Emergency Dentistry

What is Emergency Dental Care?

Emergency dentists treat oral injuries and pain that need to be fixed or addressed immediately. Most dental emergencies are situations in which you might lose a broken or knocked-out tooth for good. Visiting Smile Design Manhattan as soon as you can after your injury, preferably within 30 minutes, could mean the difference between saving and losing your injured tooth.

Is it a Dental Emergency?

It's never a bad idea to find emergency dental care if you're concerned about a severe oral injury or condition for yourself or a member of your family. Common dental emergency situations include:

• Knocked-out teeth
• A loose permanent tooth
• Severe tooth or mouth pain
• Bleeding inside your mouth from your cheeks, tongue, or gums
• Trauma to your face or mouth
• Uncomfortable swelling in your mouth, gums, or tongue
• A badly cracked or broken tooth
• A laceration or tear on your lips

If a tooth is slightly chipped and doesn't hurt, though, you might not be dealing with a dental emergency. That said, feel free to contact an experienced dentist at Smile Design Manhattan if you're concerned. They can explain how to take care of your tooth until you can make it into the office.

How Should I Handle a Knocked-Out Tooth?

Act quickly, and there's a good chance you can save a knocked-out tooth. Put off going to the dentist and you may be at risk of losing the tooth. In this situation, clean both the injured tooth and inside your mouth. Rinse your mouth and tooth with lukewarm water. Avoid touching or holding the tooth's roots.

Hold the tooth by the crown (the smooth white top part) as you rinse it. If you can, hold the cleaned tooth by the crown and reinsert it into the empty socket. Close your mouth and bite down gently on the tooth, if you can. It might help to bite down on a soft piece of gauze until you can visit Smile Design Manhattan. Call immediately, or have someone call for you to explain the situation.

What should you do if you can't put the tooth back in your mouth? The goal is to keep the tooth moist at all times. Put it in a cup of milk or in your mouth next to your cheek to help preserve it until you arrive at the dental office. When you're facing a dental emergency, call Smile Design Manhattan for expert assistance.

Book Online