Mt. Pleasant emergency dentist, Dr. Robert Sikes, wants patients comfortable and safe in a dental emergency. What should you do when oral injury occurs?
Don’t hesitate to call Robert C. Sikes DDS, emergency dentist in Mt. Pleasant, TX when severe dental pain or injury strikes. Dr. Sikes and his team put patient health, safety and comfort first and make every effort to advise and see patients whose mouths have been compromised.
When to call your Mt. Pleasant emergency dentist
Many occasions warrant an immediate call to Dr. Sikes’ office–problems such as:
- painful toothache and swollen jaw
- serious laceration to the lips or other soft tissues of the mouth
- cracked or chipped teeth
- lost crown, veneer or filling
- avulsed (knocked out) tooth
- blow to the jaw and resulting jaw misalignment
Dr. Sikes and his staff will advise you to go the ER, come into the dental office or to apply home care measures, depending on the nature of the injury.
What to do until you get help
Broken tooth, crown or filling Save the pieces in a small, zippered sandwich bag, and bring the pieces with you to Dr. Sikes office.
Lacerated lip or tongue Apply pressure and a cold compress for several minutes to stop bleeding. If bleeding does not resolve, go to the nearest emergency room for evaluation.
Avulsed tooth This common childhood and sports injury is not a hopeless situation. Many knocked-out teeth can be permanently replaced if people take quick action. Rinse the tooth with warm water to remove any dirt or other debris but leave clinging soft tissue in place. Put the tooth back into the empty socket and hold in place until you get to the dentist’s office.
If it’s impossible to re-implant the tooth right away, place it in a closed container or sandwich bag with milk or an over the counter tooth preservation product, or put the tooth between the cheek and gum. Get to Dr. Sikes immediately. If re-implanted within 30 minutes to an hour, the tooth has a great chance of long-term survival.
Toothache or sudden temperature sensitivity
Tooth and jaw pain, accompanied by swelling, bad breath or a bad taste in the mouth, may indicate extensive decay or even infection (abscess). Call Dr. Sikes staff for treatment measures such as:
- ibuprofen to reduce pain and swelling
- cold compresses to the jaw
- a dental appointment as soon as possible
Preventing dental emergencies
Dr. Robert C. Sikes and his team want to see their patients every 6 months for routine exams and cleanings. This preventive measure keeps teeth clean and uncovers dental problems before they become expensive and complex.
Also, patients should brush and floss daily and be gentle with their teeth. Never chew excessively hard foods such as taffy, peanut brittle or ice, and wear a mouthguard during sports activities.
However, accidents and other unforeseen problems happen. In those cases, please contact the office. Your oral and overall health are too important to ignore.