth or poking into your gums. This is one of the most common causes of tooth and gum pain.

If the area is extremely sensitive, try rinsing it with warm water. If you can, gently flossing or brushing the sensitive area may be more successful at removing any food particles.

If you can see food but can’t remove it, the food may work it’s way out over time. Keep brushing or flossing over the course of the day. Take an over-the-counter pain reliever for the pain. If the pain is intense and you need emergency dental treatment, ask someone else to drive or take a taxi to your Sutton West dental office.

If you don’t see any food particles, call your dentist for an appointment. Your toothache may be the symptom of a more serious problem, like a nerve exposed to air or a broken tooth.

Broken Teeth

Fixing broken teeth is something your Sutton West dental office does regularly. A hard piece of food or a fall can dislodge or fracture a tooth—especially if the tooth is already damaged. If broken teeth can’t be fixed, your dentist may recommend pulling them and replacing them with a bridge, dentures or dental implant surgery. Do your research to find the right option for you.

If you need emergency dental treatment, contact your Sutton West dental office immediately.