Follow These Tips from an Emergency Dentist in Sarasota

Imagine watching your little one playing on the playground. All is well until they accidentally slip, falling face first on the unforgiving ground. Of course, you run over to them in a hurry, discovering that they have a gash in their mouth from where their teeth abrasively cut open the lining of their cheeks and lips.

Even though you would want to freak out in this situation, the best thing to do is stay calm and follow these helpful tips from your emergency dentist in Sarasota.

Is It Urgent or Can It Wait?

Whenever you or a loved one is undergoing dental pain or subject to injury, it’s considered a dental emergency. However, there are urgent ones and some that you can wait to visit a practice until it’s convenient for you.

Urgent Dental Emergencies

The following are considered urgent dental emergencies that need to be addressed as soon as possible:

• Knocked out tooth
• Partially dislodged tooth
• Bleeding in the mouth
• Soft tissue injuries including lips, tongue, and cheeks
• Jaw injuries
• Persistent toothaches

It’s understandable to think that you should just go to an emergency room for some of these situations, but most nurses will refer you to the nearest dentist. Unless the bleeding won’t stop, trust your dentist to address your dental accident.

Non-Urgent Emergencies

If you experience one of these dental emergencies, you can schedule an appointment for the next moment you’re free.

• Lost dental restorations (dental crown, fillings, or bridges).
• Cracked tooth (unless it’s causing severe pain).
• Broken retainers or mouthguards.
• Moderate toothaches.

These Dental Emergency Tips Come in Handy!

Follow these simple tips to help make your stressful dental emergency a little easier to handle:

• Gently rinse your mouth with warm saltwater. This helps to relieve swelling and irritation.
• When you’ve accidentally lost a tooth, you can still save it! Just retrieve it, keep it clean and try to place it back in the socket (roots first of course). If it can’t fit, place it in a container of milk while you make your way to your local dentist.
• If you’ve lost a restoration like a filling or crown, try applying a small amount of dental wax or toothpaste in its place until you reach your dentist.
• Try to floss around a specific tooth that’s causing your mouth pain, especially if something is lodged between a tight area in the mouth.
• Use a clean compress or towel to apply firm pressure to reduce bleeding of an emergency area.
• Use a cold compress to manage any pain or swelling.

If you ever must face a dental emergency, you will be able to handle it with confidence! In the case that you need assistance, feel free to call Parkway Ridge Dental.

About the Doctor

Here at Parkway Ridge Dental, you can trust that Dr. Warren G. Hoffman will treat your dental emergency as if it was his own, making it his top priority. We want all our patients to enjoy long-lasting, healthy smiles. Your dentist in Sarasota is here for all patients in the instance that they need us to repair them, too. Contact us today to learn more!