Emergency Dental Care May Be Just A Phone Call Away
If you need help in a dental emergency, you want that help as soon as possible. Please call us.
We hope you never need us for that reason, but if you do, our dentists will be ready to help.
What Is A Dental Emergency?
A simple way to look at it is this: Do you think it is a dental emergency? That’s a good place to start.
A tooth that is broken or has been knocked out would be considered a dental emergency. A sudden toothache would be considered a dental emergency, too.
Some problems are bigger than others.
If you call during our regular hours, we will do everything we can to see you that same time. If you call after our regular hours, we have a nurse on call until 8 p.m.
The nurse can help you know what should be done immediately and what you should do until you are able to see one of our dentists.
Examples Of Dental Emergencies
◼︎ A tooth has been knocked out
The first thing you want to do is to find the tooth if possible. It’s important to pick up the tooth by the crown if you do find out. Avoid touching the root if at all possible.
Rinse the tooth and your mouth with water. If you are still bleeding, hold gauze in your mouth (changing it as needed until the bleeding stops). Rinse your mouth one more time.
Then, try to place the tooth back in its socket. If it will stay, try to leave it there until you are able to see a dentist. If it won’t stay, keep the tooth in a container of milk. In some cases, it is possible to save the tooth.
The type of injury that can cause a tooth to come loose is likely to cause pain and swelling as well. Take a pain reliever if needed, and apply ice or a cold pack to reduce swelling.
An athletic mouthguard can help prevent this kind of injury. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the American Dental Association both recommend custom-fitted mouthguards as providing the best protection.
You should also keep in mind that a mouthguard is like a seat belt. It won’t stop an accident, and in some case, you still may be injured. But a mouthguard could be enough to save a tooth and your smile.
◼︎ Broken or cracked teeth
Traumatic injuries may not knock a tooth out completely, but they could still cause a tooth to break or crack. At the same time, these problems could occur while you are eating popcorn or olives if you bite into an unpopped kernel or an olive pit.
In this case, you will want to rinse your mouth if you are bleeding. Broken teeth can have edges sharp enough to cut the soft tissues of your mouth. You can help prevent another injury by covering the tooth with dental wax or gauze.
Again, you can take a pain reliever or apply ice if needed.
And this is another case when an athletic mouthguard may help.
◼︎ A sudden and severe toothache
When a toothache comes out of nowhere, that is a problem. It can indicate a tooth infection, which should be treated right away.
It is possible that the pain could be caused by something stuck between your teeth. Try using dental floss to pry loose whatever it may be. If that doesn’t alleviate the pain, then you should call the nearest Galleria of Smiles location.
Apply ice packs or take a pain reliever if needed.
Sudden toothaches are generally the result of problems that take time to develop. The best way to avoid this is with good oral hygiene habits and by making regular visits to either of our dentist offices in Sand Springs or Tulsa. Regular cleanings and exams by a dental professional can identify problems early when they can be treated more easily.
Here To Help With Emergency & Preventive Dental Care
When you need help as soon as possible, call the office closest to you as soon as you are able.
You can also call those numbers for non-emergencies, or you can contact us with our online form.
