The COVID-19 pandemic has required many businesses to close or adopt limited hours. However, LIFESmiles Family and Cosmetic Dentistry is still here to take care of you if you’re experiencing a dental emergency. Dr. Brock W. Hyder, an experienced dentist in Boise, ID, discusses what a dental emergency is and how you can handle it.
Handling a Dental Emergency
If you’re experiencing a dental emergency, the first thing you should do is call us immediately. We want to get you seen in the office as soon as possible. Below are common dental emergencies you may encounter and what you should do until you can come into the office:
Severe Tooth Pain
Tooth pain is never something that you should ignore, particularly if it’s sharp and intense. This pain can be caused by any number of conditions. These include infection, an abscess, or tooth decay. Many times, you can’t tell exactly what’s causing the pain on your own. It requires a dentist to examine and see what’s going on. Take over the counter pain medication to ease the pain and use a cold compress if you experience any swelling.
Knocked-Out Tooth
It’s easy to panic if an adult tooth is knocked out. However, it’s important to stay calm and handle the situation. Look for and retrieve the tooth if you can. Be sure to pick it up by the crown and avoid touching the tooth root. Gently rinse the tooth off, but don’t scrub, as it can cause damage. Place the tooth in a cup of milk or your own saliva to keep it hydrated and hopefully salvage it for replacement. Never try to put it back in the socket on your own.
Depending on how much time it takes to get you into the office, your tooth may or may not be salvageable. We truly do our best to get you in ASAP so that it’s salvageable. However, if it isn’t, we do offer many options to replace missing teeth. In particular, dental implants are recommended by Dr. Hyder and our team. They’re the most natural, stable form of tooth replacement!
Broken or Missing Dental Restorations
Dental restorations are made to be sturdy and withstand a lot. However, you never know when something is going to happen. If you lose or break a dental crown, try to find it. Don’t try to replace it on your own, as you may cause damage to your tooth. While we usually cannot use the old dental crown, the dentist will take a look anyway. Usually, a new custom dental crown will be made for your tooth.
For a dental bridge, make sure you get all of the pieces of the broken restoration. Bring them into the office. Dr. Hyder will take a look and see if he can repair the old restoration or if it’s better to craft a new dental bridge to replace it.
Your Boise, Idaho Dentist
We’re always here for you in your time of need. Emergency dentistry is a necessary service to be available during this time. We’ll also be here for checkups to assess how the stress of COVID-19 has impacted your smile after the pandemic is over. Call us or schedule an appointment online for the future!