You’re sitting there, dumbfounded, as you stare into your hands. Unfortunately, you’re looking at pieces of your teeth. You were eating popcorn while watching football and accidentally bit into an un-popped kernel which cracked one of your teeth. You look in the mirror to see how bad it is and you panic.
What do you do in this situation? You can’t wait a week for this to get fixed. Dr. Rob Schumacher, your emergency dentist in Lynnfield, MA, lets you know just what to do in a dental emergency.
What Is A Dental Emergency?
You might be asking yourself what qualifies as a dental emergency in the first place. You don’t want to overreact and rush to the dentist’s office if it’s not serious. The biggest indicator is pain; if you are in so much dental pain that you cannot focus on anything else, you are probably experiencing a dental emergency. Some common examples are:
- Knocked out tooth
- Chipped, cracked, or broken tooth
- Severe toothache
- Injury to the gums or jaw
- Large object caught between teeth
In any of these situations, you need to act fast so you can get the care you need.
What You Can Do
The first thing you need to do is stay calm. This will enable you to think clearly and take action. You should immediately call your dentist in Lynnfield, MA at Schumacher Dental. In fact, you should put our number in your phone right now so that you don’t have to look it up while injured. We will always try to make an appointment to see you as soon as possible, plus we will let you know what you can do in the moment. Some common tips for dental emergencies are:
- Keep a knocked out or broken tooth moist, whether it means placing it back in your mouth or even in a container of milk. These will help preserve it until we can see you.
- Wash the injured area with warm water to help lower the risk of infection.
- Use a cold compress to minimize any pain you are experiencing.
- If you have something caught between your teeth, don’t use anything sharp to try and get it out.
- Ideally, have someone else drive you to the office.
A few ways you can try and prevent dental emergencies is to wear a mouthguard when playing sports and avoid chewing on hard things like ice or…popcorn kernels. Also, be sure to see us at Schumacher Dental regularly so we can catch anything that may cause you to have an emergency in the future.
Any Questions?
A dental emergency can be a very tense moment, and it’s best if you already have a plan of action. This will give you peace of mind and help you get relief quicker.
If you want to know more about what you can do in a dental emergency, please give us a call today. We’re ready to be there in one of your most stressful times, and we know we can give you the type of care and attention you’ll need.