Emergency Dentistry: Tips from our Falls Church VA Emergency Dentist
Dental emergencies can happen in an instant, so it is important to be prepared when it comes to protecting your smile. You can't always prepare for a dental emergency to occur, but you can take excellent care of your smile to help prevent some serious dental issues. Not every dental health issue is considered an emergency, so our Falls Church VA emergency dentist wanted to share some tips for identifying a dental emergency. Here are some clear signs that you need to visit our emergency dentist:
Signs of a Dental Emergency
Some dental health issues are accompanied by clear signs that can clue you in to the severity of the problem. If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms, contact our Falls Church Va emergency dentist right away:
-Severe, persistent pain
-Excessive bleeding
-Knocked out tooth
-Chipped tooth with sharp edges
-Signs of infection (pus, facial swelling)
-Loose or wiggly teeth as an adult
If you are suffering from any of the above oral health symptoms, you need to call our office right away. We can accommodate your visit so that you can get the care you need immediately. Give our office a call to let us know that you are on your way so that we can prepare a room for you.
Signs it is Not a Dental Emergency:
-Slight but frequent pain
-A chipped tooth with no sharp edges
-A lost filling or crown
All of these types of dental health issues need to be addressed as soon as possible, but they can be done at our earliest available appointment. Call our office to confirm the next available appointment, and let us know what issue you are experiencing prior to your visit. Our Falls Church VA emergency dentist can confirm that you are not experiencing an immediate dental emergency.
Knocked Out Tooth
Knocking out a tooth is one of the most common dental emergencies that can occur in an instant. While there isn't much you can do to prevent a knocked out tooth, it can help to know what to do in case this occurs. Wear a mouthguard during high-contact sports to protect your smile from potential damage. A knocked out tooth can be a serious problem for your oral health, and it requires immediate action if you have any hope of saving the tooth. If the tooth has been knocked clean out with little to no damage, simply pick it back up by the chewing surface and gently put it back in the socket.
Call our office to let us know that you are on your way and try to get to our Falls Church VA emergency dentist within 30 minutes of the tooth getting knocked out. If you can't place the tooth back in the socket, place it in some milk or in a napkin. If the tooth has been damaged, it is possible that we may need to explore restorative dental treatments. Do not place a child's tooth back in the socket after it has been knocked out, or else damage can be done to the developing adult tooth underneath the gum's surface.
Call our office right away to let us know that you have knocked out your tooth, and try to arrive as quickly as possible. We can prepare a treatment room for your arrival so that we can quickly address the situation.
Dental Abscess
A dental abscess is a serious oral health issue that can be life threatening if not treated right away. If you are experiencing frequent, sharp pain in one area of your smile, let our Falls Church VA emergency dentist know as soon as possible. This is a clear sign that you may have an oral infection. Facial swelling and pus in the gums surrounding the infected tooth are also a clear sign of an issue.
Make sure you are taking excellent care of your smile to try and prevent oral infections. Brush twice per day with fluoride toothpaste, floss every night, and rinse with antibacterial mouthwash. You should also visit our office every six months for a dental cleaning and examination to prevent the development of serious oral health issues.
