EMERGENCY DENTISTRY
Dental Treatment When You Need It Most
While dental emergencies are rare, they do occasionally happen. Most dental issues do not need to be treated immediately while some problems with your teeth and gums require immediate attention, to relieve pain and prevent long-lasting damage to your oral health. Before these emergencies arise, it’s important to understand the types of dental situations that require immediate professional care.
Emergency Dentistry – Common Problems
The following are some of the most common dental issues that require emergency dentistry solutions.
Toothaches & Sore Gums
Pain in the teeth or gums can indicate a very serious issue, especially severe, ongoing pain and discomfort. Over-the-counter pain medication and ice can help reduce the pain, but you should consult your dentist about the best course of action to resolve the problem and prevent any permanent damage.
Cracked or Fractured Tooth
Small surface cracks do not always require emergency treatment, but teeth with significant cracks should be looked at by a dental professional immediately. A filling material is used to repair the crack and a dental crown can also be used to prevent that crack from becoming more damaged.
Broken Tooth
Sports injuries and other accidents can result in a large portion of your tooth breaking off. This is another emergency situation, and a dentist should be consulted immediately. Find and save any fragment of the tooth that you can and keep it in cold milk and clean the affected area as much as possible.
Displaced Adult Tooth
If an adult tooth comes out entirely, the immediate action would be to rinse the tooth in water then attempt to place the tooth back into the socket. If you are unable to do so, store the displaced tooth in cold milk. Time is of the essence in this situation! Seek immediate treatment from your dentist.
Same-Day Emergency Treatment
The key to quickly and effectively solving urgent dental problems is to know exactly where to go during dental emergencies. Having a dental office in mind that provides emergency services near you can make a difference in getting these issues resolved in time to prevent long-term oral health damage. At Fair Lakes Family and Cosmetic Dentistry, we offer same day treatment for emergency services including:
Do I Need Emergency Treatment?
If you are ever unsure whether you need emergency dental treatment, call our office in Fairfax, VA at 703-273-4505. Our team will be able to discuss your symptoms and determine whether you need to come to our office for an emergency appointment. If you have suffered an injury or major trauma to the face or head, and are experiencing any dizziness or loss of consciousness, please first see an emergency physician. Once you have been treated by a physician for your head injury, then come see us for a dental evaluation.