Dental Emergency

We tell our patients to come in immediately if they ever experience sudden, severe dental pain. The pain will likely worsen if it goes unaddressed; you don’t want to mess with tooth pain as it can cause problems that may lead to significant more health issues. When you need a Sebring, Florida Dental Emergency specialist look no further than Dental Care of Mid Florida.

No one is prepared for when a dental emergency occurs; that’s why they can be incredibly scary and painful.  Dental emergencies must have immediate attention so that the problem does not escalate and the mouth can be preserved as much as possible.

In some dental emergencies a tooth gets fractured from a blow to the mouth, biting wrong on a hard object, or unintentional grinding. Sometimes previous dental work – fillings or crowns – can get damaged or even fall out.

What constitutes a Dental Emergency in Florida

1. Cracked or broken tooth
   Although teeth are incredibly strong they get a lot of use. Certain wear and tear can lead to fractures or cracks on the teeth. Often a crack is not very painful but in some cases the crack extends beneath the gum into the tooth root; this scenario causes great pain. Usually a cracked or broken tooth happens from trauma or grinding/biting wrong.When a tooth is fractured or cracked the most important thing to do is see the dentist immediately. We will perform root canal therapy if the fracture extends into the tooth’s root. if the tooth fragment is completely severed from the tooth the dentist will affix it back onto the tooth temporarily.

   If a portion of your tooth ever breaks off do these things:

   1. call us
   2. rinse your mouth with lukewarm water and add gauze if it is bleeding
   3. rinse the tooth fragment out
   4. if swelling starts place a cold, wet cloth to the cheek
   5. if the pain is unbearable take a topical pain reliever
2. Avulsed tooth
   This is when the tooth has been knocked out completely. If this isn’t immediately addressed the tissues, blood vessels, and nerves can get damaged. There is a brief window of time (usually an hour) after the tooth is knocked out that it can be placed back in the socket and the tissue will grow back to support the tooth again.If the tooth is unable to reattach to the socket, due to damage, then we will have to perform root canal therapy.

   What to do when a tooth is avulsed:

   1. Call us
   2. Rinse the tooth with lukewarm water (AVOID TOUCHING THE ROOT)
   3. Rinse the mouth with lukewarm water and place the tooth in the cheek pouch.
   4. If it is too painful to keep the tooth in the mouth, place it into a small cup with milk, saliva, or, as a last resort, in water. Do not let the tooth dry out.
3. Losing a Filling or Crown
   A crown or filling can fall out while eating. It will likely be very sensitive where the filling or crown was and it may become difficult to chew or drink. If the tooth beneath the crown is decaying it may cause the crown to fall out. Such decay will change the tooth’s shape and the crown won’t fit well anymore.The dentist will try to reattach the crown to the tooth if it will still fit. If the tooth is too decayed to fit the crown on it anymore, the dentist will remove the decay from the existing tooth and make a new crown to treat the area.

   What to do if a crown or filling falls out:

   1. Call us promptly
   2. Keep the crown in a cool safe cup or container
   3. Come in to the dentist as soon as possible so that the teeth don’t shift any more or sustain further damage.
4. Loose teeth
   A tooth may dislodge from the socket from decay or significant trauma but it can be saved! If the tooth is still attached to the blood vessels and nerves the dentists will not employ root canal therapy.
   When your tooth loosens do the following:
   1. Call us promptly
   2. Use a cold compress on the affected area
   3. Topical medication can be used to alleviate some pain
   4. Come in to the dentist office

When you come in with a loose or dislodged tooth our dentist will re-position the tooth and stabilize it with splints. This usually takes care of the tooth permanently but if the method does not suffice, root canal therapy may be necessary.

Are you in need of assistance with your dental emergency? Please don’t wait a minute longer! Call us to come in and have the emergency taken care of.