What can emergency dentistry treat?
Dr. Williams offers emergency dentistry services for trauma-related tooth and mouth issues, like:
- Knocked-out teeth
- Cracked or fractured teeth
- Damaged tooth nerves
- Objects stuck in the mouth
- Oral bleeding
- Non-allergy related oral or facial swelling
She can also treat severe tooth abscesses, address severe tooth pain, and perform emergency extractions.
Can emergency dentistry save my knocked-out tooth?
If you have a knocked-out tooth, you may be able to save it through emergency dentistry. To do so, store it and get it to Dr. Williams within an hour after it came out of your mouth.
To store your tooth properly, you must start by carefully rinsing off any dirt. When you do this, grasp it by the end of the tooth that faces out (the crown), so that you don’t accidentally damage the roots.
Then, you can store it one of three ways:
Put it in the socket
You may be able to store your tooth in the socket out of which it came. If so, after you place it, keep the tooth moist by biting down on a wet tea bag or moistened gauze.
Put it in a container
If you can’t get your tooth to stay in the socket, you can store it in a container of milk or your saliva. To stop any socket bleeding, apply a wet cold compress and bite down.
Hold it in your mouth
If you can’t put it in your socket and don’t have a container, you can hold your tooth between your cheek and gums. If you choose the latter, be careful not to swallow the tooth.
Why might I need emergency dentistry and extractions?
Sometimes, to solve your dental emergency, Dr. Williams needs to pull your tooth. Common reasons for emergency extractions include:
- A tooth is broken beyond repair
- Severe tooth decay
- An advanced tooth infection that has damaged supporting bone structure
- Impacted wisdom teeth
- An abscess around the teeth or on your gums
- Jaw trauma
- Gum disease
Signs that you may need an emergency extraction include:
- Severe tooth pain or sensitivity
- Gum pain
- Swelling that inhibits your ability to open your mouth
- Discoloration or darkening of the teeth
- An unpleasant taste in your mouth that you can’t make go away
- An unstable, wiggly, or loose tooth
- Pus or white fluid in your mouth
If you’re unsure whether or not your symptoms suggest you need an extraction, reach out to Dr. Williams’ for advice. When in doubt, it’s better to seek care.
If you or a loved one is experiencing a dental emergency, don’t wait until tomorrow to get care. Instead, book an emergency dentistry appointment with Claire V. Williams, DMD, right now by calling her office or using the online booking tool.
