During the summer season, you might find yourself in an emergency situation involving an injury to your mouth or teeth. It’s important to give your North Richland Hills dentist a call right away so we can arrange an emergency appointment to treat the injury.
But there are some other steps you can take in the first few moments after the dental injury occurs.
Here are some of the most common types of dental emergencies we see at R.R. Williams, DDS and what you can do in each case to better your chances for a successful outcome:
Dental Emergency #1 – Losing A Tooth
We’re all more active this time of year, so whether it’s playing a sport or just playing around, you could risk losing a tooth. We see it a lot during the summer months.
When you have a tooth knocked out, you might assume it’s a goner.
But it is sometimes possible to save it when you act fast!
Pick it up by the crown, not the root. You can gently rinse it with water if there is any dirt or debris on it, but don’t use soap or try to scrub it. Finally, keep it moist in a small container of milk or water, or by placing it back in the socket or inside your cheek, and head to your emergency dental appointment.
We will either save and restore the tooth or replace it with a dental bridge or implant.
Dental Emergency #2 – Breaking A Tooth
Damaging a tooth can happen for a number of reasons this time of year.
Eating hard food or candy, like a bone in barbecue ribs or chicken legs, ice cubes by the pool, or a popcorn kernel during family movie night, can break a tooth or dental restoration.
The same can happen if one of the kids falls on the slippery concrete around the pool or when you use your teeth as tools to open or tear things that are meant for bottle openers or scissors.
We will need to repair a broken tooth or restoration as soon as possible so the dental pulp, or the root, doesn’t become infected by bacteria.
Dental Emergency #3 – Accidental Bite Injuries
Sometimes, we can be our own worst enemy!
Whether you and the kids are horsing around outside together or you’re rushing through a meal on a busy day, one minor slip and our own teeth can bite down on our lips, tongue, or inside of the cheek.
Bleeding will be the first thing you should get under control. Use a warm, wet cloth to clean the injured area and apply pressure to stop the bleeding. After that, apply a cold compress to reduce pain and swelling.
Then give us a call for assistance!
Call Your North Richland Hills Emergency Dentist!
When facing a dental emergency this summer, be sure to call Dr. Williams in North Richland Hills, TX!
We allow extra time each business day to make room for unexpected emergency appointments and can even be reached after hours so you can find the help you need even when our practice is closed.
When you need emergency dental care, call R.R. Williams DDS at 817-281-4801 or fill out our online form to schedule a non-emergency appointment.