It’s all well and good to visit your Richardson dentist during normal office hours. But what if you have a dental emergency during night, weekend or holiday hours? It’s not like your teeth or gums understand that having a throbbing toothache on Christmas, for example, is an inconvenience. The fact is, dental emergencies can crop up at any time and not being able to see a dentist during that time can be both physically painful and emotionally frustrating.

Crown and Bridge Richardson
So what should you do if you have a dental emergency and need immediate dental services? We’re glad you asked. We’ve come up with a few common dental situations that should minimize pain and maximize the health of your teeth and gums before you’re able to see an emergency dentist in the Richardson area.

Dental Situation #1 - Chronic Toothache

The problem: You develop immediate and serious pain in your tooth caused by a bacterial infection, gum disease or long-term dental decay. As a result, you may experience such symptoms as pain, swelling, tenderness and sensitivity to hot or cold foods. Many toothaches can also be symptomatic of other conditions ranging from gingivitis to even heart disease.

The solution: First, thoroughly rinse your mouth with warm water. Next, gently floss around the tooth to remove any trapped food particles. Should your tooth still ache afterwards, make an appointment to see an emergency dentist as soon as possible. Your dentist can properly diagnose and treat the root causes of your toothache, as well as prescribe long-term solutions that should prevent future outbreaks.

Dental Situation #2 - Damaged Tooth

The problem: You experienced a violent collision (such as an auto accident) that caused your tooth to become chipped, cracked or broken. In some cases, the tooth may have been knocked out of your mouth entirely. Such sudden trauma to the mouth area will also likely result in bleeding and swelling inside the mouth. Other related problems may not show visible symptoms but should definitely be considered serious enough to warrant a thorough dental examination.

The solution: You have a brief window of time in which a dentist can reinstall your tooth, so you need to act fast. If possible, locate the chipped, cracked or broken tooth and rinse it off with warm water. Next, preserve the tooth portion in either milk or water with a pinch of salt. This is critical because it may be possible for the dentist to reattach the tooth in certain cases. Rinse your mouth with warm water and apply dry gauze bandaging to the tooth in order to staunch bleeding. Finally, see a dental professional as soon as possible.

Dental Situation #3 - Dental Abscesses

The problem: An abscess is a collection of thick, yellowish pus that builds in gum tissue (or other parts of the body), causing redness, pain and swelling. A ruptured abscess can lead to foul-smelling and bad-tasting fluid to collecting in the infected area. Many abscesses are caused by bacterial infections that results in symptoms such as gum and tooth pain, tenderness and swelling.

The solution: In the short term, be sure to rinse your mouth out with warm water to clean the infected area. Gum pain or swelling may be signs of an abscess and should be addressed by a dentist as soon as possible. Because abscesses develop under a variety of circumstances, only your Richardson dentist will know for sure how to best diagnose its cause and treat it properly.

Dental Situation #4 - Dental Surgery

The problem: New braces and retainers can cause discomfort in the first few days of wearing them. However, in some cases the discomfort may be an indication that something went wrong during or after the dental procedure. The only way to be sure would be to contact the dental professional who performed your surgery to determine what the cause of the pain might be.

The solution: Be sure to follow your dentist’s instructions and rinse your mouth with warm saltwater, as well as take acetaminophen as directed. Some issues that arise from braces, such as food trapped between teeth, don’t constitute as a dental emergency and can usually be dealt with on your own. However, if you do experience a true emergency, such as accidentally swallowing a piece of the appliance, then contact a dental professional immediately.

Finally, one key point must be stressed: if your mouth is bleeding, do not take aspirin or ibuprofen. These medicines are blood thinners and will actually make bleeding worse. Instead, take acetaminophen as directed by the warning label. In addition, apply ice to the affected area for 20 minute intervals per hour. Both measures are designed to reduce pain and swelling until you are able to receive emergency dental care from a Richardson dentist.