Emergency Dentistry Solutions

During a dental emergency, the first response for most people is panic. The second may be feeling unsure of how to respond. For Ellington dentistry patients of Zahner Dental, we are here to help whenever you need us most – including emergency dental appointments. In most cases, we’re able to see patients on the same day they call us, but one of our team members will also walk you through first aid and pain management over the phone to ensure your comfort and safety until you reach our office. If you experience a dental emergency, contact our team right away if you’re in need of urgent dental care. We’ll get you into our office right away to relieve pain and renew your oral health.

Common Dental Emergencies

The most important thing to remember during a dental emergency is that your safety and comfort are our top priorities. If you think your oral health concern requires urgent intervention, it likely does. Some of the most common dental needs we treat with emergency appointments include:

• Severe toothache or dental sensitivity
• Lost tooth or dental restorations
• Damaged tooth or dental restoration
• Broken or bent partial or full denture
• Soft tissue lacerations
• Infection in the gums or soft tissue

If you ever believe your oral health emergency may be life threatening, proceed to your nearest emergency room or contact emergency services right away. One of our skilled dentists will be happy to work with your medical team to repair any damage to your smile.

What to Do at Home During a Dental Emergency

Many patients want to know what to do at home during a dental emergency. When you call our team, we’ll walk you through at-home care, but some of the things you can do to care for your smile at home include:

• Clean the area around the damaged tooth with cool water, and clean off any large parts of the tooth with cool water
• Do not brush or rub the tooth as you may remove healthy soft tissue that will aid in reattachment or healing
• If there is bleeding, apply pressure with gauze or clean cloth
• Use an ice pack at 20 minute intervals (20 on/20 off) to reduce pain, prevent swelling, and slow blood flow
• Take aspirin and other pain relievers as directed, but do not apply them directly to the tooth as this could cause damage

Preventing Dental Emergencies

The best way to keep your smile whole, healthy, and free from pain is to maintain a thorough preventive dentistry routine. Brush your teeth twice a day, floss at least once a day, and visit our Ellington dentistry practice two times a year for dental checkups and professional teeth cleanings. Some other things you should keep in mind to avoid dental emergencies include:

• Do not chew on ice, fingernails, pen caps, or other hard objects
• Do not use your teeth as tools to open packages and crack nuts
• Do wear a mouthguard if you grind and clench your teeth at night
• Do use a sportsguard as directed while participating in athletic competitions or practices