Emergency

If a tooth (or teeth) or your jaw are causing you a certain amount of discomfort, you need to see a dentist as soon as possible. But if you’re experiencing pain or have an emergency, call Eleven Eighty Seven Dental NOW and tell us you’re on the way! We know that emergencies happen…and not always at convenient times. Please see our list below for what to do in an emergency—before you get to our office.

[toggle heading=”Toothache”]
Toothaches can be unbearable and perhaps are a sign of tooth decay or even something more serious. To alleviate your discomfort, start with rinsing your mouth with warm salt water to clean it out, placing an icepack on the affected area to minimize pain and swelling. Putting one or two drops of Clove Oil on a cotton ball and applying it to the aching tooth will also help with pain relief and also reduces the chance of infection. Do NOT put aspirin or any other painkiller against your gums near the aching tooth because it may burn the gum tissue.
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[toggle heading=”Knocked Out Tooth”]
Hey, accidents happen, and knowing what to do when your tooth gets knocked out can mean the difference between saving and losing that tooth. Try to keep the tooth moist; hold the tooth by the crown and rinse off the root of the tooth in water if it’s dirty. Do NOT scrub it or remove any attached tissue fragments and try not to touch the root since it could damage cells necessary for bone reattachment. If possible, try putting the tooth back in the socket and hold it in place with gauze. If you are unable to do this, wrap the tooth in clean gauze and immerse in a container of milk (or water) and get to us ASAP.
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[toggle heading=”Tooth Pushed Out of Position”]
Attempt to reposition the tooth to its normal alignment using very light finger pressure. Do NOT force the tooth. Bite down to keep the tooth from moving.
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[toggle heading=”Broken or Fractured Tooth”]
Rinse your mouth with warm water to clean the area. Use a cold compress to keep the swelling down. Take ibuprofen—NOT aspirin—for pain, and get to our office immediately. Only a dentist can tell how bad the break is. If it’s a minor fracture, it can be smoothed by your dentist or left alone. Another option is to restore the tooth with composite restoration. Moderate fractures include damage to the enamel, dentin and nerves or other live tissues (pulp). If the pulp is not permanently damaged, the tooth can be restored with a crown. If your tooth is severely fractured, removal may be necessary.

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[toggle heading=”Jaw – Broken?”]
Apply cold compresses to control swelling. Call us NOW or go to the hospital emergency room.
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[toggle heading=”Tissue/Gum/Tongue Injury”]
Injuries to the inside of your mouth may include tears, puncture wounds, and lacerations to the cheek, lips or tongue. As much as possible clean the wound with warm water. If you’ve bitten your lip or tongue, clean the area and apply a cold compress to reduce the swelling and bleeding. Bleeding from a tongue laceration can be reduced by pulling the tongue forward and using gauze to place pressure on the wound. If the bleeding doesn’t stop, go to the hospital emergency room.
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