Emergency Dentist Chapel Hill
fall in love with your smile
Emergency Dental Services & Urgent Dental Care
When emergency dental situations occur, it is important to have a plan in place. It can be difficult to know the difference between having a dental issue that does not need to be addressed immediately and having a serious issue that requires immediate attention.
Emergency care can be required due to an untreated oral health issue that has progressed to the point of being unbearable. To avoid this situation, it is important to practice good oral hygiene habits and schedule a regular dental cleaning every six months, as doing so will allow your dentist to address problems before they develop. Also, if you notice any aches or pains that continue to get worse, do not wait until it is too late to have the issue looked at.
By being prepared and knowing a few tips and tricks, you can make sure you can remain calm and now how to best act when and if an issue presents itself. These tips and tricks will also help ensure that you take the proper steps and avoid creating any unnecessary complications later.
If you would like to schedule an appointment or if you have any questions about our treatment options, please contact our office at (919) 595-1010. We look forward to creating the smile you have always desired a reality for you.
When Accidents Happen
Accidents are the most common reason for needing emergency dental support. If an accident occurs, the most important thing to do is try to stay calm. Once you have properly assessed your situation and determined that you require additional support, call our office, even if it is not during business hours. If your tooth is in pain, it may be possible to wait until the next day to seek emergency care, but if you have any doubt at all about the severity of your case, it is best to err on the side of caution and seek help. If you are not able to schedule a visit with our office, the emergency room at the nearest hospital is your best second option.
Toothache Pain
If you are experiencing toothache pain that has progressed to the point of being unbearable, you may have developed a serious infection or an abscess. Over-the-counter pain medications are generally the first line of treatment for this type of pain, but if this approach does not improve the issue, it may be necessary to make an emergency appointment.
After calling your dentist or scheduling your appointment, follow these steps until you can be seen:
- Pressing a cold compress outside of your mouth where the tooth is sore will help reduce swelling and alleviate pain
- Rinsing your mouth with salt water will reduce inflammation and kill bacteria
- If possible, remove food lodged near the tooth using dental floss or a dental pick
- Applying oral numbing gels to the gums and tooth can also help alleviate pain
Broken, Cracked, or Knocked-out Teeth
One of the most common reasons patients require emergency dental care is due to a tooth that is broken, cracked, or knocked out. This can occur for a variety of reasons, but some of the most common reasons are due to a sports related injury or due to eating a hard food.
If you can schedule an appointment with the dentist soon enough, they will attempt to reinsert the tooth into the socket after properly cleaning it. Next, they will use a special splint or wire to adhere the tooth, which will allow the bone to fuse back to the teeth over the coming weeks.
Oral Injuries
If you have an accident that results in damage to your facial or mouth tissue that causes excessive bleeding, it is important to go to the emergency room as soon as possible. While there, your dentist (or doctor) will stitch up the external cuts. Once this is complete, they can either advise you on what type of dental care you require or they can provide this support following the stitching.
While you are preparing to go to the emergency room, if possible try to place a cold compress against the area that has been affected and rinse your mouth with water to help control the bleeding and clean the area.
High-Quality Dental Care
At Cornerstone Family Dentistry in Chapel Hill, all our services are performed with the patient in mind. We want you to feel comfortable in the dental chair, confident in our work, and most importantly, we want you to fall in love with your smile again. If you would like to schedule an appointment or if you have any questions about cosmetic procedures that we offer, please contact us at (919) 595-1010.