Do you have a toothache that’s been bothering you for several days? Or did you break one of your pearly whites while crunching on some ice? Dr. Osseiran and the team at Just For Your Smile is well-trained in handling all kinds of dental emergencies. We’ll do everything in our power to see you as soon as possible so that we can provide you with the high-quality care needed to save your smile. When the worst happens, contact our offices right away!
Some emergencies are caused by sudden physical trauma, such as biting down on something hard or getting hit in the mouth. In other cases, poor dental hygiene will result in your tooth becoming infected. No matter what the cause, it’s essential to see your emergency dentist in Tysons Corner & Potomac as soon as you can. In the meantime, there are often steps you can take to relieve any pain and prevent the damage from getting worse:
You can control the discomfort caused by many toothaches with over-the-counter pain medications. If there’s swelling, you can keep it down with an ice pack. Remember that the treatment for your toothache will depend on the extent of the damage done; sometimes you might just need a filling, but in other cases a root canal is the best option for saving the tooth.
If there’s any bleeding, hold a piece of gauze on the afflicted area for 10 minutes or until it stops; control any swelling with an icepack. Avoid biting with the damaged tooth, as this can damage it further. In many cases, the tooth can be restored and protected by a dental crown, but sometimes it might need to be extracted if it can’t be repaired.
Find the tooth and pick it up by the end you use for chewing. After rinsing it off, try to put it back in its socket. If this does not work, keep it in a glass of milk, a saline solution, or inside your cheeks until you can get to our office. (Do not put it in a glass of water.) You should see a dentist within an hour to have the best chance of saving the tooth.
Sometimes you can temporarily repair a restoration with some dental cement. Otherwise, avoid chewing with the damaged tooth, as it might be sensitive or fragile. Cover any sharp edges with dental wax so you don’t accidentally cut your tongue or the inside of your mouth.
Depending on the type of emergency, the current state of the tooth and the type of treatment needed, the overall cost for your dental emergency can vary. We’ll examine your situation and give you an estimate you can be confident in.
Do you want additional information about dental emergencies in Tysons Corner & Potomac? Our expert team at Just For Your Smile has collected some of the most common questions and answers about dental accidents and injuries below. We hope you find this dental emergency FAQ section informative and helpful! If you still have lingering questions or concerns about dental emergencies after reading the rest of this page, please do not hesitate to give us a call.
If you were to break a bone or suffer another serious medical emergency, the local ER would be the right place to turn. However, local emergency rooms are not always equipped with the right tools or specialized knowledge to treat dental trauma.
If you suffer a dental emergency, you should always call an emergency dentist in Tysons Corner & Potomac first. After hearing the details of your case, an experienced dentist will be able to tell you whether you need immediate dental care or if you should instead seek medical attention.
In most cases, an emergency dentist will be able to fit you in on the very same day in order to provide the urgent dental care that you need.
If you cannot reach an emergency dentist right away, over-the-counter pain medication can help temporarily ease the pain caused by dental trauma.
If you are experiencing significant bleeding inside your mouth, opt for a painkiller that contains acetaminophen. Why? Aspirin and ibuprofen both act as blood thinners, so taking these medications during a dental emergency may end up causing extra bleeding.
Regardless, it is important to remember that taking over-the-counter pain medication is only a temporary step to ease your discomfort, not a permanent solution. You should still see an emergency dentist as soon as possible after suffering a dental injury.
As noted above, we recommend placing a tooth that has been knocked loose into a glass of milk until you can visit an emergency dentist. Although it may seem like strange advice, keeping a dislodged tooth moist is very important in order to successfully reattach it. Moreover, milk contains certain proteins that prevent tooth roots from swelling up and bursting. So, if you cannot place your loose tooth back in its original socket, grab the milk in your refrigerator to help preserve your tooth until you can see a dentist.
Puncture wounds, lacerations or tears to the cheeks, lips, tongue or other tissues inside the mouth are all considered dental emergencies, even if your teeth are not directly impacted. These types of injuries often appear worse than they actually are because of significant bleeding.
If you experience this type of injury, you should first clean the affected area with warm water and wash away excess blood. Next, call an emergency dentist. Depending on the type and severity of the injury, you may be directed to an oral surgeon or nearby urgent care center.
Although accidents and injuries happen when we least expect them, it is always a good idea to be prepared just in case. For this reason, we recommend packing a small dental first aid kit to keep in the car, at work, or even in your purse for when you are on the go.
Here are a few ideas of what to include in your personal dental first aid kit:
